Tamil diaspora groups have called for an international accountability mechanism on Sri Lanka, following Sri Lanka's announcement to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions.
The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), the British Tamils Forum (BTF), the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), the Irish Tamils Forum (ITC) and the United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG) "urge action to be taken up by appropriate international jurisdictions such as an ad hoc international criminal tribunal on Sri Lanka," to ensure accountability for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
In their joint statement, the organisations expressed that Sri Lanka's announcement to withdraw from the UNHRC resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, did not "come as a surprise to the Tamil community which has attempted repeatedly to forewarn the world of Sri Lanka's deception and it's delaying tactics."
Read more: Gotabaya vows to reject UN resolution on accountability
"Considering the track record of the Rajapaksas and their post-presidential election actions such as the rapid militarisation of the state administration as a prelude to drive Sri Lanka towards an authoritarian police state, we request the international community to set up specific international mechanisms for the preservation of evidence as an urgent initial step," the groups added.
"Sri Lanka's government and its courts have shown their lack of will to accept the seriousness of these crimes, and not only allow the continuing impunity for perpetrators but also reward them with high profile positions within the current Government and civil administration, while Tamil victims, survivors and their loved ones suffer in agony."
Read the full statement here.
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