UPDATED: 1845 GMT A resolution calling for a "credible justice process" with " Commonwealth and other foreign judges" in order to prosecute for mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the island's armed conflict has been tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. See the full text of the resolution here . It calls for a "credible justice process" with "independent judicial and prosecutorial institutions led by individuals known for integrity and impartiality" and "Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers, and authorized prosecutors and investigators" . It also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to "present an oral update" to the Council at the 32nd session in June 2016 and present a "comprehensive report followed by discussion on the implementation of the present resolution at its 34th session" in March 2017. The OHCHR will also continue to assess progress on implementation of the recommendations listed in the OISL report.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said that the resolution on Sri Lanka tabled at the UN Human Rights Council presents a “constructive starting point for what will inevitably be a long road to reconciliation”. In a statement released today, the TNA said “we welcome the draft resolution’s call on Sri Lanka to involve foreign and Commonwealth judges, lawyers, investigators and defenders in a judicial mechanism to be set up in Sri Lanka that would be mandated to try international crimes” . “This constitutes a significant victory for justice in Sri Lanka,“ said the TNA. “The TNA is committed to help the government and international stakeholders evolve such a court, and will support its work.” The party added that it recognises "that the hard work of implementing the government’s commitments and winning back the trust of victims begins now”. "We are acutely aware that some of the language used in the interests of a consensus will not satisfy all victims of the conflict whom we represent and who have reposed their trust in the TNA," it said. "However, we are of the view that the draft provides a constructive starting point for what will inevitably be a long road to reconciliation." Thanking the resolution co-sponsors and all other government and non-government stakeholders “who stayed true to their convictions,” it added that it “stands ready to support such efforts”. See the full text of the statement below.
The international community has a critical role to play in supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts toward reconciliation and accountability through the participation of international judges and prosecutors said a group Senators in a letter to the US Secretary of State John Kerry. Extracts from the letter reproduced below: “We firmly believe that the international community has a critical role to play in supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts toward reconciliation and accountability, and the findings of the OHCHR report will help determine the path forward We support a robust international role through the participation of international judges and prosecutors that will lend credibility to Sri Lanka’s accountability process. The international community must also work with the Sir Lanka government to implement vigorous witness protection systems to ensure the successes of any accountability process.”
The Centre for Justice and Accountability (CJA) called for Sri Lanka's war-affected communities to be involved in meaningful consultations “ at every level” to shape an accountability mechanism to prosecute for war crimes in Sr Lanka, and warned against attempts to “water down” a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council. The CJA stated it was “deeply troubled by recent statements made by Sri Lanka officials regarding the proposed accountability mechanism” including from Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mr Wickeremesinghe stated on Wednesday that “there was nothing to be gained from abroad,” rejecting international involvement. The resolution, which was tabled on Thursday , called for a "credible justice process" with "independent judicial and prosecutorial institutions led by individuals known for integrity and impartiality" and "Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers, and authorized prosecutors and investigators". The CJA also stated “of course, for Sri Lanka to become a success story, any truth or accountability mechanism must be shaped at every level by meaningful consultations with war affected communities".
The Sri Lankan military announced the opening of two new buildings at a camp in the North-East that will house accommodation for soldiers, earlier this week. The new buildings were funded by the commander of the army and the commander of the security forces headquarters in Vanni, and opened on September 22. The military also held an all night 'Pirith Pinkama' Buddhist ceremony to mark the occasion.
The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council welcomed the findings of the report of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Investigation on Sri Lanka released last week. Extracts from the statement made by CV Wigneswaran at the Northern Provincial Council on Tuesday reproduced below. “We also welcome the finding that the investigations into international crimes of the scale that had taken place during the period investigated "will require more than a domestic mechanism" and, the need to form a mechanism which would give confidence to the victims of such violations, confidence in the independence and impartiality of the process. To that end the report has suggested the adoption of international best practices of "integrating international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators.”
Political parties across Tamil Nadu staged protests and held rallies on Monday, demanding that an international probe and process of accountability take place in order to punish the perpetrators of mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. Hundreds of activists from the Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK) were arrested by Indian police as they attempted to picket railway stations in the southern Indian state. Some 350 people were arrested at Salem Railway Junction with another 330 people detained at Omalur and a further 332 people at Magudanchavadi, states The Hindu. Another 150 were also arrested at Erode. In Namakkal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhatgam (MDMK) activists held a protest demanding an international probe into the killing of Tamil civilians by Sri Lankan security forces. Meanwhile, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Tirumavalavan addressed a rally in Madurai on the same day stating “it was important that the accused in the killing of Tamils should be booked and punished by the International Court”.
The Sri Lankan military ceremoniously declared open the newly constructed headquarters for troops of the 5 (V) Gajaba Regiment in Kilinochchi earlier this month. An official military website stated that on 18 September, Maj General A P De Z Wickramarathne, commander of the 66 division, alongside commanders of 661, 662 and 663 Brigades, attended the ceremony.
The Sri Lankan military held an 'awareness program' last week for Tamil pregnant mothers in Kilinochchi.
The OISL report on mass atrocities in Sri Lanka makes clear that Sri Lanka “cannot tackle decades of entrenched impunity on its own” said former BBC correspondent Frances Harrison. The report, which is “filled with legal language and clinical descriptions of extreme brutality... is also a graveyard of dead politicians, journalists, priests and combatants whom many of us knew personally,” said Ms Harrison. “For some victims, this is the only memorial they have had in six long years.”