Actions in Sri Lanka to work towards prosecution for war crimes and genuine reconciliation with the Tamil population do not exist, the International Educational Development organisation Inc (IED) and association of Humanitarian Lawyers said at the UNHRC on Friday. Making a statement at the interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Recurrence, Karen Parker said, "We note that not a single high authority of the LTTE survived, so there cannot be prosecutions of them for alleged violations. Further, this fact makes the intentional killing of the LTTE captured combatants, a serious war crime, a certainty. Current actions in Sri Lanka to address prosecution for these crimes do not exist, nor do actions for truth and genuine reconciliation with the Tamil population. What does the Special Rapporteur propose in light of the apparent absolute impunity of that government, especially in light of the recurrence of gross violations of human rights directed at the Tamil population?"
The General Secretary of the ruling party, SLFP, has announced the party is to examine the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) this week calling for UN investigators to be allowed access in order to collect evidence for the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL). “All provincial councils including the Northern Provincial Council have pledged to act within the Constitution of Sri Lanka," said the SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena. "They cannot violate it," he added, reported the Daily Mirror . “Though I’m the General Secretary, I cannot express an...
The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa praised China's Maritime Silk Road initiative and pledged to join China in working towards it, in an interview with Chinese state media, Xinhua , published Saturday. "Since I took office of the president, I have toured China for seven times, during which I have met President Xi Jinping in several occasions," said Rajapaksa. "China accounts for the biggest number of my working travel destination and I am looking forward to President Xi's visit." "Our cooperation covers many sectors including industry, energy, technology, infrastructure and tourism," he added.
The body of a Tamil Nadu fisherman who went missing on August 25 has been found washed up on Valvettithurai coast Saturday. The president of the Fishermen's Association T Sesuraja identified the body as that of Isron, who was one of three men who went missing that day, reports PTI . The body has been transferred to Jaffna hospital for a post-mortem. His death comes amid ongoing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, including mass arrests and detention of fishing boats by the Sri Lankan navy. The actions of the navy have received intense criticism in Tamil Nadu, notably by the Chief Minister who...
Tamil autonomy is needed to protect the Tamils said Mavai Senathirajah, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and newly appointed leader to the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), a constituent party of the TNA coalition. "[We] must establish autonomy, in order to protect Tamils, Tamil lands and the nation from facing another catastrophe," he said addressing an ITAK event in Jaffna on Friday, reported Uthayan . "The government's great aim for the past 5 years is to destroy the Tamil homeland's demography. In these 5 years since the armed conflict ended, a lot of problems by the government have been exacerbated. [The government] is carrying out actions to destroy the Tamils’ land and nation," he added.
Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran stated the Sri Lankan army and those who work with them, are stopping people from taking part in Northern Provincial Council events. Intimidation from the military was keeping the Tamil population away from NPC events, said Wigneswaran adding that the Sri Lankan army was photographing all those who do attend. “We do not know the reason for military personals taking photographs at our events, but they are taking photographs of us and the public,” said the Chief Minister. Demanding that the army “must stop such activities”,...
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) met with the British Deputy High Commissioner Laura Davies on Thursday, calling on Britain to ensure the safety of witnesses who testify before the United Nations investigation into mass atrocities on the island. Meeting in Batticaloa, the TNA discussed the upcoming United Nations investigation, calling for witness safety to be ensured. Also discussed was the political environment across the Tamil homeland, particularly in the East, and other human rights issues related to the UN investigation, reports Colombo Gazette . The British Deputy High Commissioner...
The start of the UN Human Rights Council's 27th session this week saw the welcome reaffirmation of resolve to pursue accountability for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka through a UN inquiry from the newly appointed High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid al-Hussein and the US and UK missions. Amid the crises unfolding in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine, the High Commissioner's pointed statement highlighting the importance he places on the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) is a significant pledge to fulfill the commendable legacy of his predecessor, Navi Pillay. Equally resolved however was Sri Lanka in its determination to oppose it. Reiterating its categorical rejection of the inquiry, Sri Lanka renewed its refusal to cooperate with UN investigators. Its seemingly desperate attempts to block the functioning of the inquiry, only serve to vindicate the basis on which member states led and supported the resolution in March mandating an international inquiry – Sri Lanka will not deliver accountability and justice for the deaths of over 70,000 Tamils during the final stages of the armed conflict itself.
Any talks with the government on a political solution must take place in the presence of international officials said Tamil political parties. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called for an international observer to be present, highlighting the need to ensure commitments made were fulfilled. “We are prepared to talk to him anytime, but in the past this has been without a time frame. As a result we would very much like an international observer’s presence at talks to ensure that the commitments he gives are known to everyone," TNA leader R. Sampanthan told The Hindu , commenting on remarks made by the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview with the paper the day before. The president of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, called for "international mediators", however stressed that the talks must be on "the basis of how the Tamil nation's right to self-determination can be realised in a multi-national state".
The UK's All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils condemned Sri Lanka's repeated refusal to cooperate with the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) and demanded that it adhere to the UN Human Rights Council resolution passed mandating the inquiry or face sanctions. Calling on the UK government to also condemn Sri Lanka's rejection of the inquiry, the cross-party group of MPs urged the British government "to consider all actions including sanctions until the Government of Sri Lanka agrees to cooperate with OISL." “It is completely unacceptable that after the resolution was passed in March of this year, the Sri Lankan government is still unwilling to participate in this investigation; and is finding ways to regularly prolong and avoid this," wrote the APPG for Tamils chair and Conservative MP Lee Scott, together with the group's vice chair and Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh in a statement released Friday.