The Chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations called for an international investigation into crimes committed during the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. In a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, dated March 19th, Chairman Sen. Menendez said that he wished to " express my support for a resolution at the current session of the UN Human Rights Council that includes an international investigation in Sri Lanka for crimes committed during that country's civil war ." Stating that the Sri Lankan government's efforts to address these issues had "proven inadequate to date", Sen. Menendez said, "a more active and urgent response by the international community " was required. "We must be united in our message to the government of Sri Lanka: the international community will remain vigilant until we see concrete and credible accountability and genuine political reconciliation ," he wrote. Highlighting the " deteriorating environment for the democratic process and human rights in Sri Lanka ", he said that the North was particularly acutely affected. See full letter here . Extracts reproduced below:
Residents in Puthukudiyiruppu have reported being forced out out of their homes by local government land officials, whom locals say carried fake deeds and documents of ownership. Speaking to the Uthayan , residents said that officers arrived instructing them to vacate, stating "these lands do not belong to you". Residents have filed complaints with the regional secretary.
A coalition of 24 civil society organisations from the global South, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Uganda, called on the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen the current draft text of the a resolution on Sri Lanka, by including " adequate provisions for the establishment of an independent international investigative mechanism ." In an open letter to the Council dated March 19th, civil society groups called on states in South America, Africa and Asia, to support the establishment of such a mechanism, stating, "From our experience we know that no amount of time will allow truth, justice and accountability to be established domestically so long as rule of law is subverted and an environment of human rights abuse and impunity prevails. In such circumstances, pursuant to its mandate to address violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, the Council must lose no time in instituting an international mechanism to independently investigate allegations of serious violations in Sri Lanka ."
Picture: Tamil Guardian A side-event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva saw first-hand testimony from Dr Varatharajah Thurairajah, one of the doctors active in the No Fire Zone, in the last phase of the armed conflict. The event, moderated by Julie de Rivero of Human Rights Watch, had Dr Varatharajah, the director of the No Fire Zone movie Callum Macrae, Edward Santow of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Charu Lata Hogg of Child Soldiers International. Callum Macrae presented a short extract of the No Fire Zone movie, which included footage of Dr Varatharajah in the aftermath of attacks on hospitals in 2009. Varatharajah detailed the incidents of government attacks on the hospital, which intensified once coordinates were passed to the government through the Red Cross. The doctor said that they were then scared to pass on GPS coordinates to the Red Cross as the shells landed very soon after the details were passed on.
The nine bodies, found wrapped in plastic sheets last month, have been identified by relatives of the deceased, as belonging to three families from Poonakari. According to the Uthayan , identity cards found with the bodies, together with information from relatives have identified the bodies as that of Thiruchelvam Rameswaran from Korakkattu, Paranthan and his wife Rameswaran Kousalya; their relatives from Selvapuram Poonakari: Kanthasami Pavalarani and her children Kasthuri and Rajeevganth, as well as members of another family: Thuraiyappa Pooranalingam, his wife Pooranalingam Pusbavathi, and their daughter Kalavathani, Menaka and Gajeepan.
A video has emerged depicting male Sri Lankan army soldiers beating and humiliating female recruits. The video, which appears to be filmed by one of the soldiers, shows female soldiers beaten repeatedly with a stick by a male soldier whilst being forced to crawl on the ground.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 75 along with 18 vessels on Wednesday, reports Colombo Page . The arrest comes days after the Navy released over 140 Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The Sri Lankan Army has stepped up its recruitment of Tamil men in Jaffna district over recent days, in what has been described as coercion, reported the Uthayan . Whilst the Army claims all recruitment was voluntary, according to the Uthayan, a number of Tamils youths reported being forced to sign forms or being offered significant financial incentives. The Army was seen in Columbuththurai, Maniyanthottam, Gurunagar, Pasaiyoor and Naavaanthurai attempting to recruit Tamil children who had just finished their GCE exams.
Sri Lanka's Army Commander in Jaffna, Major General Udaya Perera, said that the government and its security forces would not allow the reemergence of the LTTE as the Tamil diaspora wants, reports Daily Mirror . Making these comments to the Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting, Major General Perera added, “ Defence forces are on alert about several groups who are trying to destroy peace in the Northern Province, including Jaffna ,” “The Sri Lankan army is willing provide the maximum support according to the requirements of government officials, civil community and the government forces.”
Sri Lanka's Minister for External Affairs, GL Peiris accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of being " biased ", and that she " will not approach the inquiry with an open mind ", reports the Daily Mirror . Speaking at an event organised by the National Intellectual Council, Mr. Peiris accused 'powerful nations' of ' behaving as if there were two governments in Sri Lanka '. “ One government of Sri Lanka convenes at the parliament in Jayawardenapura while the other operates in Geneva ," he explained, adding, "these forced interventions into Sri Lanka’s internal processes are a violation of the constitution as well."