Amnesty International has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an international mechanism to investigate violations of international law in Sri Lanka, in a written statement submitted to the council. Released earlier this month, the non-governmental organisation called for a independent international investigation adding, “the international community must ensure that those suspected of the crimes are prosecuted in genuine proceedings in full conformity with international standards for fair trial.” Noting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights statement in...
The Australian Senate has passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an international investigation into crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka, this week. The motion, which was proposed by the Labour Party and co-sponsored by the Greens went on to call on Australia to “co-sponsor any United States resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014 regarding Sri Lanka’s progress on accountability and human rights”. Commenting on the successfully passed motion, Greens Leader Christine Milne said , “The Australian Senate has sent a powerful message to the UN and international community about supporting an international independent war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka. This is a long awaited response to horrific allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka. New evidence from PIAC makes the investigation even more urgent. Prime Minister Tony Abbott must end his appeasement of the Sri Lankan government which is designed to bolster his cruel refugee policies here in Australia.” Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, also added, “The world will be watching how Australia will be responding to this international call for a war crimes investigation. Today we have sent a clear message to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Australia has co-sponsored the last two United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council resolutions on Sri Lanka, and it is crucial that Australia does the same at the coming March meeting. The Greens have consistently called for a war crimes investigation and will continue to campaign strongly for one. We welcome Labor’s decision to now support this position.” See the motion in full below.
The United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Catherine Russell stated that the US was “also extremely concerned over the rise in rape and sexual assault”, as she addressed a group of non-governmental organisations in Sri Lanka earlier this week. The Ambassador was addressing the group via internet video messaging after she was refused a visa to enter the country by the Sri Lankan government, which reportedly ‘pleased’ a ruling alliance constituent party. @S_GWI Amb Russell speaks to NGOs in SL to discuss gender based violence, women's political and economic empowerment pic.twitter.com/0f8Uze6azl — U.S. Embassy Colombo (@USEmbSL) February 10, 2014
Pictures: Veerakesari Updated 20:13 GMT Skeletal remains have been found yesterday evening at a playground in Trincomalee, whilst workers were trying to dig a well, reported the Veerakesari . Sri Lankan security forces, who arrived promptly to the scene, have closed the area off to the press and public, o ne witness, who wished to remain anonymous fearing his safety, told the Tamil Guardian this evening. See video sent to Tamil Guardian.
Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the UNP, has blamed the government for the resolution against Sri Lanka that is expected to be tabled at next month’s UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. "The country is at a precipice and the government bears full responsibility for our country's current plight," the statement said. " This is a situation which could have been easily avoided had the government heeded the calls of the UNP and many others who have been insisting that the rulers respect the rights of its citizens, irrespective...
The number of skeletons found in a mass grave in Mannar has risen to 61, with two more found on Wednesday. More excavations are due to be held on Thursday, reported the Uthayan .
Jonathan Farmer, a conservative councillor and owner of Corrupted Journalism , a website that rebukes Channel 4 reports and international concerns on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation, was arrested today on charges of possessing a Nazi wartime gun. Farmer was arrested after police raided his house in Cambridgeshire, to find the illegal firearm.
The Indian Government avoided committing to the resolution to be tabled on Sri Lanka at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council session in March. Speaking to a group of visiting Sri Lankan journalists in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary, Sujatha Singh, reiterated that India had not formed a position on the resolution, statin g, “In Geneva we are in touch with all parties looking at various aspects of the issue. It is something on our radar. We will see how it goes.” “We will decide once the text of the resolution is made available. India has no position on it now.”
A programme of physical and psychological torture in Sri Lanka’s “rehabilitation” camps for former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, has been revealed in a report by an NGO. Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) has gathered evidence from former detainees, who detailed systematic torture, beatings, humiliation and sexual abuse in the camps, and concluded that rehabilitation in Sri Lanka is a “physical and mental pacification programme that forms a cornerstone of the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist state-building project” .
The British government is working with international partners to pass a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) calling for an independent international investigation into atrocities committed at the end of the armed conflict, officials at the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) told British MPs and Tamil activists during a meeting with a cross party group, the All Parliamentary Party Group for Tamils (APPGT), on Monday. In a statement released yesterday outlining the discussion that took place, the APPGT said, “Since Sri Lanka has not made any progress on a credible and transparent investigation, it was confirmed that the British Government is working with international partners to set up an Independent International Investigation in the island of Sri Lanka. The government feels that there is a good chance of passing the resolution with the support of international partners. ” “It was also agreed that the substance of the resolution should have a strong mandate to implement the recommendations without any further delays with witness protection for all victims in order to serve justice and accountability for a long term sustainable peace on the island” Outlining the key messages advocated by representatives of the Tamil community at the meeting, which was chaired by the Conservative MP for Ilford North, and Chair of the APPGT, Lee Scott, and included the Labour MP for Mitcham and Mordem Siobhan McDonagh, one source at the meeting told the Tamil Guardian, “ we highlighted the likelihood of the Rajapaksa regime repudiating any resolution made against them and stressed the necessity to follow-up on the regime’s reaction to the resolution with travel bans and asset freezes. ”