Only an international mechanism can address the crimes committed by Sri Lanka, priests and religious leaders of the North-East have said in a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights today.
"Since the end of the armed conflict many of the structural causes of the conflict remain intact and indeed, have been exacerbated under this period of ‘victor’s peace’," said the letter signed by 170 priests.
Highlighting Sri Lanka's recent honouring of former Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka, and appointing of Major General Jegath Dias as chief of staff - both alleged war criminals - the letter said:
“The ideology behind the nation-state of Sri Lanka regards the armed forces as the group that protects and safeguards the tri-mission i.e., the nation (Sinhala), religion (Buddhism) and people who will not permit soldiers to be turned traitors overnight by being prosecuted. Sri Lanka’s justice system has been ineffective in investigating and prosecuting human rights violations and crimes under international law. Its legislation falls short of the highest standards that should be applied in prosecuting such crimes, including with regard to principles of command responsibility. The effectiveness of national victim and witness protection mechanisms remains a huge concern. We do not want more victims to be created in the search for justice.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid said today that Sri Lanka's justice system was incapable of dealing with any of the crimes outlined in the OHCHR investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) report.