A cross party group of British MPs called on the international community to establish a special hybrid court to ensure accountability and justice for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009, as recommended by the report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday.
“We are shocked by the UN’s report into human rights abuses and war crimes at the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. The report makes harrowing reading, and presents evidence of gross human rights abuses suffered by mainly Tamil civilians at the hands of Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil Tigers," the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The UN’s report only came about because the UK and other members of the UNHRC demanded an independent investigation into human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, an investigation that the Sri Lankan government attempted to block."
“Today’s report is not the end of the Tamil people’s struggle for justice, it is barely the beginning. The people of Sri Lanka desperately need reconciliation. But true reconciliation can only take place after proper accountability for the grave human rights abuses set out in the UN’s report."
“In light of today’s shocking and damning report, the APPG for Tamils again calls on the members of the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that a robust accountability mechanism is put in Sri Lanka under UN supervision.”
"The APPG for Tamils will be monitoring the situation closely. Both James Berry MP and Wes Streeting MP will be attending the UNHRC in Geneva."
The report was welcomed by the UK government, which said it would study the OHCHR's recommendations closely. See more here.
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Sri Lanka cannot domestically deal with 'grave crimes' found in OISL report says UN Rights Chief (16 Sep 2015)
Sri Lanka 'takes note' of recommendations made by OHCHR (16 Sep 2015)
“We are shocked by the UN’s report into human rights abuses and war crimes at the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. The report makes harrowing reading, and presents evidence of gross human rights abuses suffered by mainly Tamil civilians at the hands of Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil Tigers," the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The UN’s report only came about because the UK and other members of the UNHRC demanded an independent investigation into human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, an investigation that the Sri Lankan government attempted to block."
“Today’s report is not the end of the Tamil people’s struggle for justice, it is barely the beginning. The people of Sri Lanka desperately need reconciliation. But true reconciliation can only take place after proper accountability for the grave human rights abuses set out in the UN’s report."
“In light of today’s shocking and damning report, the APPG for Tamils again calls on the members of the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that a robust accountability mechanism is put in Sri Lanka under UN supervision.”
"The APPG for Tamils will be monitoring the situation closely. Both James Berry MP and Wes Streeting MP will be attending the UNHRC in Geneva."
The report was welcomed by the UK government, which said it would study the OHCHR's recommendations closely. See more here.
Related articles:
Sri Lanka cannot domestically deal with 'grave crimes' found in OISL report says UN Rights Chief (16 Sep 2015)
Sri Lanka 'takes note' of recommendations made by OHCHR (16 Sep 2015)