New evidence of war crimes in Sri Lankan civil war

New evidence of war crimes in Sri Lankan civil war
Published: Tue, 2014-02-04 12:56

A landmark report, released today, sheds new light on some of the worst alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war, which ended in May 2009. This report will contribute to an upcoming meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council where states will decide how to ensure accountability on this issue.

The report, 
Island of impunity? Investigation into international crimes in the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Was produced by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s (PIAC’s) International Crimes Evidence Project (ICEP). 

The report brings together some of the world’s leading experts on war crimes investigations and international law. It combines detailed, impartial, legal analysis and expert forensic and military analysis with new information and eye-witness accounts.

‘This is the most comprehensive, evidence-based report investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Sri Lankan conflict,’ said PIAC CEO, Edward Santow.

‘The report builds on what we already know about indiscriminate artillery bombardment of civilian areas, the denial of humanitarian assistance to those most affected by the hostilities, and specific incidents of extrajudicial killing, torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearance.’

The report will assist the UN Human Rights Council in considering how to ensure accountability for allegations of atrocities committed in the final stages of the civil war. The report presents an evidentiary platform for an international investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

One new eye-witness alleges that, after the conflict, the Sri Lankan Government has systematically exhumed civilian mass graves and destroyed crucial evidence of human remains. This has critical implications for future investigations and highlights the need for urgent action to be taken.

‘The ICEP investigation reveals some of the gravest crimes under international humanitarian law and demands accountability,’ said John Ralston, Chair of ICEP’s Committee of Experts.

‘This can only occur if there is a full independent and impartial international investigation.’

Source: http://www.piac.asn.au/

Inquiry finds Sri Lanka war crimes evidence

Public Interest Advocacy Centre - Australia

The report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre finds that atrocities were committed by both sides, but that senior Sri Lankan government and military officials may bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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Inquiry finds Sri Lanka war crimes evidence

Ashley Hall reported this story on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 12:42:00

ELEANOR HALL: An Australian-led investigation has found new evidence that war crimes were committed during the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war.

The report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre finds that atrocities were committed by both sides, but that senior Sri Lankan government and military officials may bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The government is resisting calls for an independent international investigation.

Ashley Hall has our report.

ASHLEY HALL: The Sri Lankan civil war drew to a close in 2009, ending 20 years of conflict.

By all accounts, the final stages of the war was a particularly brutal campaign.

EDWARD SANTOW: The evidence itself is utterly compelling and utterly horrific.

ASHLEY HALL: Edward Santow is the chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre which conducted the investigation.

EDWARD SANTOW: Unless there is a full process of accountability that can be believed in, there'll not be a proper and lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

ASHLEY HALL: The inquiry found both government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels committed a wide range of human rights violations, including executions, rape and torture.

But it concluded the military "committed the vast majority of alleged crimes".

EDWARD SANTOW: We've received very recently some witness testimony to the effect that the Sri Lankan government has forced some people in Sri Lanka to identify where some of the civilian mass graves are located and participate in exhuming those human remains and then destroying those human remains,

which is horrific in itself.

But it also, if true, would destroy some very crucial evidence of some of the alleged war crimes.

ASHLEY HALL: Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canberra, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe says the latest report has no credibility.

THISARA SAMARASINGHE: This type of unsubstantiated, baseless allegations against the Sri Lankan military, who fought the brutal terrorist organisation and it appears that the it keeps surfacing time and again, absolutely baseless.

ASHLEY HALL: Well the inquiry says that it has found substance to these allegations, that it's conducted a forensic analysis of them and found that there is enough in some cases to prosecute for war crimes or crimes against humanity. Do you reject that?

THISARA SAMARASINGHE: I totally reject that. What is this organisation, what is the credibility of this organisation?

ASHLEY HALL: One of the most damning claims in this report involves an eye witness account that government forces are involved in identifying mass civilian graves, digging them up and destroying them, thereby destroying evidence. What's your response to that allegation?

THISARA SAMARASINGHE: These are allegations which need to be investigated and don't forget terrorists had many masked graves.

ASHLEY HALL: The release of the report comes as the United States prepares to make a third pitch for an independent international investigation to the United Nations human rights body.

Dr Sam Pari is the national spokeswoman for the Australian Tamil Congress. She welcomes the new report.

SAM PARI: The international community could have intervened and stopped the war crimes and the crimes against humanity that took place in 2009, yet they didn't. It's now a chance for the international community to vindicate themselves and actually bring the perpetrators to justice.

ASHLEY HALL: The report's release coincides with Sri Lanka's Independence Day. The president Mahinda Rajapaksa used a speech marking the day to hit out at attempts to force an independent investigation on the country.

MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA (translated): I see the allegations of war crimes that some are hoping to be brought against Sri Lanka in Geneva as a victory of those who are opposed to peace.

ASHLEY HALL: A United Nations panel of experts' estimates as many as 40,000 civilians might have been killed in the military offensive that ended the war.

The prime ministers of Britain and Canada sought to highlight concerns about human rights at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo.

But the Australian Prime Minister remained quiet on the issue.

The leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne, says it's time to change that approach.

CHRISTINE MILNE: Australia doesn't want to put pressure on Sri Lanka because they want cooperation over asylum seekers and they see no reason to increase the pressure on the Rajapaksa regime to have and accept an international inquiry.

ASHLEY HALL: The World Today sought a response from the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, but as she's travelling today, she's been unavailable.

ELEANOR HALL: Ashley Hall reporting.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/archives.html