Salem-News.com War Crimes articles Page 3

CHOGM Mooted TRC, Ill-Fit for Sri Lanka, Say ANU Fellow, Legal Scholar

In Sri Lanka, during the four years after the war, and years before, under Rajapakses, NGOs have documented sham commissions created by the ruling family to divert focus and as a delaying tactic.

(COLOMBO TamilNet) - Establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) modeled on the South Africa (SA) experience, viewed by Sri Lanka backers as an urgent need to mitigate possible strong actions by the International Community against Sri Lanka over its rights violations, appears as an imminent outcome from the recently concluded Commonwealth Meeting [CHOGM].

Sri Lanka has routinely created several "sham" Commissions to forestall punitive actions from the IC over rights violations.

Bangladesh Must Halt Execution of War Crimes Suspect Abdul Qader Mollah

Human Rights Ambassador William Nicholas Gomes asked president of Bangladesh stop the hanging of the leader of the country's largest Islamic party.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Hanging Mollah on the basis of retroactive legislation and then denying him the right to appeal against this sentence is a grave violation of his fundamental rights. Following the international standard of Justice, Abdul Qader Mollah, accused of war crimes, should be granted a right to appeal against the conviction and death sentence.

According to Human Rights Watch, Mr. Mollah's death sentence was handed down based on retroactively amended legislation. This is a violation of international fair trial standards.

Never Has A Government Investigated Itself And An Admission of Genocide

Under any circumstances, there is absolutely no credibility for domestic mechanisms to address “accountability” issues for these alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka as called upon by UNHRC resolutions...

(LONDON) - The language of the most recent and prior resolutions against Sri Lanka at the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) introduced by the U.S. call upon the government of Sri Lanka to implement the LLRC or other domestic mechanisms for “accountability.”

This is what many other nations including China have requested the government of Sri Lanka to address recently.

UN Human Rights Expert Starts Mission in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: UN human rights expert starts mission to assess situation of internally displaced persons...

(COLOMBO / GENEVA) - United Nations Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani started today a five-day official visit to Sri Lanka to examine the overall situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

“I will gather first-hand information from all parties, including displaced persons and affected communities themselves,” said Mr. Beyani, who will go to Colombo, Jaffna and Mullaitivu districts.

UK Calls for Probe on Tamil Massacre in Sri Lanka

Cameron also underlined the need for genuine reconciliation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities to work together for a bright future of Sri Lanka.

(LONDON) - British Prime Minister David Cameron today demanded a "transparent, credible and independent" probe into the alleged massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils, days after he pressed President Mahinda Rajapaska for an enquiry into rights violations during the final days of the civil war in 2009.

During the CHOGM summit in Colombo this month, he had said that if the Sri Lankan government fails to launch an independent enquiry by March 2014, UK will call for an international enquiry through the United Nations.

Tamils for Obama: Praise to Cameron on his Ultimatum to Sri Lanka

Tamils for Obama wrote a letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron praising him for his courage and firmness in delivering an ultimatum to SL President Rajapaksa, and also praising Cameron for extending his trip into the Tamil-inhabited northern province.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Tamils for Obama recently wrote a letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who was in Colombo for the Commonwealth conference.

The letter praised Cameron for taking the time to visit the northern province, and for demonstrating conviction and firmness in issuing an ultimatum demanding that Rajapaksa "begin an inquiry into alleged war crimes by March or face international intervention..."

Banned from CHOGM: Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Gabriela Knaul discusses options that exist for bringing accountability and democracy, human rights and rule of law to rogue states like Sri Lanka

(GENEVA) - The Sri Lankan government blocked the conference titled "Commonwealth Values to Protect Democracy" scheduled to be held today in Colombo. Among the speakers was Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

She discusses options that exist for bringing accountability and democracy, human rights and rule of law to rogue states like Sri Lanka, a nation charged with egregious human rights violations and war crimes...

Sri Lankan Army Chief Unwittingly Admits Committing War Crimes

Army Commander also issues a public warning from the former war zone, that his troops would have no hesitation but to repeat such crimes if separatism rises again in the country.

(COLOMBO, Sri Lanka ) - Inadvertently confirming that his troops have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the name of wiping out the Tamil Tiger rebels, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake has said earlier this week that the entire “world has been exhibited the way in which we defeated” the 30-year long separatist armed struggle in the island nation in May 2009.

Army Commander Ratnayake’s controversial speech has come just weeks after the electoral victory of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the north...

Did Jayewardene Deceive Rajiv Gandhi? - M.A. Sumanthiran

Rajiv Gandhi or his advisers, unlike Indira Gandhi, were the least concerned about the welfare of the Eelam Tamils. If he was, he would not have signed the Indo - Sri Lankan Accord with so many clauses that are disadvantageous to the Tamils.

(MELBOURNE) - On the advice of dubious Indian advisers and the Indian Intelligence, RAW, Rajiv Gandhi embarked on a policy of dismantling the militant movements and disarming them.

This was a 180 degrees policy change from Indira Gandhi, who advocated the freeing of Tamils from the clutches of the Sinhalese by their own effort. The advisers gave Rajiv at least 3 reasons for it.

USTPAC Commends UN Human Rights Chief`s Challenge to Sri Lankan Government

USTPAC welcomes Commissioner Pillay's firm stance on justice and accountability for both sides.

(GENEVA) - United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) thanks UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay and her team for their recent visit to Sri Lankaand the oral report provided on Wednesday to the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Commissioner Pillay's report to the Council, criticizes the heavy military presence in the North, and notes with concern ongoing sexual harassment of vulnerable groups, and the compulsory acquisition of private land.