EU FOREIGN ministers have called for an independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka during the recent conflict between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels.
They have also asked the Sri Lankan authorities to conclude a “fully inclusive” political settlement following yesterday’s announcement that the government had defeated the rebels after decades of civil war.
“The EU calls for the alleged violations of these laws to be investigated through an independent inquiry. Those accountable must be brought to justice,” said EU foreign ministers after a meeting yesterday.
The EU statement also urged the Sri Lankan government to allow UN aid workers to ease the humanitarian crisis and for the Sri Lankan president to lay out a clear process leading to a fully inclusive political solution based on consent, equality and the rule of law.
British foreign secretary David Miliband, who visited Sri Lanka recently to try to end the fighting, said there had been grave allegations made on all sides of the conflict.
Czech foreign minister Jan Kohout, who chaired the meeting, told reporters that, in principle, the inquiry should be carried out by Sri Lankan authorities but it could also involve non-government and UN bodies.
As EU foreign ministers discussed the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, news filtered through that the Sri Lankan military had announced victory in the final battle against the Tamil Tigersand had killed their leader.
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers also discussed the possibility of extending sanctions against the military regime in Burma following its decision to put democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi on trial.
Mr Miliband said the EU had agreed to investigate more sanctions. But German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later voiced doubts about whether new sanctions would have any impact. “The level of trade between the EU and Myanmar isn’t very high,” said Mr Steinmeier. “And we have to consider whether this wouldn’t cause the wrong kind of damage to the civilian population.”