UN call for inquiry into war crimes by both sides in Sri Lanka conflict

THE SRI Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels carried out possible war crimes in the final months of their long war, a United…

THE SRI Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels carried out possible war crimes in the final months of their long war, a United Nations report says.

A UN panel that gathered evidence for 10 months said tens of thousands died in only the last five months of the war, which ended in May 2009. “Most civilian casualties in the final phases of the war were caused by government shelling,” it said.

It called on UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to immediately establish “an independent international mechanism” to investigate.

But Mr Ban said he would only launch an international inquiry into allegations of possible war crimes if the Sri Lankan government agreed, which is highly unlikely, or if member states called for an inquiry. The UN chief said he had been advised that he needed government consent or a decision from member states in an international forum.

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The secretary-general had sent the report to the Sri Lankan government on April 12th so that he could include its response when it was officially released.

Instead, the report was leaked to The Island newspaper in Sri Lanka on April 17th, and the government issued a statement calling it “fundamentally flawed and patently biased” and “presented without any verification”.

According to the report, the government “systematically shelled” hospitals in the front lines, and “systematically deprived people in the conflict zone of humanitarian aid, in the form of food and medical supplies, particularly surgical supplies, adding to their suffering.”

The panel said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam refused civilians permission to leave areas under their control, “using them as hostages”. They conscripted civilians, including children as young as 14, and forced civilians to perform labour. The rebels also shot dead civilians trying to escape the conflict zone and fired artillery from near the civilians, provoking retaliatory fire, the report said.

Mr Ban’s spokesman said the Sri Lankan government had not replied to his offer to respond to the report, “which nonetheless still stands”.

The panel called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately begin “genuine investigations” into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by both sides.

Mr Ban supported the recommendation, saying “Sri Lanka should, first and foremost, assume responsibility for ensuring accountability for the alleged violations”. He encouraged the government “to respond constructively”.

Under intense international pressure to investigate abuses, Sri Lanka did appoint a Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission last year, but the UN panel said that body did not meet international standards, and was compromised by the conflict of interest of several members.

The panel also recommended that Mr Ban conduct a comprehensive review of UN actions during the Sri Lankan conflict. – (AP)