Human Rights
UK calls for War Crimes probe
David Cameron calls for an investigation into Sri Lanka allegations as the FCO says “convincing evidence of violations of human rights” were aired in the Channel 4 documentary Killing Fields.
The film Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields documents the final bloody weeks of the Sri Lankan civil war, in which at least 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed. One hour long, it features new evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The footage shows apparent extra-judicial massacres of prisoners by Sri Lankan government forces, the aftermath of the shelling of civilian hospitals, and the bodies of female Tamil fighters who appear to have been sexually assaulted.
New footage broadcast in the documentary, allegedly captured on a mobile phone by a soldier as a trophy video, shows three people, including one woman, being executed. A man tied to a coconut tree is also killed.
The documentary examines the atrocities carried out by the Tamil Tigers, including the use of human shields. It contains footage depicting the aftermath of a suicide bombing in a government centre for the displaced.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron said the documentary referred “to some very worrying events that are alleged to have taken place”.
“The Sri Lankan government does need this to be investigated and the UN needs this to be investigated,” the prime minister said.
“We need to make sure we get to the bottom of what happened and that lessons are learned.”
Earlier, Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said he was “shocked” by the “horrific scenes” in the film and urged the Sri Lankan Government to investigate allegations that war crimes were committed. “The recent UN Panel of Experts’ report, this documentary and previously authenticated Channel 4 footage, constitutes convincing evidence of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The whole of the international community will expect the Sri Lankans to give a serious and full response to this evidence,” Mr Burt said.
“Since the end of the conflict the UK has called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation of the allegations that war crimes were committed during the hostilities and the UK Government expects to see progress by the end of the year. I reiterated this message to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 14 June,” he continued. He added that if the Sri Lankan Government refused to investigate, the international community will “revisit all options available to press the Sri Lankan government to fulfil its obligations”.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in London has denied it targeted civilians while crushing Tamil Tiger rebels, but said action would be taken if any allegations of atrocities were proven to be true.
It said images shown in the documentary had not been verified as genuine, and the disturbing footage could cause hatred among Sri Lankan communities.
“The Channel 4 film has the potential to incite hatred amongst different communities in Sri Lanka, including future generations, and thereby adversely affect the ongoing national reconciliation process,” the Sri Lankan High Commission said in a statement.
“The malicious allegations in the film regarding the conduct of the Sri Lankan army are in striking contrast to the standards maintained by the Sri Lankan army.”
But it added that a panel set up by Colombo, known as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), was ready to take note of the claims.
“If the allegations levelled by Channel 4 or any other party are found to be genuine, the LLRC will take due note of all such cases and remedial measures will be taken by way of legal sanctions,” the high commission said.
Sri Lanka had previously insisted that there would be no investigation because no war crimes had been committed by its troops while defeating Tamil Tigers by May 2009.
It has refused to allow a three-member UN expert panel to visit the island nation to probe such claims.
Courtesy: http://www.channel4.com/news/foreign-office-presses-sri-lanka-on-war-crimes
2 Comments to “UK calls for War Crimes probe”
June 22, 2011 at 6:17 am
(continuation from above comment)
in Sri Lanka.Miller further states’ This order was carried out, laying waste Uva and Vellassa from which it is yet to fully recover.British writer commented that every tree from Ratnapura to Badulla was festooned with rotting human beings that gave off a revolting stench.The word ‘genocide’ was coined in 1940s meaning the wiping out of a people,but if this wasn’t genocide then,what is?’
This is the manner in which the the British who are now ardent human rights crusaders dealt with the people of Sri Lanka.The British who are now pointing fingers at SRI lANKA HAVE COMMITTED TERRIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRIES THAT THEY CONQUERED AND COLONIZED.THEY TERRORIZED THE INHABITANTS AND MADE THEM THEIR SLAVES.
As quoted by Miller, the following statement by Samuel P.HUNTINGTON SUMMARISES THE SITUATION AS FOLLOWS:
‘The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion bur rather by applying organized violence.Westerners often forget the fact,non-westerners never do’
It is time that Sri Lanka calls upon the British to apologize for their human rights violations committed on the Sri Lankan people and ask these hypocrites to pay compensation .
June 22, 2011 at 6:00 am
While reading a dissertation by J.B.Miller titled ‘The Good Old Days-Anglophiles eurocentric arrogance and reality’ I came across the text of the General Order issued in 1818 to the British troops during the period of the British Colonial Rule in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon)which is as follows:’Kill every man,woman and child including the babes suckling at their mother’s breast,Destroy all dwelling houses.Burn all crops Cut down all fruit trees.Slaughter all cattle:take what meat is necessary to feed the troops and burn the rest.Destroy all reservoirs,canals and channels.Poison the Wells.Lay waste utterly the countryside denying any relief whatsoever to the rebels.’The said order was issued to pot down the Uva-Vellassa rebellion against the British Rule by the people of Uva-Vellssa