UK concerned about credibility of LLRC, warns Sri Lanka it will revisit all options if no progress by year’s end

The eight report (13 July 2011) of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the Human Rights work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the FCO’s

response was presented to British Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty in September 2011. The report addresses issues relating to Sri Lanka from paragraphs 137 – 141.The Foreign Affairs Committee’s recommendations are set out in bold.

 Recommendations 38 and 39

137. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the FCO explain more fully why it does not regard an international accountability mechanism as appropriate to the Sri Lankan situation at this stage, and under what conditions it might change its position. (Paragraph 160)

138. We commend Channel 4 for its documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’, which showed horrific scenes of crimes carried out in 2009. We reaffirm the view of our predecessor Committee and call on the UK Government to press for the setting up of an international war crimes inquiry to investigate allegations of atrocities carried out by both sides in the Sri Lankan civil war. (Paragraph 161)

139. The Government shares the view of the Committee that concrete action is necessary to deal with the serious allegations of breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by both sides during the military conflict in Sri Lanka. The UN Panel of Experts Report and the Channel 4 documentary underline the imperative need for this.

140. The Government has always supported an independent, credible and transparent investigation into these allegations. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Alistair Burt made clear to the Government of Sri Lanka in June that the Government expects to see progress by the end of this year. If the Sri Lankan Government does not respond, the UK will support the international community in revisiting all options available to press the Sri Lankan government to fulfil its obligations.

141. Under international law it is the primary responsibility of the state concerned to investigate and, where necessary, prosecute credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. In addition, the Government believes that the process of reconciliation between Sri Lanka’s communities has a greater chance of success if investigations are Sri Lankan-led rather than externally imposed. The Government of Sri Lanka has established a domestic process, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which is due to produce its report in November. We share international concern about the credibility of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission process, but the Sri Lankan government has indicated that the Commission will consider the allegations contained in the Channel 4 documentary. We will consider all further options in light of the Commission’s conclusions and recommendations.

See the full report hereReport – Response to FAC Sept 2011

 

 

 

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