UN rights body agrees to allow Sri Lanka probe itself

The UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a resolution that paves the way for Sri Lanka to probe war crimes committed in the final war, despite calls from the high commissioner, victims and the global human rights community opposing such a move.

An extensive investigation by the United Nations found that serious violations have been committed in the country's civil war which ended in 2009.

Although human rights activists feared that Sri Lanka leading a judicial process into crimes committed in the island will amount to a 'victors court', the member states of the UN top human rights body approved such a process proposed by USA with Sri Lanka as a co sponsor.

'The resolution has been softened to keep the Sri Lankan government on board and allay the concerns of powerful neighbor India' reported Reuters on Tuesday (29).

'Reputation of Sri Lanka’s armed forces'

The final draft which 'affirms the importance of participation in a Sri Lankan judicial mechanism' fails to specify the role of the foreign judges and prosecutors in the investigation.

While the adopted resolution recognises the need for a ‘process of accountability and reconciliation for violations and abuses committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’ assures that the process will help ‘enhance the reputation and professionalism’ of Sri Lanka’s armed forces who have been found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.  

© JDS