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Sri Lanka rejects UN war crimes allegations

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Sri Lankan government Saturday denied allegations by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that recent Sri Lankan military action against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has caused some 2,800 civilian deaths and may constitute war crimes. Pillay on Friday cited "credible sources" for the stated number of civilian deaths and said, "certain actions being undertaken by the Sri Lankan military and by the LTTE may constitute violations of international human rights and humanitarian law." Sri Lankan Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarsinghe said the numbers were unconfirmed and expressed dismay that Pillay was relying on numbers corresponding to those on the website TamilNet, which is maintained by the LTTE. The Sri Lankan government has also refused to hold cease-fire negotiations with the LTTE, as it believes it is close to ending the country's 25 year civil war that has resulted in over 70,000 deaths. Last month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report alleging that both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE are guilty of human rights violations. Earlier this year, Pillay condemned the deteriorating conditions of those trapped in the Vanni region, and called for investigations and prosecutions for the killings and other human rights abuses. HRW has repeatedly accused both sides of violations, and since 2007 has also criticized the government's de facto internment centers and its role in the increase in unlawful killings and other human rights violations.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 14, 2009 (boomark / email).