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UN Sri Lanka resolution does not include war crimes investigation

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

[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Wednesday "welcoming the conclusion of hostilities" in Sri Lanka, but failing to call for an investigation into war crimes committed during the conflict. Adopted during the 11th special session on human rights, the resolution condemned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacks on civilian populations and use of human shields, and acknowledged the Sri Lankan government's commitment to "provide access as may be appropriate to international humanitarian agencies." The resolution did not address allegations made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and others that war crimes may have been committed by both sides of the 25-year civil war, which resulted in more than 70,000 deaths. Sri Lankan Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka said that the was "no rationale for this Special Session with a regular session just a few days away" except to appease those countries and commissioners who had accused the government of war crimes. The international community has expressed concerns about human rights violations during and after the Sri Lankan conflict. On Saturday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released a joint statement granting humanitarian groups access to aid internally displaced persons, which Rajapaksa rejected on Sunday. Last week, the Council of the European Union called for an independent inquiry into possible war crimes committed during fighting between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE. In March, the Sri Lankan Government denied Pillay's allegation that 2,800 civilian deaths caused by recent military action against the LTTE may constitute war crimes. In February, 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.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 28, 2009 (boomark / email).