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Japan envoy backs UN war crimes probe into Sri Lanka conflict

By Sarah Miley

[JURIST] A diplomat with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs [official website] said Sunday that Japan supports UN efforts to address alleged war crimes committed during the final phase of Sri Lanka's 30-year ethnic civil war [JURIST news archive] that ended last year. Yasushi Akashi, the government's Representative for Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, made the announcement after a five-day visit to Sri Lanka [press release] during which he met with Sri Lankan government officials. Akashi said the Japanese government supports the establishment of an advisory panel [JURIST report] by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile], even though Sri Lanka opposes an international investigation [JURIST report] into the claims. Akashi went on to say that the panel would be useful [AFP report] on a consultation basis but should not interfere with the nation's ongoing internal investigation. The advisory panel was organized after UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay [official website] called for an international inquiry into the conduct of the Sri Lankan government during the civil war.

In May the International Crisis Group (ICG) [official website] accused Sri Lankan security forces of commiting war crimes [JURIST report] during the last months of the conflict. The ICG claimed that it had acquired enough evidence supporting allegations of shelling civilians, hospitals, and environmental facilities to warrant a independent inquiry by the UN on war crimes in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government claims that no civilians were killed during the final months of the war.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on June 20, 2010 (boomark / email).