Sri Lanka says it sees no reason to allow United Nations experts into the country to investigate suspected human rights abuses.
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made the statement at a press conference in Colombo on Thursday, according to Colombo Page, an online Sri Lankan news source.
Peiris commented that U.N. staff would need visas to enter Sri Lanka, but there was no reason for them to come.
On June 22, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a three-member panel of experts to advise him on “issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended last year,” said a U.N. statement.
A spokesperson for the U.N. chief said the panel hopes to cooperate with concerned officials in Sri Lanka. Cooperation may not be forthcoming, however, given that the foreign affairs ministry statement on Wednesday called the panel “an unwarranted and unnecessary interference with a sovereign nation.”
The statement also said that the interference could be exploited by “vested interests hostile to the process of reconciliation” in Sri Lanka.
From a U.N. perspective, the panel is necessary for healing in Sri Lanka as it will ensure accountability. “The secretary-general remains convinced that accountability is an essential foundation for durable peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka,” said a spokesperson for the secretary-general on Sri Lanka.
On the same day that the foreign minister rejected the U.N. panel, Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne boasted that Sri Lanka won the war on terrorism—something no other country has been able to do—and because of this, other nations were ashamed.
“Sixty-six countries around the world are still fighting against terrorism, but the sole country, which could achieve a military victory was Sri Lanka. This victory has mortified other big countries and they are making false allegations against us,” said the prime minister at a parade for military cadets, according to Colombo Page.
Earlier this month, Jayaratne told Parliament that the disbanded Tamil Tigers were trying to make a comeback, according to an AFP report.
In May, the International Crisis Group, issued a report calling on the U.N. to investigate its findings that Sri Lankan security forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels committed war crimes during the final stages of the 30-year civil war.
Evidence gathered by the Crisis Group claims that between January and May 2009 tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, including men, women, children, and the elderly were killed. Countless more were wounded, and hundreds of thousands were deprived of adequate food and medical care, resulting in more deaths.
The Tigers were also found to have engaged in war crimes including firing on, killing, or wounding civilians in the conflict zone who were attempting to flee the shelling and enter government-controlled areas. The Tigers are also accused of depriving civilians of humanitarian supplies, even when some of them were injured or dying.
The Sri Lankan government declared total victory over the Tigers on May 18.
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made the statement at a press conference in Colombo on Thursday, according to Colombo Page, an online Sri Lankan news source.
Peiris commented that U.N. staff would need visas to enter Sri Lanka, but there was no reason for them to come.
On June 22, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a three-member panel of experts to advise him on “issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended last year,” said a U.N. statement.
A spokesperson for the U.N. chief said the panel hopes to cooperate with concerned officials in Sri Lanka. Cooperation may not be forthcoming, however, given that the foreign affairs ministry statement on Wednesday called the panel “an unwarranted and unnecessary interference with a sovereign nation.”
The statement also said that the interference could be exploited by “vested interests hostile to the process of reconciliation” in Sri Lanka.
From a U.N. perspective, the panel is necessary for healing in Sri Lanka as it will ensure accountability. “The secretary-general remains convinced that accountability is an essential foundation for durable peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka,” said a spokesperson for the secretary-general on Sri Lanka.
On the same day that the foreign minister rejected the U.N. panel, Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne boasted that Sri Lanka won the war on terrorism—something no other country has been able to do—and because of this, other nations were ashamed.
“Sixty-six countries around the world are still fighting against terrorism, but the sole country, which could achieve a military victory was Sri Lanka. This victory has mortified other big countries and they are making false allegations against us,” said the prime minister at a parade for military cadets, according to Colombo Page.
Earlier this month, Jayaratne told Parliament that the disbanded Tamil Tigers were trying to make a comeback, according to an AFP report.
In May, the International Crisis Group, issued a report calling on the U.N. to investigate its findings that Sri Lankan security forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels committed war crimes during the final stages of the 30-year civil war.
Evidence gathered by the Crisis Group claims that between January and May 2009 tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, including men, women, children, and the elderly were killed. Countless more were wounded, and hundreds of thousands were deprived of adequate food and medical care, resulting in more deaths.
The Tigers were also found to have engaged in war crimes including firing on, killing, or wounding civilians in the conflict zone who were attempting to flee the shelling and enter government-controlled areas. The Tigers are also accused of depriving civilians of humanitarian supplies, even when some of them were injured or dying.
The Sri Lankan government declared total victory over the Tigers on May 18.
