Sri Lanka must be prosecuted for its “War Crimes” against its Tamil citizens - CSWSL

The Coalition to Stop the War in Sri Lanka (CSWSL) welcome the latest report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) and supports the ICG call for the independent international investigation into the ‘war crimes’ committed in Sri Lanka based on reliable evidences gathered from eyewitnesses, satellite images, aid workers on the ground at the time of crimes, and other means.  The U.K. based Television News agency, Channel 4 News, in an exclusive report confirms that according to a senior Sri Lankan army commander and frontline soldier, that point-blank executions of Tamils at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war were carried out under orders from the top.

Full Text of the Press Release from CSWSL:

COALITION TO STOP THE WAR IN SRI LANKA

Ottawa       Toronto        Montreal         Vancouver         Edmonton

Toronto, Ontario,

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Sri Lanka must be prosecuted for its “War Crimes” against its Tamil citizens

The Coalition to Stop the War in Sri Lanka (CSWSL) welcome the latest report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) and supports the ICG call for the independent international investigation into the ‘war crimes’ committed in Sri Lanka based on reliable evidences gathered from eyewitnesses, satellite images, aid workers on the ground at the time of crimes, and other means.  The U.K. based Television News agency, Channel 4 News, in an exclusive report confirms that according to a senior Sri Lankan army commander and frontline soldier, that point-blank executions of Tamils at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war were carried out under orders from the top.

Please see the link:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/sri+lanka+option/3652687

Ms Arbour, the President of the ICG will appear live on Channel 4 News to outline options available to the international community to prevent the " Sri Lanka option" gaining currency. A new ICG report entitled War Crimes in Sri Lanka defines this option as "unrestrained military action, refusal to negotiate, disregard for humanitarian issues, keeping out international observers including press and humanitarian workers".

The CSWSL also welcome the Amnesty International call on the United Nations to set up an immediate and independent investigation into the massive human rights violations committed in Sri Lanka during the recent civil war. 

Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Asia-Pacific, said: 

 “At the end of the war, atrocities against civilians and enemy combatants appeared to be fueled by a sense that there would be no real international consequences for violating the law.” 

CTSWSL spoke person, Senthan Nada said, “More than 300,000 Tamil civilians who were herded into the narrow strip in Mullivaikal, Vanni have faced the worst atrocities from the Sri Lankan armed forces fully supported by the government of Sri Lanka ”

“The Sri Lankan armed forces went to the extent of using internationally banned weapons such as, chemical gas, cluster bombs and massive heavy weapons on hospitals, schools, places of warship and makeshift homes to blow the civilians including tiny bodies of children and letting them bleed to death”

“They buried civilians alive, including women and children and have slaughtered 40,000 civilians and 50,000 maimed just in the final days of the military onslaught early last year.”

CTSWSL call on the International community including our government to do its utmost to serve deserving justice to the long victimized, tormented, most unfortunate, helpless, voiceless, and hapless Tamils in Sri Lanka and their by bring genuine concept of truth and reconciliation in Sri Lanka between the communities which has high potential to lead to the peaceful, long lasting and acceptable solution to the victimized Tamils based on equality, freedom with dignity and self - rule.