US protects its soldiers but wants us to prosecute ours: Godahewa

16 September 2018 07:49 pm - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The US, which co-sponsored the UN resolution on Sri Lanka with the intention of getting Sri Lankan armed forces personnel prosecuted on charges of war crimes, has vowed to protect its soldiers from being subjected to unjust prosecution from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said.

Addressing a conference organized by the ‘Global Sri Lanka Forum’ in Oman on Friday, he said US President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton has called the ICC illegitimate and vowed that the US would do everything to protect its citizens.

“Bolton also said they will teach a good lesson to the ICC which is being sponsored by the UN and threatened to cease funds to that Court. He also said the US will not recognize the ICC and will act based only on the American Laws as they are not ready to accept any advice given out of their Constitution. However, the same US co-sponsored a UN resolution on Sri Lanka urging us to change our judiciary, to initiate a probe on war crime charges, to devolve power in the country and to appoint foreign judges to probe war crime charges. C.V. Vigneswaran and the rest are urging the government to implement these proposals,” he said.

He said no other sovereign country has allowed external forces to interfere in its internal affairs like Sri Lanka has done today. “No other example is needed to show the leniency of the current government which dances to the tune of a few western countries which pose as the so-called international community,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 29

Stan Sunday, 16 September 2018 08:18 PM

While it's hypocritic of the United States to do so, other countries have submitted to such pressure, take Yugoslavia for example. It's not okay to be hypocritic but it's also not ok to use that to discredit the Sri Lankan government.

GW Sunday, 16 September 2018 08:39 PM

Yes,you are right about the US. But India has gone one step ahead of the US,it has legislations passed in the Indian Parliament that states openly that the Indian Military would always be protected from any investigations about its conduct in any operations. While the whole world condemns the US for its latest action announced two days ago,no one raises even a single finger to condem India.

Stan Monday, 17 September 2018 06:13 AM

Yeah except the United States has a law called the Hague Invasion Act to invade the seat of the government of its NATO ally, the Netherlands, in order to forcefully free any US or allied citizen being detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 17 September 2018 09:16 AM

Does the Indian or US Military have white vans running around the country abducting, maiming and killing people?

Rohan Monday, 17 September 2018 06:39 PM

Buffaloa,I wish you were a woman living in India,then you would know about the Indians.

Jaliya Sunday, 16 September 2018 08:44 PM

This man Nalaka Godahewa doesn’t understand jack squat. He is trying to compare Us judiciary system with sri Lankan corrupt judiciary. Can he tell anytime in the history of the United States when and where a US soldier or any of its armed forces being accused of abduction, torture, execute or massacre its own citizens ? That is the real issue here not any crimes committed on an enemy force [from another country] when at real war. This is about armed force of a country alleged of abduction, torture, execute or massacre its own citizens. Now letting the accused culprits off the hook without any accountability.

Haramanis Monday, 17 September 2018 12:06 AM

Jaliya, Come on man, where have you been all these years, not to know of the atrocities committed by US forces all over the world??

Jude Monday, 17 September 2018 12:53 AM

So Jaliya, you justyfy Americans committing crimes against humanity in countries like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and then torture camps in Guantanamo Bay and Diego Garcia is okay with you becaz it's against the enemies!! Moreover, American forces drone attacks and carpet bombings killings scores civilians are NOT atrocities!!!

Mandayan Monday, 17 September 2018 04:32 AM

Spot on!. US has an effective legal system and even Trump is feeling its pressure. So they don't need an external mechanism. Here a case is heard and the magistrate is issuing orders while the President is sending the accused away.

michael Sunday, 16 September 2018 09:09 PM

Law needs to be the same for every one, from a beggar to the king including the Hero or the Zero. Else its not a law.

Mandy Sunday, 16 September 2018 09:29 PM

The best part of this fiasco is that US does not want any prosecution for crimes against foreign countries and their citizens by their soldiers while in our case it was against our own who conspired against established authority in our own country hence under our juridiction. Thus world community has no right at all to berate us as it was an internal matter..

Randy Sunday, 16 September 2018 11:42 PM

Hey Mandy - That means you can carry out GENOCIDE and the world community should shut up..You are talking BS. You may wipe out an entire community and the world community should turn a blind eye. Please go and consult a shrink tomorrow.

Mandy Monday, 17 September 2018 12:31 PM

Ours was no genocide = deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group. It was to curtail terrorists. US does aerial and remote vehicle bombing on indiscrimate targets In Pakistan Afganisthan and Syria where children suffer. How can you equate that to curbing terrorism in side own country.

Bala Monday, 17 September 2018 01:44 PM

Further it was US that used Agent Orange in Vietnam maiming scores of Viet Cong. That is a brutal indiscriminate crime on foreign soil.

Manel Sunday, 16 September 2018 09:31 PM

Yanks always have double standards.

Max Sunday, 16 September 2018 09:49 PM

Thats why sri lanka is called "land like no other", dr. godahwa.

Ceylon Sunday, 16 September 2018 09:54 PM

Usa is a government and sri lanka is a government.both are corrupt.justice is demanding by not governments but the people.what government says is not the people say.before talk think twice what you are talking about.

Sunil Monday, 17 September 2018 12:17 AM

Even if the US protects war criminals we Sri Lankan’s will not protect criminals. We will stand by our war heroes but punish all the criminals including the Rajapaksas...Anyone trying to protect criminals will be punished too.

Andrew Monday, 17 September 2018 06:29 AM

All the countries should follow the rule of law of war crimes but not the United States. Iam dumbfounded. This is supposed to be the most powerful nation of the world but it's cringing to face a open court. Set an example to the generations to be upright. There is a saying it is honerable to say the truth even if one has to face a bullet.

Dr.Who Monday, 17 September 2018 06:52 AM

two wrongs don't make a right.

joshua Monday, 17 September 2018 07:25 AM

another mouth piece of JO like former Governor Cabraal. Waiting with their tongues out for JO to win so that they can start plundering.

Harini Monday, 17 September 2018 08:25 AM

Well we are a sovereign nation and need not follow the US' policies. But we do need to be just and account for allegations of armed forces perpetrating crimes against civilians who are also Sri Lankan citizens and prosecute such speedily in order to increase the faith of all citizens in the law, in just governance and the State's ability to protect its citizens. The speaker is off on a tangent with no basis for what he proposes.

Lord Wolfstein Monday, 17 September 2018 09:30 AM

How can you be so megalomaniac to compare the US with Sri Lanka. In addition, unlike the US, the Sri Lanka forces have slaughtered their own civilian population. The war criminals run around freely in their own country and meet daily with members of the families of the victims in the streets. Since Sri Lanka does not make it or does not want to bring justice to the victims, a foreign pressure can not be avoided.

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT Monday, 17 September 2018 12:23 PM

"slaughtered their own civilian population" - USA slaughtered civilian population in all other countries - Oh sorry - I forgot to mention the "black lives " who are discriminated and slaughtered on USA streets - and that by their white law enforcers,

Trolly Monday, 17 September 2018 09:41 AM

I agree, we must protect our war criminals from justice. The law must NOT apply to them since they are "War Heroes". This makes logical sense. I dont understand why people dont get it..

SAM Monday, 17 September 2018 11:17 AM

He is a crook. He stole from stock market openly with top heads.

Sallay Monday, 17 September 2018 12:01 PM

But you imprisoned SF. The most senior Army office of the nation with the quickest time taken to punish him with political motives.

Buddhi Perera Monday, 17 September 2018 01:00 PM

Just like JO speak about Arjuna M and forget about Nalaka G

Sri Wickrema Monday, 17 September 2018 07:38 PM

This great orator Nalaka G is on bail.

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US protects its soldiers but wants us to prosecute ours: Godahewa

Comments - 29

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