United States seeks probe into Sri Lankan war crimes

12 January 2014 01:26 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The US on Sunday pressed Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses by its army through independent and credible investigations after a top American diplomat recorded eyewitness accounts of serious "abuses" during the final stages of the civil war with the LTTE.

The US ambassador at large at the office of global criminal justice, Stephen J Rapp, concluded his week-long visit to Sri Lanka during which tweets from the US mission carried photos of alleged sites in the north where people were killed due to Lankan military shelling in the 2009 war.

Rapp had listened to eyewitness accounts of rights abuses "including those that occurred at the end of the war", a statement from the US embassy said here.

Sri Lankan military had defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009. Colombo has resisted calls to probe claims that over 40,000 ethnic minority Tamils were killed by the military during the final phase of the civil war.

" ... the government of the US encourages the government of Sri Lanka to seek the truth through independent and credible investigations, and where relevant, have prosecutions," it said.

Rapp called on foreign minister GL Peiris on Friday. Sri Lanka has denied charges that around 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by the army during the final push that crushed the LTTE.

The Lankan military has denied US accusations levelled through photographs during Rapp's visit which came ahead of the March sessions of the UN human rights council in Geneva.

The US has told Lanka that it could introduce a third successive resolution over rights accountability and reconciliation with the Tamil minority at the Council. Two previous resolutions, both US-moved, were supported by India.

Rapp's visit met with a protest opposite the US embassy. A nationalist group slammed the US for interfering in the country's internal affairs.

A protest was sparked when Rapp told the main Tamil party TNA that the March resolution would push for an international war crimes investigation. (The Times of India)

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Comments - 18

vijay Sunday, 12 January 2014 04:14 PM

Current regime is isolating the country from international arena.

Malin Gunawardene Tuesday, 14 January 2014 02:02 AM

All these lies about development must stop and an international war crimes investigation must be held.

Jesus Monday, 13 January 2014 09:04 AM

Keep up the good work ...America let's now teach the buddist a lesson...

mercy Monday, 13 January 2014 08:28 AM

Even the devil ( Israel ) cannot stop justice from prevailing

Roy Monday, 13 January 2014 05:11 AM

SL will take it's Harvest pretty soon.

LankaweBuwa Monday, 13 January 2014 05:03 AM

US you are a big joke. Mind your own business please.

giraffe heart Monday, 13 January 2014 03:22 AM

well done.

Goofy Monday, 13 January 2014 03:15 AM

How much dose Sri Lanka pay China to save the war criminals. Yes, high interest loans.

sunil wimalasuriya Sunday, 12 January 2014 01:55 PM

This is like the WMD allegations against Iraq. One million Iraqi people and 4000 US troops have died. The Iraqi Christians too invited the US to invade, I think that some Christians leaders in Sri Lanka too want to have more blood on their hands with similar allegations.

mota Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:56 PM

Kumar! EXCELLENT. There is at least one man on earth who remembers the history. Keep it up pal.

Suq Madique Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:55 PM

Don't start celebrating yet....false alarm!!

Suq Madique Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:54 PM

How much did the diaspora pay the 'witnesses'? These people will sell their own mother for a handful of pennies.

sss Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:15 PM

Imagination or just lying?

Eddy Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:15 PM

This has gone too far. The stupid Americans cant manage their affairs including their bankruptcy and still trying to wholeheartedly to support the Ltte. If they want proper Justice than arrest all those Tamil Tiger ( ltte) and bring them to trial for war crimes and human rights abuse instead of hiding behind their backside and accusing Sri Lanka. These Ltte liars with the help of co conspirators all spread over the world terrorist must be stopped. The US are being used again and again. Wake up.hn

sss Sunday, 12 January 2014 03:13 PM

SL was facing a situation where its mere survival was at stake. Considering how the US reacted to Bin-laden which was of much less gravity, I think US can understand

Yuri Sunday, 12 January 2014 02:24 PM

first i though SL gov will call US embassy to explain seems like it will not happen. i think nail is ready for Sri Lanka

kumar Sunday, 12 January 2014 02:08 PM

The real war crime happened when thousands of Tamil
men,women and children were massacred in the north and
east of Sri Lanka by the Indian army. Indians were able to
hide this crime for twenty six years because the LTTE was
bribed by the Indian government to keep quiet and the TNA
is also refusing to tell the world what the Indian army actually did.

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United States seeks probe into Sri Lankan war crimes

Comments - 18

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