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Military, LTTE personnel accused of war crimes: Cabinet memo submitted seeking amnesty

26 February 2019 09:01 am - 10     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said he submitted a Cabinet memorandum asking for general amnesty to all those who are accused of war crimes – both from the armed forces and the LTTE.

In an interview with Daily Mirror, he said it was inappropriate to single out the armed forces as the only perpetrator of war crimes since there were many others involved in similar acts.

He said some 12,000 LTTE combatants who were reintegrated into the society should also be tried for war crimes if legal action were instituted against military personnel. He said it would be an endless exercise to trace those from all sides who were accused of rights violations or war crimes and therefore the government should now dispense with this whole issue by granting general amnesty.

In his memorandum, he says “certificates of absentee” should be issued in respect of missing persons to their next of kith and kin for legal requirements.

As for reparation, he said the government should compensate the houses damaged in war. “Reparations should be paid on behalf of non-combatants killed in war,” he said.

Commenting on property taken over for military purposes in the North, he said these lands should be returned to their rightful owners or be acquired by the government through a proper procedure by paying compensation.

Referring to the advent of Tamil militancy, he said the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) passed the Vaddukoddai resolution in 1976 asking for a separate State for Tamils, and the LTTE, as an armed group, emerged subsequently. “The LTTE committed heinous war crimes killing as many as 9000 persons,” he said.

Against this backdrop, he said international oversight on Sri Lanka should not continue.

“We co-sponsored the resolution in 2015. We should not have done it. Today, the United States is no longer with the UNHRC. Britain and Germany will bring in a resolution on Sri Lanka this time. We should no longer keep this problem under international oversight. Instead, we have to come up with a solution based on what did in the past. We have conducted ourselves well. We have conducted democratic elections making way for representatives elected by people to rule their areas. This is a victory we gained. There is no political assassination that has taken place. There is no communal riot driven by hatred between communities. It is not the military or the Sinhala extremists who killed A. Amirthalingam or Yogeshwaran. It is the LTTE that is responsible. The LTTE would have even killed TNA leader R. Sampanthan if they had the chance,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)


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  • Rohan Abeygunawardena Tuesday, 26 February 2019 09:48 AM

    Minister has taken a very wise and practical step suggesting to give an amnesty to all those involved in war crimes. There is no point dragging this on. All parties should forget the past and work towards economic development of the country. That is the only way to sort out grivences and aspirations of all our people. President, PM, cabinet of ministers and all others should support this.

    ANTON Tuesday, 26 February 2019 09:56 AM

    THE TRUTH IS THIS ........... WHEN THE WAR WAS GOING ON , SINHALESE WERE HAPPY WHEN TAMILS WERE KILLED, TAMILS WERE HAPPY WHEN SINHALESE WERE KILLED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MUSLIMS WERE VERY HAPPY WHEN BOTH WERE KILLED.

    DillonDP Tuesday, 26 February 2019 12:21 PM

    a war crime is a crime against humanity which should be addressed by not considering the side

    Nu Tuesday, 26 February 2019 12:34 PM

    Indeed. No one ever requested the rehabilitated LTTE cadres be tried for war crimes. Why?

    Ananda Tuesday, 26 February 2019 02:27 PM

    Rather than military, LTTE has done many war crimes. More or less both side has done. Now all gone to the past and with military victory all are living peacefully. Imaging if war continued how many peoples would have been killed last 10 years. Many as thousands and all life have been saved. We all must appreciate the making the way end of war. Any sort of war peoples get killed that can not stop and only minimize can do. Best thing is to grant amnesty for all who involved that is the only way we can think of for betterment of the country. Instead of war crime charges, we all must focus to take legal action for thieves

    Sus.nathan Tuesday, 26 February 2019 05:12 PM

    The constitution of Sri Lanka was written by sinhales and they should face consiquence. Even now they are not willing to change. Like JR said if you starve the tamils, sinhales will be happy. That's the politics plays. Sri Lanka is a supporter of Pakistan

    Sarwan Tuesday, 26 February 2019 05:52 PM

    State terror criminals by SL state, should be punished seriously, as SL state failed to protect Tamil citizens. They should be tried by UN, found guilty and hanged like the proposed hanging of drug dealers, to ensure non recurrence. None has been taken to a court. How can amnety be given. An amnesty is illegal as there is a UNHRC resolution on this matter. SL could not solve a single Tamil rights issue during past 70 years and it will never be able. Allow the UNHRC to do that for SL. Do not fool yourself and others.

    Premathilake muhandiram Tuesday, 26 February 2019 06:09 PM

    Most logical,appropriate and timely action that every one of Sri lankans must support disregarding differences.

    Kumara Tuesday, 26 February 2019 06:32 PM

    First the President and Govt

    Priyal Nanayakkara Wednesday, 27 February 2019 09:10 AM

    See the United States. They killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. They eliminated Saddam Husain and his sons in Iraq. They will keep on destroying anyone who is a threat to US or US citizens. Sri Lanka did the same thing. Eliminating a ruthless terrorist group in its own soil who were a threat to SL and its people. People being Singhelese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and tourists. No one in this world will ever see an evil force like the LTTE in this world. ISIS in not as evil as the LTTE when it comes to crimes on humanity. War crime charges are again is a political game for the west to keep up the Tamil votes.


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