Brazil lawsuit accuses Jagath Jayasuriya of war crimes

29 August 2017 03:38 pm - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Human rights groups led by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), in South America have filed war crimes lawsuits against former General Jagath Jayasuriya who is now Sri Lankan ambassador to Brazil, Al Jazeera reported today.

The lawsuits against Jayasuriya alleged that he oversaw military units that attacked hospitals and killed, disappeared and tortured thousands of people in the final phase of the war in 2009.

Jayasuriya has diplomatic immunity in Brazil and five other countries where he is ambassador - Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Suriname.

But the groups pursuing the suits hope they will compel regional governments to open investigations of Jayasuriya, remove his immunity and expel him, the article said.

Carlos Castresana Fernandez, the lawyer who is coordinating the effort, has told a foreign news agency that suits have been filed on Monday in Brazil and Colombia.

Petitions will be filed in Argentina, Chile and Peru in the coming days, he said, adding that authorities in Suriname had refused to accept the petition.

"This is one genocide that has been forgotten, but this will force democratic countries to do something. This is just the beginning of the fight," Fernandez said.

Al Jazeera said calls to the Sri Lankan embassy in Brazil went unanswered Monday evening as did an email seeking comment.

The suits say Jayasuriya was the commander of the Vanni Security Force from 2007 to 2009.
According to the suits, Jayasuriya oversaw an offensive from Joseph Camp in the northern town of Vavuniya.

The ITJP said it interviewed 14 people who survived torture or sexual violence at the camp.

"There is no way General Jayasuriya can claim not to have known that torture routinely occurred in his camp; there were purpose built underground torture chambers, equipped with manacles, chains and pulleys for hoisting victims upside down. If the detainees could hear each other screaming at night from adjacent buildings, so could he," ITJP's Executive Director Yasmin Sooka said in March.

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Comments - 24

Lawrance De Silva Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:18 PM

Simple .Please request US/European embassies to sort this out .

ceylon Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:34 PM

kalade palade.these are the so call war heros in sri lanka.apointing such man as ambassodor clearly proved government is run by such inhuman person. via DM Android App

Susil Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:01 PM

To guy writing as Ceylon"get lost" This guy is a western sucking live on Diaspora money.

Lord Wolfstein Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:43 PM

How is it possible for Sri Lanka to appoint an alleged war criminal as ambassador. This is a diplomatic affront against Brazil.

max Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:44 PM

Pro-LTTE diaspora has not abandoned their effort to punish the war heros it seems. Lets see the yahapa govt's response.

suresh Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:43 AM

from when did murderers become heroes?

Ruwan Wednesday, 30 August 2017 01:41 PM

Since the first Maaveerar Naal ceremony to celebrate the LTTE terrorists.

Toyya Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:46 PM

Wow. Shows how strong the Tamil Eelam Movement STILL is. Those guys will never stop lobbying for international support for their terrorist ideologies. Should put a FULL STOP to them soon.

Dalu banda Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:56 PM

What about the hospitals in Afganisthan, Siya, yaman, Iraq

gamini Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:45 AM

did Jagath Jayasuriya visit Afganisthan, Siya, yaman, Iraq also???

Brainmaster Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:05 PM

One way ticket to Den Haag via DM Android App

nilame Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:14 PM

Tamil diasporas has not seen the Guantanamo base torture chambers on media ?

ganesh Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:44 AM

why would Tamils be bothered about Guantanamo, there are no Tamils there

Nadarajah rajendra Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:52 PM

No one can escape the justice

Malin Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:04 PM

As long as Sri Lankan government don't prove to the world the actual war crimes in Sri Lanka were committed by the Indian Army in 1987 the international focus would remain on Sri Lankan forces.

suresh Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:46 AM

they are talking of 2009 not 1987

Wise Donkey Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:15 PM

It is our fault for sending people from the armed forces to be our diplomats abroad. We all know who did this. He should resign and come back. Over to the president........

satha Tuesday, 29 August 2017 08:01 PM

if he didnot do any wrong doing why you all worry about it

raj Wednesday, 30 August 2017 04:28 AM

Mr.Sumanthiran will defend the army commander. Sampanthan will appreciate Sumanthiran if he do so.

ed Wednesday, 30 August 2017 06:00 AM

SL foreign minister should call him back and have a commission to inquire and get this so called former regime murderer who claimed that he was the one who got LTTE leader in public. The regime gave him this opportunity to be the ambassador representing Sri Lanka in South America.He should be Court Marshalled and the truth has to be verified. ( question: why is this topic coming up after 8 years later?)

lanka Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:22 AM

What a shame to be send as ambassador? No we 2500 old cultured! Ha Ha ha ha

nick Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:34 AM

Brazil must be a joke that country has the worst human right records better they clean up their mess before try to clean up others via DM Android App

alex Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:47 AM

no one with military back ground should be appointed to diplomatic missions

Nandani Wednesday, 30 August 2017 09:21 AM

A result of cosponsoring US resolution!

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Brazil lawsuit accuses Jagath Jayasuriya of war crimes

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