US renews pressure on SL

4 June 2011 11:42 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The United States said on Saturday it remained 'deeply concerned' about alleged Sri Lankan war crimes as it distanced itself from a junior US military officer who questioned the credibility of the accusations against Sri Lanka.

The US government rejected an invitation to attend a seminar hosted by Sri Lanka earlier in the week to showcase its success in crushing Tamil separatists by May 2009.

However, the US defence attache in Colombo, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Smith, attended the seminar as an 'observer' and his remarks there were his own 'opinion", the US state department said in a statement received in Colombo.

Lt Smith told the seminar that the credibility of rebel surrender claims was in doubt and he appeared to contradict a Western allegation that Sri Lankan troops killed surrendering rebels.

A key charge in a recently compiled UN report accuses Sri Lanka of executing Tiger political leaders who are said to have worked out a surrender deal through Western diplomats, including those of the United States in Colombo.

Lt Smith told the seminar in Colombo that offers of surrender came from the 'mouthpieces' of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), whose words had not demonstrated any control over the leadership. (AFP)

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Comments - 31

Yehiya-Doha Sunday, 05 June 2011 04:34 AM

Its before channel-4 vidio clip, after the clip it change?

mike Sunday, 05 June 2011 04:42 AM

was human rights followed in cature of osama??? hypocrites!!

aza Sunday, 05 June 2011 05:33 AM

Come on USA, all your past presidents done lots of war crimes, first start from them, then think about others...

AJ-DXB Sunday, 05 June 2011 06:04 AM

I think that like Obama did, MR too should aologize (in words) to the thousands of Tamils who were caught in the crossfire since the GOSL declared war

kel Sunday, 05 June 2011 07:08 AM

first tell how us killed un arm osama

Gayan Samarasekara Sunday, 05 June 2011 07:39 AM

But even Bin Laden surrendered, and he was there without any weapon. So, US should know how to maintain mutual respect with other nations,.

Nissanka Sunday, 05 June 2011 07:53 AM

Hey guys, didn't you know that all the war crimes are against small poor countries like Sri Lanka. Any other big rich country can get away with cold blooded murder.

Bumba Sunday, 05 June 2011 08:06 AM

Brilliant question, how many civilians killed?

saman Sunday, 05 June 2011 08:11 AM

I think so it 's good.

Musthafa Sunday, 05 June 2011 08:53 AM

may be US has no works to concentrate

local boy Saturday, 04 June 2011 12:00 PM

hats off to US defence attache in Colombo

Yuri Sunday, 05 June 2011 09:47 AM

Any Evil are good for Sri Lanka. Gog help this island

rajen Sunday, 05 June 2011 09:50 AM

US including other western counties are sponsoring some terrorist groups base on religion. because prebakeren and his killers are Cristian. they can kill millions of people without claiming war crime.

mike Monday, 06 June 2011 04:18 AM

you must ask this from LTTE who kept civilians as shields & fm the begining betrayed the tamils. anyway without hiding in dubai like a coward come here & then talk

ravi Sunday, 05 June 2011 01:49 PM

THANKS USA

kanda Sunday, 05 June 2011 02:22 PM

almost zero ! but in sri lanka how many???

Sean Monday, 06 June 2011 04:52 AM

Go begging to the west and bark in SL

pathiya Monday, 06 June 2011 05:13 AM

Grow up victoria. Military attache's from the US cannot be bought over by any Govt. If he says something against his own Govt, it is because he has been convinced, not bought.

Wickrama Sunday, 05 June 2011 04:12 PM

Isn't killing civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq war crimes?

Reader

Srilnkn Sunday, 05 June 2011 04:27 PM

You are one of the Mr. Fool in srilanka

Honour Sunday, 05 June 2011 06:08 PM

us should avoid intervening srilanka and sl will sort out any itself

ravi Saturday, 04 June 2011 06:57 PM

thanks good move god is great.

mich Saturday, 04 June 2011 08:38 PM

defence attache knows what is the credible situation.......ha..hhaa now it clearly showes this is political motivated properganda.

Kalawedda Saturday, 04 June 2011 11:36 PM

....and a BIG RESOUNDING BOOOOO to the US govt double standards!

victoria Saturday, 04 June 2011 11:50 PM

US defence attache in Colombo was looked after very well by the Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka?

Haris Sunday, 05 June 2011 12:43 AM

Pls pls us, investigate ur own crimes that u did so far. Who made u as world leader

MagodisThuma Sunday, 05 June 2011 01:11 AM

Did they really come with white flags ?.

Paul Sunday, 05 June 2011 02:13 AM

Lt.Smith must have certainly had a nice time in Sri Lanka.He will change his mind soon when he is sober.

NOBEE PERERA Sunday, 05 June 2011 02:42 AM

LT. SMITH KNOWS THE REAL TRUTH AND MAY BE HE GOT EXPERIENCE WHILE HE WAS IN AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ

Marzook Sunday, 05 June 2011 03:33 AM

Now will see how many mouth's the US has?

matu Sunday, 05 June 2011 04:05 AM

hats off to us but 10.000 application for green cart

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US renews pressure on SL

Comments - 31

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