Army preparing report on war
29 May 2011 09:42 pm
The Sri Lanka Army is preparing a comprehensive report on the war with testimonies from those who fought on the frontlines, army sources said yesterday.
A senior army officer who served in the war front during the final stages said the army was of the view that the report could be used by the government to counter allegations of human rights violations.
The report is being prepared by a committee comprising senior army officers appointed by Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya.
The report will be based on the experience gained by army officers on the battle front and will include the rescue of civilians who were trapped in LTTE-controlled areas during the height of the fighting.
Several senior army officers said they would collect statements from battle front commanders and pack leaders, and from those who led the Special Forces teams, commando sub groups and special task forces which supported the 51st, 53rd, 55th, 57th, 58th and 59th divisions.
The committee has recorded statements from several top officers in the Wanni, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu.
Meanwhile a three-day seminar on the theme, ‘Defeating terrorism, the Sri Lankan experience,’ will be held from tomorrow. During the seminar the Sri Lanka Army will share its experiences in counter terrorism strategies and the humanitarian operations to rescue civilians trapped by the LTTE.
The subject of reintegrating ex-combatants into society, the resettlement and rehabilitation programmes and the steps taken to mitigate the factors that may lead to a resurgence of violence and the political reforms to accommodate all ethnic communities and the development activities in the North and East will also be discussed at the seminar.
Proposals will also be made on measures to manage and counter global terrorism, the role of human rights in counter insurgency operations and strategies for nation building with a Sri Lankan perspective.
About 300 delegates from 42 countries are expected to participate in the three-day seminar.
(Supun Dias and Olindhi Jayasundere)