UN urges Sri Lanka to prosecute war crimes under new government
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the current moment as a 'historic opportunity' for the country to reform.
'Today, an opportunity presents itself for Sri Lanka to break from the past, with the leadership pledging a fresh direction on long-standing issues,' Turk said in a report to the Human Rights Council.
The report noted President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's public recognition of the suffering endured by all communities during decades of conflict.
'It is important to build on this momentum and to translate it into tangible results for accountability in the form of truth-telling, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence, as necessary to end impunity and provide for healing and closure.'
Turk emphasised the need for Sri Lanka to formally acknowledge past violations, including those committed during the civil war that ended in 2009.
He urged international support for Colombo's efforts but warned of universal jurisdiction prosecutions if Sri Lanka fails to deliver justice.
UN reports allege Sri Lankan troops killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the war's final months, a claim repeatedly denied by successive governments.
The conflict, which lasted 37 years, claimed over 100,000 lives before the Tamil Tigers' defeat in 2009.
Sri Lanka has consistently rejected independent investigations into alleged war crimes by both government forces and Tamil rebels.
During his visit last month, Turk met Dissanayake and civil society representatives while touring war-affected regions.
'As I witnessed first-hand during my visit to Sri Lanka, the pain and suffering of victims remains palpable, and their demands for truth and justice must be addressed.'
The report welcomed pledges to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and investigate high-profile cases, including the 2009 murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
It also highlighted the lingering effects of Sri Lanka's 2022 economic crisis, with poverty rates nearly doubling and child malnutrition rising sharply. – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Iran president rejects Israeli PM's call for uprising amid shortages
TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for Iranians to revolt against their government during ongoing power and water shortages. Netanyahu's video message on Tuesday urged Iranians to 'take risks for freedom' and demand accountability from Tehran while offering Israeli water expertise to address shortages. 'The regime that deprived the people of Gaza of water and food wants to bring water to the people of Iran? What a mirage!' Pezeshkian responded on social media platform X. The exchange follows a 12-day conflict between the two nations two months ago, marked by Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites as well as civilian areas. United Nations agencies have warned of famine in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid shipments amid its ongoing war with Hamas since October 2023. Netanyahu has previously released similar videos targeting Iranian citizens during periods of domestic unrest in Iran. – AFP
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
UN urges Sri Lanka to prosecute war crimes under new government
GENEVA: The United Nations human rights chief has called on Sri Lanka's new government to end impunity for war crimes and human rights abuses. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the current moment as a 'historic opportunity' for the country to reform. 'Today, an opportunity presents itself for Sri Lanka to break from the past, with the leadership pledging a fresh direction on long-standing issues,' Turk said in a report to the Human Rights Council. The report noted President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's public recognition of the suffering endured by all communities during decades of conflict. 'It is important to build on this momentum and to translate it into tangible results for accountability in the form of truth-telling, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence, as necessary to end impunity and provide for healing and closure.' Turk emphasised the need for Sri Lanka to formally acknowledge past violations, including those committed during the civil war that ended in 2009. He urged international support for Colombo's efforts but warned of universal jurisdiction prosecutions if Sri Lanka fails to deliver justice. UN reports allege Sri Lankan troops killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the war's final months, a claim repeatedly denied by successive governments. The conflict, which lasted 37 years, claimed over 100,000 lives before the Tamil Tigers' defeat in 2009. Sri Lanka has consistently rejected independent investigations into alleged war crimes by both government forces and Tamil rebels. During his visit last month, Turk met Dissanayake and civil society representatives while touring war-affected regions. 'As I witnessed first-hand during my visit to Sri Lanka, the pain and suffering of victims remains palpable, and their demands for truth and justice must be addressed.' The report welcomed pledges to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and investigate high-profile cases, including the 2009 murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. It also highlighted the lingering effects of Sri Lanka's 2022 economic crisis, with poverty rates nearly doubling and child malnutrition rising sharply. – AFP
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Israel military approves plan for new Gaza offensive
TEL AVIV: The Israeli military said Wednesday it had approved the "framework" for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, days after the security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza City. Armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir "approved the main framework for the IDF's operational plan in the Gaza Strip," a statement released by the army said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has not provided a precise timetable for when Israeli troops will enter the territory's largest city, where thousands have taken refuge after fleeing previous offensives. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli air strikes on Gaza City have intensified in recent days, with the residential neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra hit "with very heavy air strikes targeting civilian homes, possibly including high-rise buildings." News of the military's approval of the plan comes hours after Hamas said a senior delegation had arrived in Cairo for "preliminary talks" with Egyptian officials on a temporary truce. The Netanyahu government's plans to expand the Gaza war after more than 22 months of fighting have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. Hamas's October 2023 attack which triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,599 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.
