Thursday, December 12, 2024
spot_img

UK firm on Lanka probe into war crimes

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

London: British Prime Minister David Cameron has reiterated his demand for an independent inquiry into the alleged mass killing of Sri Lankan Tamils during the final days of the civil war in 2009.
The Sri Lankan government had earlier rejected the demand and is planning to launch a South African-modelled truth and reconciliation commission. But the date for such an inquiry has not yet been announced.
Cameron said if the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not launch the independent inquiry by March 2014, the British government would call for an international inquiry through the UN.
In an exclusive column for London-based Asian Lite newspaper, the prime minister said there needed to be greater progress on human rights across the board in Sri Lanka – genuine freedom of expression and a free media, an end to the intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders and action to stamp out torture.
A crew from Britain’s Channel 4 TV was forced to abandon its trip to the south Asian island nation’s northern peninsula when its train was blocked by alleged supporters of President Rajapaska.
The British prime minister also appealed to both the Tamil and Sinhala communities to work together for a bright future of Sri Lanka.
“There needs to be a genuine reconciliation between communities,” Cameron stated.
“Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with enormous potential in the years ahead. But for too long it has been blighted by conflict. If Sri Lanka takes the opportunity to heal these old wounds then there is the prospect of a much brighter future for all its people,” he wrote.
“It’s now over a week since I returned from Jaffna and the images still both haunt and inspire me,” the British prime minister added.
“The visit I made to the north of Sri Lanka was fascinating – you can get all the briefings you like but nothing can replace seeing the situation for yourself. There were those who said I should stay away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. They said that by going I was giving legitimacy to what has happened in the north of the country. I couldn’t disagree more. By going we were able to shine a light on what more needs to be done.
“The end of the civil war in Sri Lanka is a massive opportunity but the issues now need to grasped. This isn’t about imposing a Westminster view of the world,” he said. (IANS)

Previous article
Next article
spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

SC imposes Rs 5 lakh costs on employer for taking wage and termination dispute to arbitration

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Supreme Court has imposed Rs 5 lakh costs on an employer for dragging...

Financial Intelligence Unit detects undisclosed income worth Rs 11,000 crore in 2024: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) detected undisclosed income worth nearly Rs 11,000 crore in...

Jyothirmayi says OTT is the catalyst behind wider reach of content

Mumbai, Dec 12: Actress Jyothirmayi, whose psychological thriller film ‘Bougainvillea’, is set to release on OTT, has shared...

Union Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill to streamline electoral process

New Delhi, Dec 12:  The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, aimed at...