Criminal complaint against Major General Jagath Dias

04 August, 2011

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) and TRIAL - Swiss Association against Impunity have filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry of Switzerland against the former Major General Jagath Dias for alleged war crimes.

Major General Jagath Dias is the Deputy Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Germany, who is also accredited to Switzerland and Vatican.

Complaint

Director of The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) Christoph Wiedmer told BBC Sandeshaya that they complained to the ministry as they regard Major General Jagath Dias as a probable war criminal.

He said that STP has reports from human rights organisations, testimonials, photos and videos of crimes committed during the final stage of war in Sri Lanka while Maj. Gen Dias was the commander of the 57th division of the Sri Lankan Army.

"In particular, during this time, the troops of Major General Jagath Dias had carried out shelling of civilians, hospitals, churches. We have some suspicion of torture and extra judicial executions", STP Director Christoph Wiedmer said.

Withdraw immunity

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) demand the Sri Lanka and Switzerland governments to withdraw his immunity and to take legal action against Major General Jagath Dias.

Sri Lanka embassy in Germany says that it has not been informed of any such complaint by the Federal Ministry of Switzerland which is the usual accepted practice.

Embassy not informed

The Ambassador, Tikiribandara Maduwegedera told Sandesaya that they have nothing do with the report appearing in only one website.

"I do not think we should get excited about it ", he said.

He said that there is a practice that any individual or organisation to take such legal action; by going through the foreign ministry of receiving country which is not done.

An individual or an organisation can not violate the immunity or privileges normally granted to a diplomat, the Ambassador, Maduwegedera added.
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TNA sets out conditions for talks

Thursday, 04 August 2011
 

The TNA has said today that they would not agree to set a date for the next round of talks with the government and that their willingness to continue participation in discussions with the government would be conditional, UPFA MP Sajin Vas De Gunawardane said in a statement.

 

After a meeting between the TNA delegation and the government delegation late evening today Mr. Gunawardane, who is the Secretary of this Committee, said that the TNA had put forward three conditions and insisted that, within a period of 10 days, the government delegation should inform the TNA in writing of its position on the following matters: (1). The structure of governance, (2). The subjects and functions allocated to the central government and the provincial councils and (3). Issues pertaining to fiscal and financial devolution.
 

Between meetings the Government has made every effort to discuss these complex issues, vital to the future of our nation, with all stakeholders in order to arrive at a consensus and in this way to build a foundation for a fair and durable solution, said Mr Gunawardane.

“It will be observed that these three areas, taken in combination, encompass almost the entirety of the Issues involved in the discussions between the SLFP, the main political party of the government and the TNA. It is certainly not possible, nor is it consistent with the national interest, to make a final pronouncement on all these crucial issues, hastily and without wider consultation, at this stage,” said Mr. Gunawardane in a statement.
 

“We do not think that the ultimatum delivered to the government by the TNA, which is tantamount to the attitude portrayed by the LTTE, is at all helpful or constructive for the purpose of carrying forward in a structured and methodical way a process which can reach a positive outcome only if it has the widest possible support among the public. It is this objective which the government has tried to achieve in its sustained discussions with varying shades of political opinion during the last few months,” he said.
 

“As much as the SLFP does not solely represent any community in particular, the TNA also does not solely represent the Tamil community. In the circumstances which have now arisen on account of the demarche of the TNA, the government will proceed with the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee. This is the appropriate forum for a discussion in which all the representatives of the people can participate with a view to identifying the constitutional reforms that are needed as the country emerges from the anguish of terrorism and faces with courage the challenges of accelerated economic and social development. The Government hopes that all political parties, including the TNA will avail themselves of this opportunit,” he said