Sri Lanka condemned over aid workers' deaths

South Asia

The aid workers' deaths were condemned around the world

Human Rights Watch has accused the Sri Lankan government of lacking the will to prosecute the security forces for the killings of 17 aid workers in 2006.

There was widespread revulsion following the murders of the 16 Tamils and one Muslim in the north-eastern town of Muttur during the civil war.
European monitors were convinced government troops were responsible, but officials blamed Tamil Tiger rebels.
The government has since ruled out reopening an inquiry into the murders.
"The Sri Lankan government is no closer to prosecuting those responsible," said James Ross, HRW's legal and policy director.
"The Rajapaksa government is not just unwilling to uncover the truth, it appears afraid of the truth."
HRW says that the government has a poor record of investigating serious human rights abuses, and "impunity has been a persistent problem".
"Despite a backlog of cases of enforced disappearances and unlawful killings going back two decades that run to the tens of thousands, there have been only a small number of prosecutions," it said in a statement.
"Past efforts to address violations by creating ad hoc mechanisms in Sri Lanka have produced few results, either in providing information or leading to prosecutions."  

Colombo has come under pressure over atrocities alleged to have been committed by the army

 

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Manmohan Singh supports Sri Lanka at the expense of Tamils

August 3, 2011

The General Secreatry of MDMK Vaiko met Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan yesterday to discuss various issues. Mr. Vaiko is a former Member of Parliament who maintains good relationship with both Dr. Manmohan Singh and the BJP leaders.
Mr. Vaiko placed demands on Sri Lanka including action for international investigation on the war crimes committed by Sri Lankan army, withdrawal of army from Tamil home land, prevent Sinhala colonization, impose economic embargo against Sri Lanka.
But Dr. Manmohan Singh reiterated the established Indian policy towards Sri Lanka based on the China factor. He expressed his fears that China would replace India as strategic and trade partner. This is only expected from the Prime Minister since the Indian foreign policy is still under the control of Anti Tamil establishment in South block.
Therefore Vaiko returned empty handed. Vaiko and other politicians of Tamil Nadu have no influence in New Delhi. Politically they have either lost their power due to corruption charges or due to their preference to other issues. There is no politician in Tamil nadu who can exert pressure over New Delhi to save Sri Lankan Tamils. However there is more euphoria and empty rhetoric on who have the leadership to save Tamils.
The declaration of Prime Minister also means that the resolutions of Tamil nadu assembly asking for economic sanctions has been dumped to the dust bin by the central Government. The resolutions of the Tamil nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa are as good as the letters written by her predecessor M. Karunanidhi making no impact or result in favor of Tamils.
Unless the flawed foreign policy of India is rectified there is no hope for Tamils. Earlier the policy makers who supported Sri Lanka propagated the issue of terrorism and threat to India from LTTE. But after the demise of LTTE they have come up with the idea of China getting afoot hold in Sri Lanka posing a security threat to India. This is untenable. China maintains good relation with Pakistan too. If India is capable of tackling such a nexus there is no reason why India cannot overcome a China Sri Lanka partnership. Anyway such a hostile partnership has already developed. It is now easier for India to tackle any threat from any combination since a formidable strategic relationship is evolved with mighty USA.
The implied meaning in the declaration of Indian Prime Minster is painful to digest for an average Tamil living anywhere in this world. They feel orphaned. What does it mean? Should Tamils desist from demanding justice for war crimes for the sake of Indian security? Should the Tamils in Sri Lanka be reduced to slavery for defending India? Why Tamils should pledge their freedom for safeguarding the strategic and economic relationship of any two countries?