SRI LANKA: War report a step forward, say activists

SRI LANKA: War report a step forward, say activists

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Thousands of civilians died in the conflict

COLOMBO, 3 August 2011 (IRIN) - Sri Lankan rights activists say the Defence Ministry report released on 1 August, acknowledging for the first time civilian deaths in the final days of the war, is a step forward, but caution that much depends on the government’s next move.

“It’s a step in the right direction, but a lot will depend on the next step by the government - whether it is willing to engage or whether it will harden its stance,” Jehan Perera, director of the Colombo-based think-tank, the National Peace Council, told IRIN.

Thousands are believed to have died in the decades-long war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who had been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983.

According to the 161-page government report: "It was impossible in a battle of this magnitude, against a ruthless opponent actively endangering civilians, for civilian casualties to be avoided.”  read more
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Victims of war deserve closure

  Gulf News Editorial  Published: 00:00 August 3, 2011
 
Sri Lanka must allow probe into allegations of rights abuses during 25-year civil strife
The defeat of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka ended a 25-year civil war and brought peace, stability and economic expansion to the island nation. But, as is often the case, in the aftermath of the war there have been allegations of war crimes by the government forces as they secured victory over Tamil extremists — themselves guilty of terrorism.
The United Nations special investigator, among others, has said that there is serious evidence of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings towards the end of the war. The Sri Lankan government has dismissed the claims.
Despite the Sri Lankan government's reservations, the truth must be uncovered — if not to punish the guilty, at least to give the families of the victims closure, and perhaps compensation. This will also make it clear to those involved in conflicts, anywhere in the world, that they will be held publicly accountable for their actions, even in war.
One of the greatest challenges facing countries with a legacy of war is to remember the lessons of the past while building a future for all.

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Sri Lanka must commit itself to good governance, the rule of law and human rights as the country moves beyond the war.