Ensure accountability: US tells Lanka

Monday, November 14, 2011

The United States says Sri Lanka must ensure accountability for serious violations of human rights during the war.

Deputy U.S Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asian Affairs Robert M. Scher told a conference in Galle today that during his visit to the country he will make it clear that the United States needs to see continued progress in promoting the rights of all Sri Lankans.

“I will discuss areas of mutual interest and security cooperation, such as maritime security, and I will make it clear that the United States needs to see continued progress in promoting the rights of all Sri Lankans and in taking concrete steps to bring about reconciliation with the Tamil population.  Further, we believe that a serious effort by the Sri Lankan government to ensure accountability for serious violations of human rights during the war is critically important, and the only way to truly solidify the peace you and your people worked so hard to achieve,” he said.

The US official said that the Obama administration has made it clear that it will pursue policies that include both engagement with those with whom the US share interests and on behalf of improvements in human rights.

“These two approaches are not in competition, but must, by necessity, be pursued in conjunction with each other,” he added.