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The Dalai Lama
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Monday, April 8, 2019
War crimes accused Silva appointed colonel of commando regiment
07 April 2019
Sri Lanka has appointed its chief of staff of the army, Major General
Shavendra Silva as the new colonel of the commando regiment, despite
international calls for him to face a trial for war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
The appointment follows criticism of his elevation to chief of staff, the second highest position in the army.
In her statement last month at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, described his
initial appointment as “a worrying development”.
In a 137-page dossier published earlier this year the International
Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said there was “more than enough
evidence” to suspend Silva and charge him with war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
The dossier detailed several of the crimes Silva oversaw as commander of
the 58 Division during the armed conflict, including attacks on
hospitals, the use of white phosphorus and cluster munitions, summary
executions and sexual violence.
“Many successful cases at international tribunals or the International
Criminal Court had less to work with. There is now no excuse for this
man to remain as number two in the Sri Lankan Army; he must be suspended
immediately and a criminal investigation instituted," ITJP executive
director, Yasmin Sooka said.
