Sri Lanka must not continue to ignore allegations of war crimes

Posted by Samira Shackle – 15 June 2011 11:47

Footage aired on Channel 4 appears to show evidence of sexual assault, shelling hospitals, and summary executions.

Internally displaced Tamils leave their camp in the northern town of Vavuniya, December 2009. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Britain has renewed calls for Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of war crimes committed at the end of the civil war in May 2009, after footage aired on Channel 4 last night.

In some of the most shocking images ever shown on British television, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields showed naked and bound prisoners being shot in the head, the disposal of dead bodies of women who had been raped, and the aftermath of a hospital being shelled. The footage, much of which was filmed on mobile phones, was either shot by Tamils escaping, or by soldiers as grotesque war trophies.

The film shows the end of the 25 year civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) two years ago, when government forces pushed thousands of Tamils into an increasingly confined piece of land, which was then shelled and bombed. There is strong circumstantial evidence for a series of war crimes: the summary execution or prisoners, widespread sexual assault, and the systematic shelling of hospitals with 65 attacks.

Much of the footage is previously unseen. The fact that it exists — when the Sri Lankan government had forced the UN to leave so that there were no international observers — is testament to the power of the digital age.

The film does not shy away from the fact that atrocities were committed by the LTTE, too. The group pioneered the use of suicide bombing, and used civilians as human shields. But the fact remains that this was an unequal war, and atrocities by one side never give the other carte blanche.

A UN panel last month rules that there were "credible allegations" of war crimes and crimes against humanity (committed by both sides), but the Sri Lankan government rejected its findings.

The British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said today that if the Sri Lankan government does not probe these claims, it could lead to international action. The signs do not look promising. Rajiva Wijesinhe, a government legislator, responded with a denial: "It is a fact that pro-LTTE groups in Britain are applying a lot of pressure on British politicians to pay attention to the Channel 4 video. I would be particularly sorry of Alistair Burt for succumbing to this."

As Steve Crawshaw, Amnesty International’s advocacy director, says in the film, the world’s silence on this so far is inexplicable and morally indefensible. If proved, these crimes are comparable to Srebenica, for which Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are standing trial at The Hague. Over 40,000 civilians were killed in Sri Lanka — President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, the defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa must face justice too.

This clip shows a Channel 4 News report from 3 June, after the Human Rights Council in Geneva convened to watch the film. Warning: some distressing images.

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18 comments from readers

sri lankan girl

15 June 2011 at 13:16

this documentary by channel 4 was blatently biased and unfair reporting.

Siv

15 June 2011 at 13:25

Finally there are some lights shown on Innnocent tamil civilians, who were brutally killed by SL Governement forces and Seperatist terrorist.

UN should take a firm action and Perpetrators need to be punished.

charlesfrith

15 June 2011 at 13:40

The traditional Sinhalese line of ‘we’ve got nowhere to go’ doesn’t justify the raw brutality of crimes.

krazykol87

15 June 2011 at 13:47

@Sri Lankan girl… I’m assuming a Sinhalese still in denial about the disgusting government/dictatorship that you are under??

Why would Channel 4 be biased?? Men speaking Sinhalese and dressed in the Sri Lankan Army uniform were shown taking trophy pictures…how is that ‘unfair’ reporting?? Get a grip!

A

15 June 2011 at 14:07

The world doesnt care about Tamil Sri Lankans, people who were left homeless in their own land in 1983 following Black July, and the only people that cared were so called terrorists who sent their children to war.

To the Sinhalese: Rajapaska is clearly a madman who has committed crimes against humanity, and needs to be dragged kicking and screaming by the scruff of his neck to the Hague. He did his job, now get rid of him (if you can) and show the world that his actions did not represent you. If you do not do this history is going to judge you very harshly, and much needed development funding will not come. I would love to come to Sri Lanka and help rebuild your country, (I am an IT specialist of twenty years experience, and work for the biggest companies, I would willingly give that up to help sri lanka) but I will not come while you harbour war criminals.

A

15 June 2011 at 14:09

The economist have covered sri lanka in much depth over the last couple of years, worth checking out their articles.

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 14:28

The UK does not need to wait until a resolution can be passed at the UN.

The idea that China and Russia may block a resolution against Sri-Lanka is not acceptable. It is simply an excuse. A resolution against Libya was passed very fast, even though there was resistance from China and Russia. The question is whether the UK and also the US have the will to take the necessary actions to bring the WAR CRMINALS to book.

UK can take unilateral actions against Sri-Lanka, such as:

Placing Trade sanctions.

Preventing UK tourists from visiting Sri-Lanka.

Cutting off sports-ties by throwing out the Sri-Lankan Cricket team that is currently in England.

Freezing the assets of the Sri-Lankan regime.

Denying visa to anyone who is connected to the regime in Colombo.

The British people who are concerned should put pressure on the British Government via their MPs.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (and women) do nothing”. Edmund Burke

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 14:30

Here is a video that proves how Rajapaksa twists everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyG8DG49fzU&feature=related

Indian government should see this!

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 14:32

A recent report can be seen here:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/…

Sri Lankan

15 June 2011 at 14:32

Unfortunately Jon Snow has failed to understand the nature of the issue he was covering. As expected the report was wholly biased towards the LTTE (who are a terrorist organisation responsible for heinous crimes against innocent civilians- Tamils and Sinhalese alike), it fails to report objectively on the situation, its history and is instead simply highly emotive and subjective. There is no mention on the atrocities committed by the LTTE against Sinhalese civilians in the 1980s (including suicide bombers and bombs in heavily populated civilian areas which killed many 100s of people).

This report serves to disrupt and undermine a peace process that is now well underway and has the full support of the Sri Lankan population as a whole. There is now a positive attitude and post-war optimism in SL at the possibility of SL finally having the opportunity to reach its economic potential and becoming a stable nation where its citizens can lead normal lives and have access to the basic opportunities (such as un-interrupted education) which have long been lacking due to the 25+ year conflict. The SL army should be congratulated for having successfully defeated a major terrorist organisation which promotes violonce and extremist ideologies

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 14:36

To: Sri-Lankan

Is the “peace process” taking place under secrecy?

No-one seems to know about the peace process!

Who are you trying to con?

Sri Lankan

15 June 2011 at 14:43

Clearly not you Ravi- obviously you are far too insightful and unbiased in your views of the situation! I assume by War Criminals- you must also include the several thousand Tamils worlwide who used to (and no doubt continue to) financially support the terrorist organisation that is the LTTE. Or have you conveniently forgotten the atrocities committed by them against the civilian population….

Perhaps you need to remove that patch which appears to be giving you a one-eyed view of things

A

15 June 2011 at 15:00

@srilankan

Your people burned them, subjected them to racist laws since the 1950s and because some soldiers were killed by terrorists, you, the sinhalese, burned them out of their homes, more than 180,000 homes and businesses were torched because of the actions of a few. You left them homeless in their own land, the only solution is to recognize the war crimes of the past and reconcile, but for this to happen, rajapaska must be dragged by the scruff of his neck to the hague kicking and screaming. The actions of Black July caused the LTTE to become powerful. Rajapaska is a madman, who is now feathering his nest, putting his family in positions of financial security, he will rape your country of development funds, its happened before and its happening in front of the eyes of the world. Please dont be fooled, we dont hate the Sinhalese, far from it, you are awesome people who have suffered too much from racist nationalist politics. Get rajapaska out, the world is watching.

Galahad

15 June 2011 at 15:03

Wasn’t the point of the film that both sides committed atrocities for very very poor reasons?

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 15:16

To: Sri-Lankan

I asked you again the same question:

Is the “peace process” taking place under secrecy?

Take a look at this report:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/…

ALL the WAR CRIMINALS must be brought to book – regardless of who they are. That includes the Rajapaksa brothers and their cronies!

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 15:17

The Sri-Lankan Govt and the Buddhist monks are involved in spreading myths. The myths of the Mahavamsa say that Sri Lanka belongs ONLY to the Sinhalese, and the text celebrates kings for slaughtering Tamils.

Buddhist monks have been involved in stopping any reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict since the 1950s.

The outside world should understand that the version of Buddhism practiced in Sri-Lanka promotes extremism and hatred. It is very similar to the Islamic extremism promoted by the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Buddhist mobs (including monks) attacked several churches in Sri Lanka in April 2009, threatening to kill a pastor in Hambanthota and ransacked a 150-year-old Methodist church building in Colombo.

http://m.cbn.com/cbnnews/shows/cwn/2009/April/Sri-Lanka-Budd…

In Sri Lanka, Buddhism is not what it was preached by Buddha. It has its own leaders of Buddhists monks who have their own political party. They have continuously promoted the idea: "This Island belongs to Sinhalese Buddhists Only.”

Ravi

15 June 2011 at 15:21

While the regime in Colombo claims that it does not need the West, it BEGS the EU for GSP Plus and for aid.

The US and UK are the two top markets for Sri-Lanka’s exports representing 21% and 12% respectively (source: EIU). The country also depends heavily on the EU for its exports.

The West should act now and put some sanctions on the regime and cripple it.

Sri-Lanka is just a Banana Republic and if it cannot be brought to justice by the International Community, then there will be many other regimes that will commit war crimes in the future and escape justice.

The UN Security Council members – especially USA, UK and France should move now to set up a formal investigation of the WAR CRIMES. China and Russia may try to block, but if they do, they can be exposed on the international stage for giving protection to WAR CRIMINALS.

Kugan

15 June 2011 at 15:33

http://www.change.org/petitions/downing-street-demand-justic…

Petition calling for UK Prime Minister to stop deportation of Tamil asylum seekers, and put real pressure on the Sri Lankan government to allow a fully independent investigation. Please read/sign and share!