South America rights groups file war crimes suits against former Sri Lanka army general
Posted on August 29th, 2017
Courtesy JURIST
[JURIST] Human rights groups on Monday filed suits against Jagath Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lanka army general, for alleged war crimes and human rights violations he committed during the 2009 civil war in Sri Lanka. The suits are based on his role as a commander in the Sri Lanka military during the final phase of the government’s conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) [Britannica backgrounder]. The suits allege [AP report] that Jayasuriya supervised units that are responsible for the torturing, killing or enforced disappearances of thousands of individuals, including civilians. Carlos Castresana Fernandez, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, stated: “This is one genocide that has been forgotten, but this will force democratic countries to do something … This is just the beginning of the fight.” According to Fernandez, suits have been filed in Brazil and Colombia, and will also be filed in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Fernandez also added that Jayasuriya has reportedly fled Brazil, although this fact could not be confirmed.
The global community has been calling on Sri Lanka to create more accountability, since the end of the country’s civil war in 2009. In March the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile] presented his report [JURIST report] on Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council [official website] stating that much work remains to make Sri Lanka’s judiciary conform with international expectations. In January a panel of the Sri Lanka Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms [official website] recommended [JURIST report] that the nation temporarily adopt a hybrid court with both local and international judges working in tandem to adjudicate war crime allegations stemming from the nation’s civil war. In May 2016, a UN rights expert said that Sri Lanka was still torturing suspects [JURIST report] seven years after the conclusion of the civil war. In October the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye [official profile] urged [JURIST report] Sri Lanka to better protect minorities [JURIST report]. The UN released a report in 2015 finding that war crimes may have been committed[JURIST report] during the war. The UN report came amid mounting pressure from human rights groups and the international community to investigate and prosecute abuses during the conflict with the LTTE. In 2014 then-US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Stephen Rapp [official profile] called on [JURIST report] Sri Lanka to investigate rights abuses by security forces during the civil war. In 2013 then UK Prime Minister David Cameron [Britannica profile] demanded [JURIST report] that Sri Lanka conduct its own investigation into war crime allegations.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Why are they silent on Tamil war crimes? Particularly of the Tamil Diaspora that funded terrorism? That is the elephant in the room.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:27 am
Now it seems the Western powers are using the South American rights groups to intimidate Sri Lanka, or rather the generals of MR, having failed their attempt through the UNHCR. They think if groups from the third world countries come forward to file a suite against Sri Lanka it would look more credible as nowadays people around the world know the Western manipulation of the UNHCR.
Whatever it is, Jagath Jayasuriiya or any other generals with the SL forces serving during the war, should not be subject to any human rights violations alleged to have been committed during the war, as they really helped to bring the war to an end and release the Tamil people as well as the Sinhalese and Muslims from the fear of a war that had been destroying the country’s economy, infrastructure along with the lives of people in every part of the country.
August 30th, 2017 at 8:46 am
Who are these Buffoons? Stupid Hispanic stooges of West. I think Christian church is behind this show. If they come to arrest Jagath and other war heroes whole Sri Lankan must rise against this dastardly act.
August 30th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Tony Blair, George Bush Sr, George Bush Jr, John McCain, Bill Clinton, , David Cameron, Barck Obama awarded unjustified Nobel peace prize, Hillary Clinton, Holland, Sarkozy, Saudi Arabia leadership and their war crimes in Yemen. They can all walk scot free. But it seems if you genuinely fight blood thirsty terrorist groups and win you hauled before international courts. Something isn’t right in the state of Denmark or Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. That the evil powers that be in the world. Doesnt want good people to triumph. As Helaya said whole of Sri Lanka must rise against this dastardly act. May 2009 is now a long time ago. Yet the evil powers that be in this world are determined to punish the Sri Lankan military for genuinely taking on defeating an evil group thirsty terrorists. The Sri Lankan Military free Sri Lanka from the grip of terrorism. Sri Lanka should stand firm against these unjustified baseless accusations.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Protect Sri Lanka’s War Heroes !
It up to GoSL to protect Gen Jagath Jayasuriya. Tell the truth of matters to all the Embassies, High Commissions, UN, etc.
They, the Armed Forces SAVED the Country and the People – Sinhala, Tamil and all the Others, and paid a very heavy price to do so.
Take a look at the leaders of the then govt & the Armed Forces who won against the terrorist group, the LTTE – they are accused of War Crimes !
Take a look at the ordinary soldiers – there are thousands who are still suffering immensely due to PTSD and loss of limbs and injuries.
What Justice for them & their Families ?
After WWI&II, the west took good care of their armed forces.
Other countries must do the same, isn’t it ?
It is time to deeply analyse and put together just what started the LTTE Tamil Violence in Sri Lanka , and the JVP Violence, and make sure such conditions are NOT repeated to tempt violence from the Youth of the North or from the South.
August 31st, 2017 at 11:35 am
Traitor catholic tigers of tamil drealam (CTTD) still want to punish MR & co, who stopped the creation of a catholic
country in Sri Lanka. They using cat’s paw UNHCR to punish war heros. Catholic run UNPatriotic with the traitor
chief die hard catholic token Buddhist Mega Thief Bay Gal Karaya Batalande Wadakaya pol pot R@nil wickrama
Sinhalakiller did everything possible. Still couldn’t get it done. Now they are hell bent on punishing them.
Sinhala modayas still clueless and support the traitor catholic run UNPatriotic party headed by the wolf in sheep’s
clothing die hard catholic token Buddhist Batalande Wadakaya. Traitor tamils claim to have 1000s of years history
in Sri Lanka with ancient kingdoms. But they don’t say/admit they exist only in www and books. They all are
followers of religions of conveniences which do not regard lying as sins. We all accept (honest people only) lying is
bad. But these religions which are based on fictitious gods don’t think lying is a sin. So they keep living this lie and
don’t want to be Sri Lankans. As a result of this lying these guys won’t be two legged creatures in their next lives!
August 31st, 2017 at 11:39 am
All the staunchly catholic countries inc. brasil, argentina etc. etc. supported catholic tigers of tamil drealam. Even
archbishop two three of south africa, convent educated jlalitha from tn were die hard supporters. Wonder why?
Staunchly catholic, breaking-up-countries specialists norway was the peace broker. Luckily for them they were in
Sinhala modayas’ paradise. So they were clueless!
http://ltte-christian-ties.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV6_o9txURc
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/08/05/christianizing-of-sri-lanka-unps-betrayal-of-buddhism/
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2016/05/27/ranil-wickremasinghes-new-unp-3/
http://www.lankagrid.com/soma-thero/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_eJ1gX_fuU
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2016/09/26/ltte-terrorism-church-links-can-someone-explain-these-photos/