U.N. Calls for Sri Lankan War Crimes Court

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—

The United Nations has released a report calling for a special court to try war crimes that occurred during the 26 year long conflict between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tiger rebels. The U.N.’s report calls for a court that is comprised of international judges, local Sri Lankan judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and investigators.

The U.N. report charges both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels with committing atrocities against civilians during the war, which ended in 2009. Around 100,000 people were killed during the war, and estimates indicate that an additional 40,000 people were killed during the final stage of the war. Additionally, tens of thousands of civilians went missing during the war and were never seen or heard from again.

The crimes listed in the U.N. report, committed by both the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers, include indiscriminate shelling in “no shell zones”, extrajudicial murders, enforced disappearances of tens of thousands of people, forced recruitment of adults and children, and acts of torture and sexual violence.

Sri Lankan civilians still suffer from the repercussions of the war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels. For example, some have been homeless since the war ended in 2009. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

The U.N.’s report states that if forced recruitment by the Tamil Tigers is proven in court, it will be classified as a war crime. The Sri Lankan government’s denial of humanitarian assistance during the war will also be classified as a war crime if that denial is proven in court.

Sri Lanka’s previous government, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, resisted international calls to investigate the war crimes. Sri Lanka’s new government, which came into power under President Maithripala Sirisena early this year, promised that it would cooperate with U.N. directives.

However, now that the U.N.’s report has come out, Senior Sri Lankan minister Rajitha Senaratne has stated that the country will implement its own process for addressing the atrocities committed during the war. Mr. Senaratne also said that Sri Lanka is not ready to agree with international inquiries.

Earlier this week, Sri Lanka’s government released plans for a truth and reconciliation commission that will consider war crime allegations. While the court will accept advice from international entities such as the U.N., it will employ a Sri Lankan process to try the war crimes.

The U.N.’s report states that Sri Lanka’s courts lack the necessary credibility to try the war crimes. The U.N. report also highlights the need for Sri Lanka to reform its criminal justice system. Currently, Sri Lanka does not criminalize war crimes, crimes against humanity, or enforced disappearances.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights, has stated that only a court made up of international judges and investigators will be able to handle the many alleged war atrocities that occurred during the war.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – UN Urges Sri Lanka War Crimes Court – 17 September 2015

BBC – UN Human Rights Council Urges Sri Lanka War Crimes Court – 16 September 2015

New York Times – U.N. Urges Sri Lanka to Establish Court to Investigate War Abuses – 16 September 2015

The Wall Street Journal – U.N. Report Urges Sri Lanka to Set Up War Crimes Tribunal – 16 September 2015

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One million evacuate due to 8.3 magnitude earthquake in Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile — A massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit Chile on Wednesday.  The powerful quake in Chile’s central region forced over a million people out of their homes.  At least ten people died when the quake hit and one person is still missing.

Aftermath of the 8.3 earthquake in chile / photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Horror struck as residents of Illapel’s homes began to sway and they ran into the streets.  Illapel is an area near the quake’s epicentre.  Coastal towns like Coquimbo recorded waves as high as 4.7m (15ft) hitting the shore after the quake, resulting in a Tsunami alert for the entire Chilean coast.  The alert has since been lifted.

The earthquake hit at 6:45 pm and lasted for more than three minutes.  There have been more than a dozen aftershocks.  According to the U.S. Geological survey the earthquake was the largest to hit that location in over 100 years.  Gloria Navarro, a dweller in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were “running in all directions”.

Officials said that 1,800 people in Illapel were without drinking water.  Electricity providers said hundreds of thousands of their clients in the worst-affected Coquimbo region had no power.

This Chilean earthquake was five times more energetic that the quake that devastated Nepal in April.  However, early inclinations show that the death toll will be a fraction of what it was in Nepal.  Why?  This is the third massive quake in five years, Chile often experiences quakes this massive.  To protect and prepare the country, the building codes are very strict and well enforced and the citizens are knowledgeable about how to react during an earthquake.

After the massive 8.8 quake in 2010, the Chilean government put millions into upgrading the country’s seismic network of sensors, and made improvements to telecommunications systems that share critical information and warnings.

President Bachelet said that “once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature”.  She will travel to the affected areas later on Thursday.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Chile quake triggers mass evacuation and tsunami alert – 17 Sept. 2015

The Telegraph – Chile earthquake in pictures: 8.3 magnitude quake triggers tsunami warning – 17 Sept. 2015

theguardian – Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – live updates – 17 Sept. 2015

NBC News – One Million Evacuated As Huge Quake Strikes Off Chile Coast – 17 Sept. 2015