Accountability must be addressed before new constitution – Vigneswaran
The Chief Minister of the Tamil-majority Northern Province of Sri Lanka, C.V. Vigneswaran, has said that accountability for the war crimes allegedly committed in the last phase of Eelam War IV must be established before the Sri Lankan government formulates a new constitution to address the basic political question.
Addressing the Tamil Peoples’ Council in his capacity as its co-chairman in Jaffna, Vigneswaran said that the constitution planned by the government will not be drafted to the Tamils’ satisfaction unless accountability issues were satisfactorily addressed prior to that.
He told the council that he had heard from someone involved in the constitution making exercise that the government is planning to brush accountability under the carpet by showing the international community before the September session of the UN Human Rights Council, that it is seriously working on a new constitution to address the political grievances of the Tamils. The plan is to get the new constitution passed by the March session of the UNHRC. By doing so, the government hopes that it can divert attention from the accountability issue and urge the Tamils to look to the future rather than look back at the past.
Vigneswaran said that it is essential for any Sinhalese-dominated government in Sri Lanka not to be seen letting down the predominantly Sinhalese armed forces. Therefore, every effort will be made to dodge the issue of accountability or water down the accountability process.
Government has already said it will not allow foreign judges. But the Tamil people cannot rely on the impartiality of Sri Lankan judges when the accused are military personnel as exemplified by the recent acquittal of six army officers in a case relating to the slaughter of 24 Tamils in Kumarapuram in Trincomalee district in 1996, Wigneswaran said. The Tamils must insist on having foreign judges in the proposed Judicial Mechanism, he emphasized.
(New Indian Express)
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Funny!! It seems the hon. gentleman Wigneshwaran is under the illusion that foreign judges will convict all the accused even they are proven not guilty.
Sinhalese dominant government. What else would it or should it be. Does he not know his figures . Sinhalese are the majority in Sri Lanka. IT is a Sinhalese country. So what the hell is he talking about. What makes him think that the soldiers will be found Guilty. Then what about the crimes committed by the Tigers? Who is going to be accountable for those?. Unfortunately there are lot of Sinhalese people who will ignore the fact that many Sinhalese people too suffered during the war because they do not want to upset the UN officers who are mostly biased any way.Up to now I have not seen in any news bulletin any UN officers talking about the Sinhalese war victims. If this is not biased then what is.
Agree with you, Mr S Fernando, that the Sinhala speaking people also suffered severe damages due to the war.
In order to avoid the label ‘Sinhala dominated Government’, the major political parties in Sri Lanka should ensure ethnically proportional representation in Parliament.
The call for International Jurists and International prosecutors will not only assist in resolving Tamil grievances but also in resolving Sinhala grievances.
For example, why is KP, the Chief Arms Procurer walking free not only in the Rajapaksa rule but also in the Yahapalana rule?
Why is Col Karuna, a free man terrorising the citizens of the Eastern Province, walking free not only under the Rajapaksa rule but also under the Yahapalana rule? There’s clear video and photographic evidence of Col Karuna slaughtering policemen and planning and implementing the attack on the Dalada Maligawa?
Why are the ‘Sinhala’ dominated Government’s prosecutors ignoring these terrorists?
Mr S Feranando, this is why the Tamils are clamouring for international judges and prosecutors. We do not have confidence that the Judges and Prosecutors employed by the majority Sinhala Governments have capability to deliver justice to any of Sri Lanka’s citizens including Sinhala and Tamil citizens.
I don’t know what the fuss it about. Just ignore these Tamil idiots. We gave them more than they ask for with weapons. If they want it again we are ready.