UNHRC war crimes probe: TNA conduit for evidence

Those who wish to testify before the UN Human Rights Council sanctioned war crimes investigation panel on Sri Lanka, can submit their evidence through the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran informed the people in Jaffna residents, recently.

He has said the UNHRC-led international probe on alleged human rights violations that took place during the final phase of the war has begun and if there were any important evidence that should be submitted, it could be passed through the TNA Parliamentarians to the UNHCR committee.

“Vital evidence relating to war crimes, human rights violations against women, torture and disappearances can be given to TNA parliamentarians and arrangements have been made to convey them to the investigating panel,” he told Ceylon Today.

He added this was considered an important international probe, therefore evidence was most vital though there was no assurance of security to those submitting evidence.

He said the UNHRC was well aware of the uncertain situation prevailing in the country, and that TNA leader R. Sampanthan delivered speeches in Parliament during the war regarding causalities and damage. “Such information will be taken from the Hansard and will be submitted to the war crimes panel,” he said.

In June, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, appointed three advisors and twelve staff to the UN war crime inquiry on Sri Lanka. Last month, India refused to grant visa to the investigators of the UN war crime panel . The Sri Lankan Government has been persistent in its opposition to the UNHRC inquiry and refused to cooperate with any foreign investigation.(Ceylon Today)