Channel 4 to air ’horrific’ Sri Lanka footage - Guardian
April 27, 2011 07:36 am
Channel 4 is to air probably the most horrific footage it has ever shown in an investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, The Guardian UK reported today.
A day after UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon announced he is considering whether to investigate credible allegations that Sri Lankan forces committed war crimes in the closing weeks of the civil war in 2009, Channel 4 has revealed it will screen what it calls harrowing and dramatic footage which appears to document atrocities being carried out.
Because of the horrific nature of the videos, the film, presented by Jon Snow, will air in a late night slot in May and C4 said that distressing images will be preceded by appropriate warnings.
The investigation will examine films which Channel 4 said, on the face of it, shows: extrajudicial executions filmed by Sri Lankan soldiers as war trophies on their phones; the aftermath of shelling in civilian camps and hospitals alleged to have been deliberately targeted by Sri Lankan government forces; dead female Tamil fighters who appear to have been systematically raped; and pictures which document Tamil fighters alive in the custody of Sri Lankan government forces and then later dead, apparently having been executed.
The film also acknowledges the atrocities alleged to have been carried out by the separatist Tamil Tigers.
According to Channel 4, the footage was captured on mobile phones by victims and by perpetrators keeping the images as so-called war trophies.
The films director, Callum Macrae, said: The Sri Lankan government wanted a war without witness – deporting journalists and pressurising UN representatives to leave – but it didnt allow for the extraordinary power of mobile phone and satellite technology.
This dossier of visual evidence of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by forces of the government of Sri Lanka is of the greatest possible public interest. We believe that screening it is the only way to enable viewers to make their own informed judgments about what happened.
The film is being made by ITN Productions, edited by Gareth Williams and executive produced by ITN Productions editorial director Chris Shaw, Guardian.
A day after UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon announced he is considering whether to investigate credible allegations that Sri Lankan forces committed war crimes in the closing weeks of the civil war in 2009, Channel 4 has revealed it will screen what it calls harrowing and dramatic footage which appears to document atrocities being carried out.
Because of the horrific nature of the videos, the film, presented by Jon Snow, will air in a late night slot in May and C4 said that distressing images will be preceded by appropriate warnings.
The investigation will examine films which Channel 4 said, on the face of it, shows: extrajudicial executions filmed by Sri Lankan soldiers as war trophies on their phones; the aftermath of shelling in civilian camps and hospitals alleged to have been deliberately targeted by Sri Lankan government forces; dead female Tamil fighters who appear to have been systematically raped; and pictures which document Tamil fighters alive in the custody of Sri Lankan government forces and then later dead, apparently having been executed.
The film also acknowledges the atrocities alleged to have been carried out by the separatist Tamil Tigers.
According to Channel 4, the footage was captured on mobile phones by victims and by perpetrators keeping the images as so-called war trophies.
The films director, Callum Macrae, said: The Sri Lankan government wanted a war without witness – deporting journalists and pressurising UN representatives to leave – but it didnt allow for the extraordinary power of mobile phone and satellite technology.
This dossier of visual evidence of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by forces of the government of Sri Lanka is of the greatest possible public interest. We believe that screening it is the only way to enable viewers to make their own informed judgments about what happened.
The film is being made by ITN Productions, edited by Gareth Williams and executive produced by ITN Productions editorial director Chris Shaw, Guardian.
