No war crimes charges against SL - Ranil
July 30, 2011 09:41 am
Sri Lanka’s opposition leader says no war crimes charges can be brought against Sri Lanka as the country is not a party to Rome Protocol on crimes against humanity.
Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is currently in London, told BBC Sandeshaya he did not discuss the accusations against the Sri Lanka government in his meetings with UK political leaders.
Mr Wickramasinghe has held discussion with British Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt while attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting in London.
“We did not discuss war crimes. Anyway war crimes cannot be raised as I did not sign the Rome Protocol,” he said.
Channel4
His comments come days after British Channel4 television aired another controversial footage that alleged Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s direct involvement in alleged war crimes.
The government has rejected the footage as biased.
“I also explained our party’s position regarding the current situation in Sri Lanka,” said Mr Wickramasinghe.
The policy of the country’s main opposition, United National Party (UNP) is to find a solution to the burning issues including post-war reconciliation from within Sri Lanka, according to the UNP leader.
“I told the ministers that we prefer to discuss with the government and other parties to find a political settlement.”
Meanwhile, the opposition leader has told the British ministers that South Sudan should recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty if the country to be admitted to the Commonwealth.
He has made the comment after British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed support for South Sudan joining Commonwelath.
South Sudan and TGTE
“South Sudan did have connections with Transnational Government of Tamil Ealam (TGTE) so I pointed out that South Sudan should not officially recognise the TGTE,” Mr Wickramasinghe told the BBC.
At a time even the people in the north and east of Sri Lanka have voted for a political solution under a united country, he said, it is not suitable to consider solutions against that wish.
“Anybody can have any dealings with anybody but my point was that South Sudan should not officially recognise TGTE as a government,” he said.
“The TGTE was convened in the United States. Although the US did not ban the TGTE, US recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,” added the opposition leader.
Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is currently in London, told BBC Sandeshaya he did not discuss the accusations against the Sri Lanka government in his meetings with UK political leaders.
Mr Wickramasinghe has held discussion with British Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt while attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting in London.
“We did not discuss war crimes. Anyway war crimes cannot be raised as I did not sign the Rome Protocol,” he said.
Channel4
His comments come days after British Channel4 television aired another controversial footage that alleged Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s direct involvement in alleged war crimes.
The government has rejected the footage as biased.
“I also explained our party’s position regarding the current situation in Sri Lanka,” said Mr Wickramasinghe.
The policy of the country’s main opposition, United National Party (UNP) is to find a solution to the burning issues including post-war reconciliation from within Sri Lanka, according to the UNP leader.
“I told the ministers that we prefer to discuss with the government and other parties to find a political settlement.”
Meanwhile, the opposition leader has told the British ministers that South Sudan should recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty if the country to be admitted to the Commonwealth.
He has made the comment after British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed support for South Sudan joining Commonwelath.
South Sudan and TGTE
“South Sudan did have connections with Transnational Government of Tamil Ealam (TGTE) so I pointed out that South Sudan should not officially recognise the TGTE,” Mr Wickramasinghe told the BBC.
At a time even the people in the north and east of Sri Lanka have voted for a political solution under a united country, he said, it is not suitable to consider solutions against that wish.
“Anybody can have any dealings with anybody but my point was that South Sudan should not officially recognise TGTE as a government,” he said.
“The TGTE was convened in the United States. Although the US did not ban the TGTE, US recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,” added the opposition leader.
