VIDEO: HRW criticizes Sri Lanka’s war report
August 2, 2011 01:17 pm
An international rights group has called Sri Lanka’s report on civilian war casualties an attempt to whitewash growing evidence of alleged government atrocities.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch says although the report concedes for the first time that government forces caused civilian deaths in the final months of the 26-year conflict in 2009, the government takes no responsibility for the violations of the rules of war.
“The Sri Lankan government is finally admitting that its forces caused civilians losses during the conflict’s final months, but unconvincingly claims no responsibility,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “This is just the latest and glossiest effort to whitewash mounting evidence of government atrocities during the fighting.”
The 161-page report by the defense ministry on Monday says civilian deaths in the war against Tamil Tiger rebels were unavoidable given the magnitude of the fighting and ruthlessness of the opponent.
It came a few months after a U.N. experts panel cited credible claims of human rights violations by both troops and the rebels, reportsThe Associated Press.
