Hundreds of Tiger rebels likely to be indicted
September 25, 2011 11:41 am
NEW YORK: Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris has told The Associated Press that hundreds of hardcore Tamil Tiger rebels are likely to be prosecuted on charges including mass murder for crimes committed during the country’s war that ended in 2009.
The rebels are among some 11,500 Tamil fighters who were captured or surrendered after the war’s end. G.L. Peiris said all but about 3,000 of them had already been released from military-run rehabilitation camps and were reintegrating into society.
Interviewed in New York where he attended the UN General Assembly opening session this past week, Peiris said that of those remaining, ``less than 2,000’’ hardcore rebels were expected to be indicted, and that court proceedings were likely to being next year.
Responding to accusations the government is overlooking allegations of rights violations by its own forces, Peiris denied that troops targeted civilians during the conflict.
But he said it was within the mandate of a reconciliation commission appointed by the nation’s president last year to review the conflict and learn lessons from it, and to also look into allegations of rights violations. If the commission found reliable evidence that any individuals had committed serious crimes, they would be indicted in a Sri Lankan court.
``They (the commission) cannot fulfill their mandate if they exclude from consideration these issues,’’ he said.
He said, for example, the commission would examine British TV footage purporting to show atrocities by troops.
Peiris accused several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada of being unduly critical of Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover from the war and using the island nation as a ``political football.’’
``Sri Lanka has to be given the time and space to resolve its issues. It’s premature for any kind of intervention by the international community,’’ the minister said.
A documentary aired by Britain’s Channel 4 in June included graphic video showing soldiers shooting bound, blindfolded prisoners.
Peiris did not comment on the video’s authenticity, but said the reconciliation commission ``has indicated that even matters like the Channel 4 footage will be looked at by them.’’
Tamil politicians had accused the government of stalling on negotiations on devolution of power that broke down earlier this year but the talks will resume in early October. Peiris said progress would take time and refused to set deadlines for a settlement. But he said provincial council elections would be held in early 2012.
He said the government has cleared 440,000 land mines since the end of the war and has resettled 95 percent of the 300,000 Tamils displaced by the conflict.
The rebels are among some 11,500 Tamil fighters who were captured or surrendered after the war’s end. G.L. Peiris said all but about 3,000 of them had already been released from military-run rehabilitation camps and were reintegrating into society.
Interviewed in New York where he attended the UN General Assembly opening session this past week, Peiris said that of those remaining, ``less than 2,000’’ hardcore rebels were expected to be indicted, and that court proceedings were likely to being next year.
Responding to accusations the government is overlooking allegations of rights violations by its own forces, Peiris denied that troops targeted civilians during the conflict.
But he said it was within the mandate of a reconciliation commission appointed by the nation’s president last year to review the conflict and learn lessons from it, and to also look into allegations of rights violations. If the commission found reliable evidence that any individuals had committed serious crimes, they would be indicted in a Sri Lankan court.
``They (the commission) cannot fulfill their mandate if they exclude from consideration these issues,’’ he said.
He said, for example, the commission would examine British TV footage purporting to show atrocities by troops.
Peiris accused several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada of being unduly critical of Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover from the war and using the island nation as a ``political football.’’
``Sri Lanka has to be given the time and space to resolve its issues. It’s premature for any kind of intervention by the international community,’’ the minister said.
A documentary aired by Britain’s Channel 4 in June included graphic video showing soldiers shooting bound, blindfolded prisoners.
Peiris did not comment on the video’s authenticity, but said the reconciliation commission ``has indicated that even matters like the Channel 4 footage will be looked at by them.’’
Tamil politicians had accused the government of stalling on negotiations on devolution of power that broke down earlier this year but the talks will resume in early October. Peiris said progress would take time and refused to set deadlines for a settlement. But he said provincial council elections would be held in early 2012.
He said the government has cleared 440,000 land mines since the end of the war and has resettled 95 percent of the 300,000 Tamils displaced by the conflict.
