Sri Lankan Government has taken a hostile attitude towards this UN investigation & some Cabinet Ministers have warned anyone from testifying before this body
( September 7, 2014, New York City, Sri Lanka Guardian) In an appeal to the Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzō Abe, the Prime Minister of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran has urged the Japanese leader to raise with Sri Lankan President the issue of protection for witnesses who will be testifying before a UN inquiry for the mass killing of Tamils.
Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzō Abe begins his visit to Sri Lanka on September 7, 2014.
The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will also emphasize this issue during his upcoming address to the current UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva on September 8, 2014. Advance copy of his statement sent by OHCHR Civil Society Section says the following:
“Moreover, I attach great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka mandated by this council, on which OHCHR will report later this session. I encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to cooperate with this process in the interest of justice and reconciliation. I am alarmed at threats currently being leveled against the human rights community in Sri Lanka, as well as prospective victims and witnesses. I also deplore recent incitement and violence against the country’s Muslim and Christian minorities.”
The UN Human Rights Council in its March 2014 Session created an investigative body on Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Government has taken a hostile attitude towards this UN investigation and some Cabinet Ministers have warned anyone from testifying before this UN body.
"Several Tamils who are either victims or witnesses are eager to testify to seek justice for the killing of their family members or for the mass killing of Tamils" said Mr. Rudrakumaran.
"As one of the few world leaders to visit Sri Lanka since the creation of the UN investigative body, you have enormous opportunity and responsibility to urge Sri Lankan President not to harm Tamils who testify before this UN body" continued Mr. Rudrakumaran.
"There are also concerns that the Sri Lankan Security forces may target the relatives of the witnesses."
“There are 90,000 Tamil war widows in Sri Lanka and we urge you to meet some of them to understand the gravity of abuses committed against Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government and the plight of Tamils” said Mr. Rudrakumaran.
According to United Nations Internal Review Report on Sri Lanka over 70,000 Tamils were killed in five months in early 2009 and Tamil women were sexually abused and raped by the Sri Lankan Security Forces. This UN investigation is about these crimes and other abuses.
