Britain’s Labour party three years after the war in Sri Lanka a credible accountability process has still not been initiated from within Sri Lanka to investigate the serious allegations of war crimes detailed in the UN Panel of Experts report.
In a message to mark the remembrance of the incident which occurred in Mulivaikal during the final stages of the war, Labour leader – Ed Miliband MP said that his party remains deeply concerned by the desperate plight faced by many Tamils on the island, as well as the on-going violations of human rights.
“Only if substantive measures are put in place to advance accountability and encourage reconciliation between communities on the island, will a sustainable peace take root. For these reasons, the Labour Party has called for an international, independent inquiry into the conduct of the war’s final months,” Miliband said.
Miliband said that his party supports the recent United Nations Human Rights Council resolution promoting ‘Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’.
“We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to co-operate with the United Nations; to implement the constructive recommendations of their Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report; and to ensure justice for all the victims of the conflict,” he said.
In the weeks and months ahead Miliband says the Labour Party will continue to prevail upon the British Government and other members of the international community, the importance of closely monitoring the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council resolution.
He said that if there is no progress on these matters, then the British Prime Minister and his Government should keep under review the matter of UK representation at the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.
“It is imperative that the Government of Sri Lanka adhere to its obligations to its people, by safeguarding their rights, and by providing the accountability and reconciliation mechanisms necessary to set Sri Lanka on the path to justice, dignity and long lasting peace,” he said.
Source: The Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka)
