A recent report by the external mechanism established in Geneva to collect evidence against soldiers and political leaders accused of war crimes in Sri Lanka reveals there is a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security MP Sarath Weerasekera said.
According to MP Sarath Weerasekera, an external mechanism was established in Geneva, Switzerland for the past 2 years according to resolution 46/1 to collect evidence related to war crimes against soldiers and political leaders who were accused of committing war crimes.
He further stated that, in a report recently published by the said mechanism, it has been stated that they have a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country.
Stating that this external mechanism can describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils and not against the LTTE, MP Weerasekera emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security.
He said therefore, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security was of the view that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal.
MP Weerasekera added that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has further asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.
MP Weerasekera expressed these views when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security met in Parliament recently (June 05).
At the committee meeting, it was disclosed that several countries are currently working together to file cases in the relevant countries and international courts under the universal jurisdiction against the military leaders of Sri Lanka who have been found to have committed war crimes.
Although this external mechanism has been rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, they are continuously collecting evidence against the military leaders of Sri Lanka and the dangerous situation here is that the military officers of Sri Lanka can be arrested in any country of the world and prosecuted in the International Court of Justice.
It was also informed that this external mechanism has the ability to describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils and not against the LTTE. It was emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal.
Here, the Committee asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.
Responding, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Ministry has taken steps to inform the countries that are acting impartially in this regard by expressing a strong protest against the reports of the Geneva Human Rights Commission.
Attorney at Law Darshana Weerasekera, who was called before the committee to express further comments in this regard, stated that Sri Lanka should have a strong domestic mechanism that can break the external mechanism with evidence. He also said that for this purpose, a strong local data file should be prepared by incorporating the facts of the LLRC report and the Paranagama report.
MP Sarath Weerasekera stated that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation will further support the external forces that are against this country. (Newswire)