... unless reconciliation and accountability issues are addressed

April 9, 2013, 9:11 pm


By Zacki Jabbar

Expressing concern about the deterioration of Sri Lanka’s human rights situation, the US said on Monday that unless the Rajapkaksa government adequately addressed reconciliation and accountability issues, which the UNHRC itself had endorsed, the country could return to conflict.

History had shown that societies which did not satisfactorily deal with reconciliation and accountability issues in the aftermath of war, usually returned to a conflict situation at some point down the road. However difficult the process was, it was ultimately vital to the stability of Sri Lanka, US Ambassador Michele J. Sison said during a meeting with the Foreign Correspondents Association, at the Galle Face Hotel, in Colombo.

She noted that a dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance on devolution was also crucial to achieving real reconciliation.

Calling for a ‘credible’ investigation into war crimes allegations against both the Sri Lankan security forces and LTTE cadres during the last stages of the war which ended on May 19, 2009, Sison said that it would solely be in the interest of the government.

Explaining what the US meant by ‘accountability’, the ambassador said it was ‘identifying those responsible for committing abuses and imposing consequences for these acts or omissions’.

"By reconciliation, we mean finding a way for all Sri Lankans to live together in peace, harmony and security in a unified country … a country in which the democratic space exists for all to be able to express their views freely and for all to share in the prosperity of the country in terms of access to land, employment, education, and so forth."

When there are serious allegations of human rights violations, whether a government likes it or not, they will persist until credibly addressed ,she said adding "We note reports that highlighted a Sri Lankan Army Commission of Inquiry report on actions undertaken in the final phase of the conflict. As Sri Lanka moves forward from the Human Rights Council session, the US will look closely at what steps the government chooses to take in response to the UNHRC resolution."

While admitting that reconciliation and accountability were often long and complicated processes that could take years to complete, Sison observed that some of the most important steps in achieving real reconciliation had still not moved ahead.

She noted that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report dated February 11, 2013 reaffirmed a long standing recommendation for an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka. The latest resolution, she said, had taken note of that call and asked the Office of the High Commissioner to update the Council on Sri Lanka’s progress at the September 2013 session and present a comprehensive report in March 2014. It also encouraged the Sri Lankan government to respond to the eight outstanding requests by UN special procedures mandate holders, she said. "As we examine the next steps, we will renew our consideration of all mechanisms available, both in the Human Rights Council and beyond. But it is important to emphasize that calls for reconciliation and accountability should not simply be seen as exhortations by the international community. They should be viewed as essential to ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for the country."

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