Mounting evidence of war crimes in Sri Lanka

A new report provides compelling evidence of alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) during the final months of the armed conflict in 2009, Amnesty International said.

The Australian NGO Public Advocacy Interest Centre has published the report Island of impunity?, which calls for an international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

“The evidence in this report further supports our own findings and those of the UN, that allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict are credible. With Sri Lanka showing no willingness to deal with its own conflict-era crimes, an international investigation must be established without further delay,” said Grant Bayldon, Executive Director of Amnesty International New Zealand.

The report documents how Sri Lankan forces allegedly shelled civilians and restricted humanitarian access to its self-declared safe areas during the final bloody months of the conflict in 2009. It also addresses alleged extrajudicial executions by the army as well as the LTTE’s use of child soldiers and civilians as human shields.

ENDS

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