Member states should decide on probing Lanka war crimes: UN

Colombo: UN member states will decide whether Sri Lanka should be subject to an international inquiry over alleged war crimes during the country’s ethnic conflict, the world body has said. “Ultimately, its up to different member states to determine whether there will be an international process. We have presented information to them and we’ve made clear what we believe is the need for accountability and we rely on the member states judgement to follow through,” acting UN spokesman Farhan Haq told a press briefing. The UN Human Rights Council is expected to move a third successive resolution in Geneva next month censuring Sri Lanka over its lack of progress on human rights accountability and reconciliation with the Tamil minority after a brutal three-decade civil war. The government fears that the resolution may end up calling for an independent international probe on Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes during the final phase of the military battle with the LTTE in 2009. [caption id=“attachment_1378883” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A cut-out of Mahinda Rajapaksa. AFP.[/caption] British Prime Minister David Cameron said last year that his government would back calls for an independent investigation if Sri Lanka failed to have its own probe mechanism which has heightened fears that this year’s resolution would be tougher than previous years. The previous two resolutions, both moved by the US and supported by India, committed Sri Lanka to speedier implementation of its own reconciliation body’s recommendations. While the recommendations are already partly implemented some of them need longer term action, Colombo argues while maintaining that its mechanisms are in motion but that the international community must show patience to allow time and space. President Mahinda Rajapaksa early this week slammed the resolution as a grave crime against his country. PTI