NDP Statement on UN Panel Report on Accountability for War Crimes in Sri Lanka

Today, New Democratic Leader Jack Layton issued this statement on the United Nation’s report on Sri Lanka:

“The New Democratic Party fully supports the recommendations made in the recently released independent UN Panel Report on accountability during and after the war in Sri Lanka.

“The UN Report reveals that “there are credible allegations, which if proven, indicate that a wide range of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law were committed both by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, some of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

“We believe those responsible must be prosecuted and urges the UN to launch an immediate and independent investigation.

“The NDP has proposed a motion in the House of Commons to form an all-party committee to support an independent inquiry into human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately the motion was defeated by the Conservative Party.

“Our motion demanded the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations to work together with the international community to establish an international investigative body.”

New Democrat candidate Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough-Rouge River) and special advisor on Tamil issues, added:

“During this war atrocities took place while media and international bodies were not allowed in, or to report out. The NDP has always supported an independent inquiry into human rights violations in Sri Lanka and will continue to work towards this. We will work toward a Parliamentary study on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka.”