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FORMER PRESIDENT MARY Robinson has called on the UN to push ahead with a plan to investigate war crimes in Sri Lanka during the country’s long-running civil war.
Robinson said today that the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the final stages of the war “cannot simply be ignored”.
Writing in the Guardian today, the former president cites a UN report which found evidence that government forces shelled food distribution lines and no-fire zones, while the LTTE were accused of using civilians as human shields.
The UN Human Rights Council is planning a resolution today which calls on Sri Lanka to carry out an investigation into who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Tamil civilians during the country’s civil war. Sri Lanka is planning to block any such measures from the UN, the London Independent reports.
“The UN Human Rights Council has an opportunity and a duty to help Sri Lanka advance its own efforts on accountability and reconciliation,” Robinson wrote in the piece, which was co-authored by Desmond Tutu”. “Both are essential if a lasting peace is to be achieved”.
The Tamil Tigers (known as the LTTE) had fought for an independent state for the Tamil people in parts of Sri Lanka before being defeated by the Sri Lankan government in 2009.
Robinson and Tutu criticised the Sri Lankan government’s own report published last December into resolving the issues raised by the war, saying:
The recent announcement that the army intends to investigate its own actions during the conflict is not the kind of independent inquiry that is required. In the absence of a credibly and independent investigation into what happened in Sri Lanka, the Human Rights council has an obligation to uphold human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Robinson and Tutu are members of The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders including Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan and Jimmy Carter.
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The man has the intellect and complexion of a can of Fanta.
@Diarmuid: Thats desperately unfair to fanta .
@Diarmuid: you would have a better chance of getting run over by a submarine whilst crossing the road than this guy sorting the mess out.
@Diarmuid: In fairness that has given me a great laugh. Nicely put Diarmuid.
Why make Iran out to be the bogey man?Most of the problems in the area are caused by American plans to destabilise the middle east for the good of Israel.
@Paul Mc: Isreal would have much preferred Assad in Syria than Sunni Jahadi groups there now….Iran proxy army is much more powerful now because of Syria..Hezbollah….If was at behest of Sunni Saudi Arabia and Qatar that Obama armed the moderate Jahadis in Syria not Isreal…
@John003: thank you. A bit of balance around here is welcome.
The Jews are not behind every world conflict as some like to make out.
Save it? Not a chance. Accelerate its demise, most certainly.
Its very doubhtful considering he is more likely to cause a war.
*2 hours later*
*The remains of Jerusalem smoulder as the nuclear ash falls”
NOBODY KNEW PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAS HARD. NOBODY.
Think maybe he will want to build a hotel and golf course there instead.
Ehhh NO
That’s akin to asking can Bell Enda solve Irelands problems.
Well many US presidents have failed before him so no disgrace if his name is also added to the list.
But there again, Donald thinks outside the box so who knows.
Bloody amazing if he did.
Can’t see the Palestinians supporting an alliance against Iran….HAMAS which would win a Palestinian election if there ever is one …..Have big Iranian support….Also Hezbollah is fighting on behalf of Palestinians with Iranian support…..Isreal would not want to get involved in Sunni /Shia religious wars….They have enough problems of their own….
I’d love to see the odds from PaddyPower, accumulator; Trump secures peace in Middle East & Mayo wins All-Ireland. Worth a quid maybe.
Just like Tony blair…
@Dave Thomas: Tony Blair the great Middle East Peace Envoy you mean?
Not if he’s involved.
Sure Tony Blair has it all sorted out already.
What a likeable guy!
According to himself.
You’re asking can this fool sort out the middle east crisis?are you serious?
Can he fack!
I’m sorry , but that is just the wrong question to be asking. Seriously ? He can’t even help himself.
Nope…
Hell no
have your say