UN Calls For The Creation Of A Special Court To Investigate War Crimes During The Sri Lankan Civil War

Voice of America: UN Recommends Special Court for Sri Lanka War Probe

WASHINGTON — The United Nations released a report Wednesday saying Sri Lanka cannot rely on its own justice system and instead should use a special court to achieve accountability for violations that took place during the country's 26-year civil war.

The recommendation came as part of a report on what the U.N. Human Rights office said were possible war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict that pitted government forces against rebels seeking independence for the nation's Tamil minority. The fighting killed up to 100,000 people, according to widely accepted estimates.

WNU Editor: When I started this blog I covered the Sri Lanka civil war extensively .... in fact it was the first war that I ever covered. At the time I commented that after years of conflict and with both sides deeply divided on every issue that made any peace talks and/or reconciliation impossible, the only solution left for the Sri Lankan government was to "cave-in" to all of the Tamil's demands, let things go on for decades more .... or to declare an all-out war and conduct it brutally. The all-out war option was taken .... and the bloodshed was overwhelming with atrocities being committed by both sides. This call for a war crimes probe is then not a surprise .... because war crimes were committed ... especially in the last two months of the war. But is now the time to conduct such an investigation .... and is now the time to open up all the old wounds and scars from that war .... that is a question that I am not qualified to answer. But it is clear that many do want this war crimes probe to occur, and it will not surprise me that in the end .... maybe after Sri Lanka's next Presidential election .... such a probe will be permitted.

More News On The UN Calling For The Creation Of A Special Court To Investigate War Crimes During The Sri Lankan Civil War

UN Human Rights Council urges Sri Lanka war crimes court -- BBC
UN calls for creation of special court to investigate alleged atrocities during Sri Lankan civil war -- AP
Victims and activists back special court on Sri Lanka war crimes -- Reuters
Sri Lanka promises dialogue after UN accuses its troops of war crimes -- Economic Times/PTI
UNHRC chief recommends a hybrid special court in Sri Lanka with international judges -- Hiru News