Several members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have signed a petition appealing to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) not to give Sri Lanka more time to address the human rights issue.
The petition calls on the Council not to give any extension of time to the Sri Lankan Government to fulfill its commitment to the unanimously adopted UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 on accountability beyond its March 2017 deadline.
“Sri Lanka voluntarily co-sponsored this Resolution and committed to fully implement the requirements of the Resolution by March 2017. Extensions and grace periods have been given already, but no progress has been made on any front. The only way to protect us and give us justice and safety is for the UN Human Rights Council to refer Sri Lanka to the UN General Assembly, along with a recommendation to the UN Security Council that Sri Lanka be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or that an ad-hoc International Criminal Tribunal be created on Sri Lanka, similar to the procedure followed to assure accountability for North Korea’s Crimes Against Humanity,” the petition said.
The signatories of the petition said they fear that any extension of time will embolden and encourage Sri Lankan Government to commit human rights abuses against Tamils without any fear and Tamils safety will be in danger. Tens of thousands Sri Lankan Security forces who committed mass killings and sexual violence are still stationed in Tamil areas and live among the victims. There are numerous reports of current abuses against Tamils, including a recent report by UN Special Rapporteur on torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Mr. Juan Mendez.
Creating an international mechanism to prosecute war crimes has been the fervent wish and aspiration of the Tamils ever since the war ended in 2009.
The petition was signed by TNA MPs S. Sritharan, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Dharmalingam Sitharthan, S. Yogeswaran, Sivasakthi Ananthan, G. Srinesan, Charles Nirmalanathan, Mrs. Shanthi Srish Kantharaja, Dr. Siva Mohan, S. Viyalanderan and K. Kodeeswaran.
