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US lawmakers call for probe
Dozens of US lawmakers on Friday urged a global probe into alleged rights violations by Sri Lanka in the last stages of its civil war, saying Colombo's own efforts do not ensure accountability.
In letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 17 senators and 30 members of the House of Representatives called for the United States to seek a United Nations role investigating last year's finale of the Tamil Tiger insurgency.
"We strongly believe that any conclusions reached by the Sri Lankan government's commissions must be verified by a parallel international mechanism" backed by the United Nations, the senators wrote.
"Without a means of verification, any findings will lack credibility and true accountability," said the letter, led by Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Republican Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina.
The senators said that accountability was essential to ensuring reconciliation and warned that history is "littered with failed attempts to bring peace."
"We do not want Sri Lanka to be another one of those failed steps," they wrote.
In a separate letter, the House members urged the United States to use its presidency of the UN Security Council this month to push forward "a credible and effective process for achieving accountability" in Sri Lanka.
The House letter was led by Representatives Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky, both Democrats from the Chicago area that has a sizable Tamil community.
Sri Lanka last year killed the top leadership of the Tamil Tigers, ending their nearly four-decade campaign for a separate homeland in which the rebels were known for their devastating suicide bombings.
The United Nations has raised concerns about human rights toward the end of the war. The world body has reported that at least 7,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the final months of fighting.
Sri Lanka's government has strongly rejected any UN or independent probe of war crime allegations and says no civilians were killed in the battle against the rebels.
President Barack Obama's administration has urged Sri Lanka to ensure accountability and to promote reconciliation but has stopped short of supporting an international probe. (AFP)
Comments - 72
Comments - US lawmakers call for probe
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san Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:21 PM
Who cares …
0 1
Lucky Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:35 PM
Yes. Praba was duly punished.
3 7
Lucky Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:33 PM
The subject is why US is so much concerned about Sri Lanka when they have their own areas to probe. That does not mean we are not concerned about Sri Lankans.
2 2
Lucky Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:30 PM
US / UN do not have proper probes. They appoint a person or persons to confirm the what they want to hear.
2 3
lovely Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:05 PM
No John, the problem is the interpretation of "HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION". Does it mean that the civilians in iraq and afghanistan were made of Trees?
3 6
Upul Saturday, 18 December 2010 10:51 PM
Point you do not undestand is that why such a probe in first place. Can you accuse someone without a source.
1 5
Rohan Saturday, 18 December 2010 09:14 PM
Like the animals in a zoo - at peace?
1 2
KD Saturday, 18 December 2010 08:33 PM
Yes. That has already been done around May 2009. Not by an invisible god but our own security forces.
1 2
rajana Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:39 PM
I accpet wat u have said........1st we clean our hand before pointing other people specially to SL
0 0
Nimal Sunday, 19 December 2010 12:19 AM
It's time these lawmakers give it a rest.It's the terrorists whom they speak for who casted the first stone.Why blame SL for it.GOSL must meets it's responsibility by behaving honourably,bring law and order to country,show accountability .We should have transformed the country to that of Singapore where the country would earn the respect of the world.Extravagance of the state will not help too.
0 1
Fair N Square Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:53 PM
Cant agree more, well said !
1 1
sathy Saturday, 18 December 2010 05:33 PM
America and few western countries are so jealous about Great srilanka because this is only one nation completely destroyed terrorism.
2 7
Wimal_Modawansa Saturday, 18 December 2010 05:27 PM
We surrender.Please forgive us.
2 2
Betsy Saturday, 18 December 2010 05:17 PM
Well said USA. It must begin immediately
8 2
S.sriranjan Saturday, 18 December 2010 05:05 PM
Peace and Justice joins together after the Wikileaks and real news are exposed in Medias Thanks to Wikileaks...
1 4
Chin Saturday, 18 December 2010 04:13 PM
I am very happy to see they are to get Tamil Support.
In near future they will feel the pleasure.3 5
YURI Saturday, 18 December 2010 04:01 PM
US went to war with another country, here so you called Sri Lankan then drop them bomb on them... thats what they talking about.... there is diffrent between WAR and GENOCIDE
15 9
Modaya Saturday, 18 December 2010 04:03 PM
Shame
1 0
poor but rich Sunday, 19 December 2010 09:52 AM
Looking at all above comments, NOBODY wants SL to develop eternally.
1 0
Conga.. Monday, 20 December 2010 05:21 AM
God has already done that. If you still support the terrorists Berty.. the same God will ask for answers very soon...
0 0
Conga.. Monday, 20 December 2010 05:13 AM
How about the innocent civilians killed by your LTTE terrorist... over 30,000......
1 0
LANKONIS Monday, 20 December 2010 02:44 AM
Yes. With Immediate Effect from there mass war crimes in Iraq & Afghanistan.
0 1
Sinhaya Sunday, 19 December 2010 06:00 PM
Which candidate did the Tamil diaspora that supports the tiger terrorists donate large amounts of money to during the 2008 US Presidential election campaigns?
0 1
Berty Sunday, 19 December 2010 04:29 PM
The entire world now knows what really took place. All the pros and cons are individual views. God has and will punish all wrong doers.
0 0
eddy Sunday, 19 December 2010 04:01 PM
The US is eager to find how Sri Lanka got rid of terrorism. What is the secret formula. Copyright. Senators dont know where is Sri Lanka or the problems if not for ltte infiltration. I wonder who they represent or who is the spokesman. Looks like news gone astray.
0 1
sompala Sunday, 19 December 2010 02:50 PM
again the same old story why to talk about afghanistan and iraq talk about your own problam.
1 1
Siri Sunday, 19 December 2010 11:30 AM
Unfortunately, throughout history of this planet, the 'God' has chosen to be absolutely irrelevant in all occurances todate of every natural and man-made disaster. Better to sort things out ourselves.
1 1
Faqi Saturday, 18 December 2010 04:02 PM
To all who make comment about Iraq & Afghanistan, this probe has nothing to do with them, This is about Sri Lanka.
8 0
priyal Sunday, 19 December 2010 09:04 AM
Sale of wapens ara gone down to the west without LTTE this is all about it ha ha,
0 0
AJ - DXB Sunday, 19 December 2010 07:38 AM
Let US set an example by putting Bush and Blair on trial for the genocide they created which is still ongoing. Call Israel's slaughter to trail.
0 2
Muhammed Sunday, 19 December 2010 04:21 AM
Hypocrites....first seek a United Nations resolution condemning Israel.
2 2
Conga.. Sunday, 19 December 2010 03:42 AM
We are concerned about all who were killed. Including over 20,000 non Tamils by devilish LTTE. Now if anyone if concerned for human life first investigate the 2 million dead in the Iraq war.
If numbers are a concern investigate the World War II = 72 m killed, World War I = 65 million dead, Thirty years of War Europe = 11.5 m killed. So do not harp on the past. build a future.... all have got hurt.3 2
Man.. Sunday, 19 December 2010 03:33 AM
You mean more than documented 150,000 children women who were killed in Iran by the 200 or more B50 carpet bombing without leaving an inch in a about 25 square miles in a few sorties ?? SL does not have even one B50 ( over 40,000 pounds of bombs, cost USD 1.1.4 ) and even 1 place with1/100 of B50 bombing power. It is said due to Iraq war gave rise over 1 million orphans. How about an inquiry into that first gentlemen ?
3 5
Man.. Sunday, 19 December 2010 03:15 AM
Also in Vietnam.... where US was beaten and chased out.....tell me one occasion the mighty US army has ever beaten terrorists.... US citizens will need either the Sri Lankan or Israeli forces to protect them in the future. So incapable....
4 8
robinson. Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:27 AM
Yes very true. Why the senators are worried only about Sri Lanka. Weren't there civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan?First answer that question.
41 78
Vani Saturday, 18 December 2010 08:57 AM
All US lawmakers have seen the Channel 4 News Video.
21 34
mohammed Saturday, 18 December 2010 08:59 AM
Shall we submit a request to UN for an investigation to US on Iraq, Afganistan? Your own house is boiling and why shaking other's pot which is too cool?
20 38
billy Saturday, 18 December 2010 08:41 AM
we now know thanks to wikileaks, milliband was after tamil votes, n this is another similar attempt
22 37
billy Saturday, 18 December 2010 08:38 AM
dont worry, justice n peace, both were achieved at nandikadal!
28 56
Ronald Reagon Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:52 AM
''If there`s to be a bloodbath let it be now."
33 6
colombo Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:45 AM
why aren't you probe investigation in violation of human rights
in Iraq and Afghanistan16 24
InnocentCivilian Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:43 AM
Yes, they should probe brutal killings of civilians in Iraq and Afghans.
19 32
s jayawardene Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:30 AM
traitor
25 37
Sohan Saturday, 18 December 2010 09:21 AM
Why not appoint a commission to look into the killings of INNOCENT CIVILIANS by the LTTE for the last 40 Years.
27 39
Anushka Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:06 AM
The targets of a so called "international probe" will be both MR and SF. The west simply wants them as scapegoats so they can gain the support of the tamil diaspora in their countries.
24 41
tissa Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:59 AM
It is obvious there are many Western politicians in the pay rolls of Tiger Remnants
39 56
suji Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:59 AM
well said....it should be probe with out any further delay....
47 39
WWI Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:53 AM
Yeah, There should be proper investigation on rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan also
67 140
hb Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:56 AM
These kinds of statements will not be taken seriously by the rest of the world any more. Thank you Wikileaks for exposing US hypocrisy.
34 65
Konde bendapu china Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:52 AM
if this so then Lets start Probe thousands of civilian casualties made possible by Americans in Iraq,Afghanistan and Pakistan since 9/11
32 67
Dilum-Canada Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:46 AM
Why cant US consider of appointing a commission to look into the killings of INNOCENT CIVILIANS in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Srilanka it was a war against Terrorists,not against Civilians.
53 98
MartinLutherKing Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:50 AM
Unless there is Justice there will be no peace!!!
42 72
Gayan Saturday, 18 December 2010 01:32 PM
While some are happy to receive their quota of "USD panduru" from west and attack SL while in SL. Those are far worse my friend.
5 14
Modaya Saturday, 18 December 2010 04:01 PM
US can't do nothing in the world It's now like fading rainbow don't waist time on these reports.
1 4
prem Saturday, 18 December 2010 03:48 PM
everything is fair in war and .......when we do, not third world
countries like sri lanka. .1 3
truth Saturday, 18 December 2010 03:28 PM
get help from russian ba------.They have also big involvement in sri lankan war crimes.
6 1
Wimal_Modawansa Saturday, 18 December 2010 03:11 PM
Good joke.
10 6
Sanjaya Saturday, 18 December 2010 03:04 PM
Yeah. Lets start with the investigations of massacres of Red Indians by white immigrants to americas; sinhalese by Portuguese, Ducth and English and the all the real massacres recorded in the history.
2 4
Alien Saturday, 18 December 2010 02:30 PM
How this relevant?
5 5
Truth Exposed Saturday, 18 December 2010 02:00 PM
IF anyone has really committed war crimes, he will be punished someday by GOD.
11 22
Siva Saturday, 18 December 2010 01:48 PM
We clean our home front before point the finger on others.
Siva10 20
Thas Saturday, 18 December 2010 06:37 AM
Dear US Lawmakers, well said and thanks for your support.
145 94
anpan Saturday, 18 December 2010 01:28 PM
If we have not done anything wrong we should we get terrified of any probe?
12 23
Shaik Anwar Ahamath Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:31 AM
The nerve of the US Lawmakers beggars belief. They have violated every Human Rights convention in the book. These are the ones we know about through WikiLeaks. There must be a million others we dont know about. If you take this with Ms. Butenis's cable that SL would be better under SF you can see their motives i.e. to discredit SL by any means possible.
14 19
John Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:25 AM
Are you all very very concern about Iraq and Afghanistan than your own country innocents killed by GOSL?
23 21
THE JUDGE Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:06 AM
Any probe has to be 100% correct and properly done. Why object to an UN probe, GOSL has nothing to hide?
17 18
kingkong Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:12 AM
Those who attack US and UK are the first to go live in those country's in any given chance.
21 12
Punai P Saturday, 18 December 2010 10:50 AM
thanks. If you could include in your investigations 1958, 19977, 1983 and 1990-2010 it will be more correct approach.
15 22
Ruwan Ferdinandez Saturday, 18 December 2010 09:35 AM
..and Guantanamo Bay
32 76
Ruwan Ferdinandez Saturday, 18 December 2010 09:33 AM
There is peace now, so justice must have been meted upon.
20 34
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