NDP Statement on UN Panel Report on Accountability for War Crimes in Sri Lanka
On April 28, 2011, 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.”
(Wikipedia on NDP: The New Democratic Party (French: Nouveau Parti démocratique), commonly referred to as the NDP, is a social-democratic federal political party in Canada. The party is regarded as falling on the left in the Canadian political spectrum)
5 Comments
Way to go Jack and the NDP. Again you have demonstrated "you are with the people and for the people", whether it is Canada or elsewhere. This is why you're leading in polls. Wish you will form the next government and be our Prime Minister.
Down with Harper and the Conservatives.
The issue in Sri Lanka is if any of the Human Rights Laws were ignored and infringed. If Sri Lankan government fail to investigate then the United Nations must investigate, this not rocket science. People must understand that we all must respect the laws, the very essence of civilized living.
Only savages will not obey laws of the world. people also must understand that there are international laws to be obeyed. I expect others to respect my life, so then I must respect other peoples lives too. This is civilized living.
well Jack,..... it IS an election year after all, isn't it ? And everyone is after the ethnic vote
Rajapaksha has not just lied to Srilankan people alone he and the Gov of Srilanka had been lieing and lied and will go on lieing to the whole world if UN fails to take any credible action on The UN expert panal report recomendations.
First the administration prevented the idependent observers and journalists in the war zone. Mr.Hudson Samarasinghe, the current Chairman of the SLBC quoting Iraq as an example kept on repeating this message after failing to get a ticket from the UNP and at least now he is in some position! Then they branded UN as proxy of Tamil Tigers and prevented the members of the panel entering Sri Lanka. If they have not intentionally committed war crimes, why should they be affraid of such a move? The Editorial of Sunday Leader today (1st May) should shed some light on this. They will continue to deceive people in the name of fake nationalism until they wake up to reality! The top criminals are in the government and preventing crime is their last priority. That is SL for you!!