Ed Davey, Leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, has called on the Prime Minister to “create an International Independent Investigative Mechanism” (IIM) to “investigate and prosecute for serious international crimes committed in Sri Lanka against the Tamils”.
In his statement Davey’s highlights Sri Lanka’s persistent resistance to international efforts to investigate alleged war crimes since the end of the armed conflict over 11 years ago. He further expressed concern Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from its commitments to the UN Human Rights Council. This has led to “deepening concerns that no-one will be held to account for these crimes”, he added.
An IIM, Davey’s notes would be instrumental in gathering evidence by those affected by Tamils genocide and holding war criminals accountable. It would be “a step in the right direction towards meaningful reconciliation in Sri Lanka:, Davey’s stated.
Davey’s statement further highlights the increasing calls from over a hundred UK Tamil societies for the establishment of an IIM. He also notes that whilst the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils has written by the British Foreign Secretary, they have yet to receive a response.
Davey’s call has supported by a number of British MPs including Sam Tarry and Siobhain McDonagh as well as the British Tamil community. Today is an unprecedented display of unity, major Tamil political leaders, Tamil civil society actors and Tamil victim community representatives also called for an international accountability process, including a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Read more here: Tamil parties unite behind call for Sri Lanka to face international accountability
Read Davey's full statement here.
