A former Sri Lankan general who fled from his post as ambassador to Brazil this week should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague said the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils Paul Scully.
Speaking on the case of Major General Jagath Jaysuriya, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Brazil who fled from South America following a law suit filed against him by human rights organisations, Mr Scully said, “it is not enough to hide behind diplomatic immunity or run away at the first sign of legal challenge”.
“Interpol should issue a red notice for General Jayasuriya’s arrest and the case referred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” he added. “Reconciliation will be a complicated affair but such meaningful action may start a move towards bringing this horrific and bloody chapter in the country’s history to an end.”
The parliamentarian called on the Sri Lankan government to “an open, transparent judicial process that has the confidence of both sides”.
“The evidence prepared by human rights groups including The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) is compelling. Families of the dead and missing deserve answers and justice.”
Mr Jayasuriya the commander of the Vanni Security Forces during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009, arrived back in Colombo this week. He stands of overseeing, Sri Lankan units that bombed hospitals, as well as the execution and torture of surrendees and disappeared civilians amongst a litany of human rights abuses against Tamil civilians.
