These are UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s comments on the expert panel’s report on Sri Lanka’s war crimes (see statement here):
“The way this conflict was conducted, under the guise of fighting terrorism, challenged the very foundations of the rules of war and cost the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
“I hope the disturbing new information contained in this report will shock the conscience of the international community into finally taking serious action.
“As the report itself says, addressing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law is not a matter of choice or policy; it is a duty under domestic and international law.
“The eyewitness accounts and credible information contained in this report demand a full, impartial, independent and transparent investigation.
“Unless there is a sea-change in the Government’s response, which has so far been one of total denial and blanket impunity, a full-fledged international inquiry will clearly be needed.”
See also Jan Jananayagam's opinion: 'UN experts’ report makes the case for genocide'
