“I conclude on the basis of the extensive technical evidence we obtained from independent experts that what is depicted in the video indeed happened. … I believe that a prima facie case of serious international crimes has been made."
"The prima facie case should go to the next level of investigation on a domestic and an international level. ...
"We should recognise the domestic process, but I think in parallel there should be an international investigation."
- Christof Heyns, the UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, speaking to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on an extended Channel 4 video broadcast Dec 2010 (see below) depicting Sri Lankan soldiers killing unarmed, restrained, naked Tamil men.
Heyns did not say what he meant by serious international crimes - which can be war crimes or crimes against humanity - but his findings on authenticity echo the findings of his predecessor, Philip Alston, last year on a shorter version of the video. (See also this from Sep 2009).
See also more comments by Alston:
Domestic inquiries into killings insufficient (June 2010)
On targetted killings (June 2010)
On Sri Lanka's LLRC commission (June 2010)
