British MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, has continued his calls for Magntisky style sanctions on Sri Lankan army commander and accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva.
On Twitter Thomas asked:
(1/2) Why is General Shavendra Silva not subject to travel restrictions and assets freezes given his complicity in ‘gross violations of human rights abuses’ in the final months of 2008/9 in Sri Lanka? pic.twitter.com/c51gUkCM6M
— Gareth Thomas MP (@GarethThomasMP) December 9, 2021
In his statement, he highlighted the role Silva played as the commander of Sri Lanka's notorious 58th division. These abuses include "extrajudicial killings and extensive use of torture, deliberate attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals, and the use of weapons that have been banned internationally, such as white phosphorus and cluster munitions".
(1/2) Why is General Shavendra Silva not subject to travel restrictions and assets freezes given his complicity in ‘gross violations of human rights abuses’ in the final months of 2008/9 in Sri Lanka? pic.twitter.com/c51gUkCM6M
— Gareth Thomas MP (@GarethThomasMP) December 9, 2021
Thomas further requested that the government issue a response to the 50-page dossier compiled by the International Truth and Justice Project which sets out Silva's complicity in the human rights violations that took place during the final phase of the armed conflict.
"Despite repeated efforts by the international community, the Sri Lankan Government have resisted any efforts to bring to account any of those responsible for those abuses" he noted.
Thomas urged the UK government to follow the lead of the US in imposing a travel ban on General Silva & his family.
Sen Kandiah Chair of Tamils for Labour said “this is part of the campaign by the Labour Party to get the war criminals in Sri Lanka to account. If the Police Scotland can drop out training of Sri Lankan police because of the genocidal acts of the armed forces, this is the time for FCDO to apply Magnitsky sanctions to Shavendra Silva".
"We will continue our fight till all war criminals are punished” he added.
A number of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have endorsed this call to sanction senior government and military officials in Sri Lanka who have been accused to be complicit in war crimes.
