Press Release: Independent international investigation into Sri Lankan humanitarian crisis needed

The Malaysian Bar expresses grave concern over the atrocities that were committed in Sri Lanka during the armed conflict, especially against civilians, and the alleged concomitant violations of international humanitarian law and of international human rights. There are allegations made that war crimes were committed during the final days of the armed conflict and that there was genocide against the Tamils that exceeded the horrors of Srebenica.

We are disappointed that the Malaysian Government voted in favour of the self-congratulatory United Nations Human Rights Council resolution put forward by Sri Lanka. This resolution praises Sri Lanka for its current policies and focuses solely on the alleged abuses committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, without addressing the allegations of long-standing and continuing violations of human rights by government forces.

We strongly urge the Malaysian Government to take a consistent position in its stand against human rights abuses abroad. That position must include a call for an “independent and credible international investigation into recent events” to “ascertain the occurrence, nature and scale of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as specific responsibilities”, as recently articulated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay.

On 12 January 2009, the Malaysian Government moved a Parliamentary resolution to establish a UN-sponsored War Crimes Tribunal to investigate Israel’s attacks against Gaza. We urge the Government to take an equally strong stand in the case of Sri Lanka.

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Lim Chee Wee
Vice-President
Malaysian Bar

28 May 2009