John Kerry meets Tamil leaders, calls on government to investigate war crimes
Colombo (AsiaNews) – US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on the Sri Lankan government to pursue – in cooperation with the United Nations – investigations into war crimes committed during the civil war, in accordance with international standards.
The US leader ended a two-day visit to Sri Lanka yesterday. During his stay, he met government leaders as well as top Tamil politicians, including R. Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
In the press conference following talks, the chief US diplomat said that the Sri Lankan institutions are being strengthened, but that further progress is needed. “Sri Lanka is at a pivotal point, he said. “Peace has come, but true reconciliation will take time.”
The reference is to the civil war between Tamil separatists and the government, which ended in 2009 after 30 years.
Kerry met with the Tamil chief-minister of the Northern Province, where much of the conflict took place, and reiterated the US position, that the Sri Lankan government has a duty to investigate alleged war crimes committed by the army in the final stages of the conflict against Tamil civilians. One of the still unresolved issues is that of ethnic Tamils missing the civil war.
"No matter how painful that truth is. It's the right and the humane thing to do – and it is, believe it or not, an essential part of the healing process,” Kerry said.
“Every citizen has a right to seek justice,” he added, “and every citizen has a right to expect justice for victims of war crimes or crimes against humanity."
Indeed, "They're painful issues,” he explained. “But if you try to compel people to simply forget the past and try to wipe it away, believe me: They will be more likely, not less, to cling to it."
What is more, “if you tell them to forego justice under the law, they will be more likely to seek it outside of the law. It will be harder, not easier, to move forward as one country at peace".
Kerry said he was satisfied with the steps "that Sri Lanka has made in just a few short months – and progress that can be measured: progress on restoring democratic institutions; progress on creating more accountable governance".
These include “the passage of the 19th amendment, in which the president kept his promise to reduce the powers of the presidency and move them more to the people through a broader sharing,” Kerry said.
This “is an example of that; progress in combatting corruption; and progress on reconciliation that can lead to a much more enduring peace and to shared prosperity for all Sri Lankans.”
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