The man died in hospital from burns. Demands for President of Sri Lanka to be tried at the international court in The Hague. Pro-Tamil activists: India must support the UN resolution against Sri Lanka.

Chennai (AsiaNews) - In Tamil Nadu, a 41 year-old Indian set himself on fire and died on Monday, demanding that Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, be tried for war crimes by the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The man, known as Mani, was originally from the coastal village of Nallavadu (Cuddalore district). Meanwhile, Indian police have arrested at least 400 pro-Tamil activists, who yesterday picketed the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Chennai to push India to support the UN resolution on Sri Lanka, which was discussed this week in Geneva.

The activist doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire in front local government buildings. He was immediately taken to the state hospital in Kilpauk (Chennai), where he died shortly after from severe burns.

Since 25 February the 22nd session of the Council for Human Rights of the United Nations (UNHRC) has been underway in Geneva. Among the topics under discussion was the resolution (already approved) presented last year by the United States on alleged war crimes committed by the armed forces in the last stages of the conflict (2009), in particular the murder of thousands of civilians . According to NGOs and activists, the UN must "improve" the resolution and investigate the increasing cases of enforced disappearances still reported in the country.

 

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