The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked India to impress upon Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting the need to agree to a high level, credible and independent enquiry on the allegations of war crimes committed during the last phase of the civil war.
In a statement here on Saturday, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said it was also a matter of concern that Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa declared that no autonomy would be given to the Tamil-speaking areas. By this, he had gone back on his stand that something more than the 13th amendment to the Constitution could be provided in terms of devolution of power to the Tamil-speaking region.
“The Government of India should take up this matter and press the Sri Lankan government to arrive at a political settlement so that adequate power is devolved to the Tamil-speaking areas,” the statement said.
Though four years have passed since the end of hostilities between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE, no meaningful steps were taken to address the issues of atrocities committed during the last phase of the war. There was enough evidence on war crimes against innocent civilians, the CPI(M) said.
The UNHRC adopted a resolution in March 2012 asking the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Since then, there had been no progress in the matter, the statement added.
