Washington, July 01: Six leading human rights groups have asked US President Barack Obama to seek setting up of an international commission of inquiry into the alleged human rights violations in the recently concluded civil war in Sri Lanka.
In a letter to Obama, they said human rights groups have documented serious violations of international humanitarian law by both the Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE during this civil war and appealed to him "to publicly call for an international commission of inquiry and to take necessary steps to achieve it."
The rights groups also asked to him to take steps "for the full protection of internally displaced persons and independent access of human rights organisations and media
persons to the camps, former areas of conflict and conflict-affected civilians".
"As such it is now imperative that the US assume the leadership necessary to mobilise the international community to protect the surviving civilians and to hold accountable
those responsible for mass atrocities," the letter, which was released, yesterday said.
"Failure to do so would encourage governments to commit mass atrocities without fear of consequence. That is why your immediate action is important at this juncture," it said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, July 01, 2009, 14:57