War crime case filed against Lanka's deputy envoy

Last Updated: Sunday, September 25, 2011, 18:47

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Tags: Sri Lanka, UN, War crimes

Colombo: Family members of the LTTE rebels have filed a case in a New York court against Sri Lanka's deputy ambassador to the UN Maj Gen Shavendra Silva, accusing him of committing war crimes during the last phase of civil war.

However, the country's powerful Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said Colombo would use the case to highlight the "atrocities" committed by the Tamil rebels to the world.

The widow of LTTE's self-styled 'Colonel' Ramesh, Vathsala Devi and another named Seetharam Sivam, whose father had died allegedly due to army shelling, had filed action in the district court of New York against Maj Gen Shavendra Silva who is also Sri Lanka's deputy Ambassador to the UN.

They accused Silva, who led the Army's 58 division in the final battle against the LTTE, of committing war crimes.

Silva who needs to answer the plaint within 21 days told the Sunday Times newspaper, "I am willing to face whatever allegations are made against me or those who served under my command in any court anywhere in the world".

The lawsuit would give Sri Lanka a good opportunity to tell the US court of the atrocities committed by the LTTE, Gotabhaya told the newspaper.

The paper said Colombo will protest to the UN Secretary General over summons delivered on Silva.

PTI

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First Published: Sunday, September 25, 2011, 18:47

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Shiva - Canada
This case is going to be very interesting as it may call witnesses from Sri Lanka including the doctors who worked at the hospitals that were bombed by the Sri lankan state forces. Once the witnesses arrive isn the US, they will have complete protection and they can tell the real story including Indian government`s involvement . Further the Jury may request to see the crime location first hand in order to assess the gravity of the crimes that were committed. Unlike there is no political pressure on the courts in North America and in Europe and it is going to be full of fun and a good lesson to criminal regimes.

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Shiva - Canada
The Rajapakse regime with the collaboration of the Indian Congress regime has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka. There will be more lawsuits will be filed in the near future probably against the Indian Malayalee trio mafias too for the collaboration. Gotabhaya is stupid and the US court case and the challenge is about the crimes committed by Shavendra Silva and not about the LTTE. The court case hearing system is different in the North America and the criminal Lawyers will tear down Shavendra Silva at the courts hearing into submission.