Human Rights organisations have urged the Sri Lankan government to revoke the new position of Jagath Dias.
The new Sri Lankan government recently appointed Major General Jagath Dias as Army Chief of Staff, one of the most important posts of the army. From late 2009 to 2011 Dias served as Deputy Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Germany, Switzerland and the Vatican. He was recalled from his post in the wake of allegations that he was responsible for war crimes committed in the final stages of the civil war. “The promotion of a suspected war criminal to the post of the Army Chief of Staff is a serious setback for the Sri Lankan process of reconciliation announced by President Maithripala Sirisena on taking office in January”, say the organizations European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) and TRIAL (Track Impunity Always).
ECCHR documented allegations against Dias in a comprehensive dossier in 2011. As commander of the 57th division General Dias is said to have been responsible for attacks on civilians in protected zones as well as for the bombing of hospitals, places of worship and humanitarian facilities.
Following a criminal complaint by Swiss organizations STP and TRIAL the Swiss Office of the Attorney General announced in September 2011 that it would open a criminal investigations against Dias for war crimes should he ever return to Switzerland, stating that some “episodes of the conflict highlight his personal engagement in the military operations and in the abuses committed”. Over the past years Australia, the USA and other states have denied entry to Dias and blocked his participation in military exercises on account of his role in the civil war.
The UN estimates that over 40,000 civilians were killed in the last months of the civil war, which ended in May 2009 – most of the victims belonged to the Tamil minority. The civil war came to an end with the total destruction of the Tamil Tigers rebel movement which had been fighting for an independent Tamil state.
To date no one has been held accountable for the civilian deaths and the suspected crimes against international law. On taking office in January, President Sirisena announced plans to address the grave war crimes, stating that with the help of the international community he wished to establish an independent national judicial mechanism. Just three months later, in April 2015, he reneged on his promise. He made it clear that the mechanism would not have any power to prosecute but instead be of truth-seeking nature only. For this, he said, Sri Lanka would not need any international help.
ECCHR, TRIAL and STP call on the Sri Lankan government to revoke the new position of Dias, to start a process towards an independent investigation, in line with international legal standards, into alleged crimes under international law in relation to all involved parties and to bring the suspected perpetrators to trial.
Vibhushana / May 22, 2015
Well, I read the entire Dossier. It reminds me of the Dossier by UK govt on Iraq WMD.
The entire report is more or less based on “eye witness” accounts. The type of eye witness who never reveal their identity.
This entire thing is a hoax.
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janaka / May 22, 2015
FAIR PLAY. that is the key that Brings Peace. If These socalled HR Politically motivated Groups say such a statement. Then They should Equally Call to book Those TNA politicians who gave a LTTE Terrorist Death Cult Politicial, Moral and Financial support. Its these TNA elements that went around the world to help raise the ‘ CAUSE’ and not to mention the Leadrs of the LTTE around the world who tod ay have started their own HR Groups and Governments all Guilty of having Blood on their hands, espically keeping silent and still supporting the LTTE when it walked away from many Peace process and Killinf Tamil Politicians who Takled opf PEACE.. FAIR PLAY…
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Thiru / May 22, 2015
“ECCHR, TRIAL and STP call on the Sri Lankan government to revoke the new position of Dias, to start a process towards an independent investigation, in line with international legal standards, into alleged crimes under international law in relation to all involved parties and to bring the suspected perpetrators to trial.”
If the Sri Lankan state, its political leaders and the armed forces didn’t commit any war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc. why all this resistance by the government which is supposed to be the protector of all civilians irrespective of ethnicity?
Their stubborn resistance shows that they are guilty.
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bo / May 22, 2015
I suppose the remnants of terrorists and their chronic supporters would not be satisfied until VP or their henchmen were appointed to the SLK top army posts. JD, you do your job and flush out these vermin.
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NAMS / May 22, 2015
We won’t be satisfied until the pepole voice heard and justic delivered to the victims.
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cholan / May 22, 2015
@ bo
Well many of the LTTE fighters 1000 better than Sinhala army,air force and navy in planning and attacks..
World has watched about them since 1983……
Remember the brand new van used by rebels to attack Katunayaka airport has not traced to this day he he he
according to an western tourists at that time in the airport…..SL forces and police were running like headless chickens …..he he he
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f=ma / May 23, 2015
Did LTTE attack BIA to prevent cowards like you from ‘escaping’ Sri Lanka? anyways a few years later, a Kfir took off from the very same runway and made Thamilselvan literally a headless chicken HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Karma works both ways.. Newton’s 3rd Law
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Native Vedda / May 22, 2015
bo
“I suppose the remnants of terrorists and their chronic supporters would not be satisfied until VP or their henchmen were appointed to the SLK top army posts.”
Did you know that Premadasa was proud of LTTE commanders so much so he wanted them serving in the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Jagath Dias another war criminal joined the armed forces in 1980. What was his role in flushing out Southern vermin?
He is supposed to be a good axeman. VP came to know about it just before he died.
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Donald J Gnanakone / May 23, 2015
If not for the Brave LTTE Fighters the Indian Army would have still been in Sri Lankan playing a big role all over SL. President Premadasa realized that not a Single Sinhala coward fought the Indians.
It was the Tamil fighters who took them on and sent them home after 3 years.
Sinhala Terrorist were killing Sinhala civilians and Sinhala Police/military. Did you remember that?
Sinhala State terrorist who were trained to kill the Tamils were let lose on the Sinhala terrorist. They killed 70,000 of them including thousands of innocent civilians. Now the JVP are ministers and MPs.
Donald Gnanakone
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Jim softy / May 24, 2015
Brave LTTE fighters also pooed in their uniform pants when they were surrounded.
It happened in more than one battle.
the whole area was stinking.
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Sinhala Banda / May 25, 2015
Uncle Donald
Good to see you back in CT Forum once again among your busyhotel business in Sri Lanka thanks to the Pina-chance PM Ranil [Edited out]. [Edited out]
Now you are talking here with real colours. “Brave LTTE Fighters” hahaha!!!!!!!!!!who funded these brave LTTE Fighters to kill innocent peoples in Sri Lanka? People like you who wear business suits and always preach the peace, human rights and thail for right etc the list never ends. If anybody from the Sinhalese side going to Hague I am sure you and your beloved LTTE Die-Ass-Poo-ras should be in the queue before any Sinhalese. Do not think you are safe by pointing your finger at others as four other fingers pointing towards you.
By the way one question for you to clarify: Why your “Brave LTTE Leader” Podiyan Preba was dipping in the Nandikhadal mudbath with so-called brave LTTE leaders to avoid SL forces onslaughts. Their excreta make that lagoon more smellier than it used to be thanks to your “Brave LTTE Fighters”.
[Edited out]
Your ever-loving cousin
Sinahala Banda
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justice / May 22, 2015
The ECCHR Dossier is a well researched document and proves the activities of the 57th Division of the SL Army during the last stages of the war with complete disregard to the Geneva Conventions.
Major General Jagath Dias who commanded it should be held responsible.
Such an army man is held to be unfit to hold a diplomatic post, world over.
The army is all powerful in Sri Lanka, and does not totally accept orders from civilian administration.
Jagath Dias had to be appointed Army Commander to please the peacetime army.
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cholan / May 22, 2015
Jagath Dias can enjoy his post till September 2015……..
even Lord Buddha cannot help him after this ……
Cheers
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Piranha / May 22, 2015
Sirisena and Ranil were well aware of the war crimes allegations gainst Dias but still appointed him army chief of staff. That says a lot about their true intentions as far as reconciliation and more particularly about investigationg the war crimes by a domestic team.
This blatant act of appointing a suspected war criminal to lead the army is an affront to the tamils as well as the international community who had high hopes of the new government taking the right decisions about the allegations of war crimes.
This gives the impression that all Sinhala political leaders are the same – racists – and they don’t give a damn about the minorities’ grievances.
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bo / May 24, 2015
What a dreamer. According to your classification all the generals and political leaders from Julius Caesar down to Obama could be accused of war crimes, and should be put on trial. Get yourself a life and go fly a kite!
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punchinilame / May 23, 2015
This appointment is merely to ensure that the Forces Vote MS/RW at the next election
and to prevent JHU making a point of non-promation whilst only SF became a FM fighting
a civil war-without-witnesses !!!!!!
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