{"id":78611,"date":"2013-03-23T07:54:43","date_gmt":"2013-03-23T07:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=78611"},"modified":"2013-03-30T12:14:40","modified_gmt":"2013-03-30T12:14:40","slug":"sri-lankas-genocide-major-cover-up-must-be-exposed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sri-lankas-genocide-major-cover-up-must-be-exposed\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka’s Genocide: Major Cover-Up Must Be Exposed"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah<\/a><\/span> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah<\/p><\/div>\n

This article aims to show that Genocide allegations made against the Rajapaksa Government are well founded and there is a major cover-up on going that must be exposed. The Indian Government (UPA) must accede to the demands of the protesting students and support an essentially Indian call for an International Genocide Probe on Sri Lanka. The UPA must come clean and reveal its own involvement in the Eelam war.<\/p>\n

The Indian government\u2019s (UPA\u2019s) stubborn resistance to bringing out a strong UNHRC resolution<\/a><\/span> in the 22nd<\/sup> session has been most disappointing. It raises questions of complicity in the mass slaughter of Eelam Tamils that require the UPA to make a full disclosure of its involvement in the Eelam War<\/a><\/span>. The Indian Students\u2019 demand for an international genocide probe is reasonable and needs inquiry. The denial of allegations of the crime of genocide against Tamils is much like the \u2018holocaust denial\u2019 against the Jews. Why can\u2019t the UPA support an essentially Indian call for an international probe on allegations of genocide?<\/p>\n

Millions demanding for International Genocide Probe:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When millions of Indian students, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms Jayalalithaa, the DMK leader Mr. Karunanidhi<\/a><\/span> , the CPI leader D. Rajah and one of BJP\u2019s distinguished former Foreign Ministers, Yashwant Sinha\u00a0 are all demanding an international investigation for genocide, it blows the mind why the UPA is showing absolute dispassion and indifference, it\u2019s an abomination.\u00a0 The recent \u201cRuckus\u201d reported by The Hindu, headlined as, \u2018Rajya Sabha rocked by Sri Lankan Tamil issue,\u201d shows how emotive an issue it is.<\/p>\n

International Investigation is Precursor for Genocide charge:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the emphasis should be on an ” independent international investigation,” that being the precursor to an ICC (International Criminal Court) referral for prosecution of possible genocide, an Indian call for one is perfectly appropriate, coming from India, home to more than 75 million Tamils who think that the heinous crimes committed in Sri Lanka constitute genocide.India\u2019s so called friendship with the Rajapksa government shouldn\u2019t come before the voice of its own people.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Sonia\u2019 Gandhi\u2019s statement calling the crimes \u201cunspeakable atrocities\u201d is persuasive in demonstrating how important it is for UPA to take suitable action. Although Mrs. Gandhi\u2019s notable omission in not calling for an international investigation does not gel with her description of the crimes committed especially when she should know that \u201ca credible and independent investigation\u201d would be impossible in a Sri Lankan domestic setting.<\/p>\n

Tamils and TGTE insist it was Genocide and says there\u2019s \u2018Prima Facie\u2019 case:<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no doubt that the Tamils must insist on a genocide investigation: The TGTE (Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam<\/a><\/span>) has raised the issue of the crime of Genocide as integral to any investigation. ICC Prosecutor V Akayesu has stated that Genocide intent can be inferred from the scale… of atrocities,” committed.<\/p>\n

In addition its vitally important to consider other evidence; the highly lethal weapons including chemical weapons used; the Sri Lankan government’s shelling of civilian targets such as ‘no fire zones’ and hospitals as well as the denial of food and medicines; the premeditated act of asking the UN to leave and giving very limited access to the war zone for the International Red Cross to help the injured, count the dead and provide humanitarian assistance; preventing the international media from covering the war to ensure there were no witnesses to the crimes; the deliberate misrepresentation of facts and figures to the diplomatic corps and the media to prevent a security council meeting to stop the carnage, thereby dissuading the UN Secretary General<\/a><\/span> from using his powers under article 99 to call for a special security council hearing.<\/p>\n

These would and should constitute as indisputable evidence to show genocidal acts were committed with clear genocidal intent. Sri Lanka\u2019s stand that it followed a policy of zero civilian casualties without a drop of blood shed has now been proved to be absolutely false.<\/p>\n

Large scale atrocities<\/strong><\/p>\n

The casualty figures and how the “staggering” numbers (according to most human rights defenders) were arrived at, provide proof of the large scale massacre that took place. The Bishop of Mannar<\/a><\/span> in his submissions to the LLRC<\/a><\/span> reported that according to government records maintained “by Government Agents, Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladaris in the Tamil provinces,” there were 146,679 \u2018missing persons and that this number was based on the population figure in the Vanni before and after the war.<\/p>\n

One cannot disregard these numbers and trivialize the enormity of the slaughter that took place.<\/p>\n

The \u2018UN Panel of Experts\u2019 set the death toll at 40,000. The \u2018UN Internal Review Panel\u2019 said it could be more than 70,000. The findings of these two eminent UN appointed panels would give a better understanding of the botched casualty figures that came out at the height of the war and later how the Sri Lankan government tried to hide them. The facts of who was responsible for the large scale civilian deaths that occurred and how the UN failed to point out that the killings were largely caused by the government are all revealed in the reports.<\/p>\n

Findings of the Permanent People\u2019s Tribunal:<\/strong><\/p>\n

TGTE\u2019s Briefing paper on Genocide made the case why an investigation into Genocide should be carried out. It cited the findings of the Permanent People\u2019s Tribunal which was held in Dublin from 14-16 January 2010 and that of the Panel of Experts:<\/p>\n

In its finding the Permanent People\u2019s Tribunal stated inter alia:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were numerous accusations that Sri Lankan security forces were guilty of violating the Geneva Conventions on warfare and of having committed gross war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly during the last five months of the war, between January and May 2009. The charges included the bombing of civilian habitations, hospitals, and government-proclaimed \u2018safety zones\u2019 or \u2018no fire zones\u2019 by security forces, causing innumerable deaths of civilians, doctors and aid workers. Additionally, the charges also included depriving the population of essential services such as food, water, and health facilities in war zones, and other grave crimes against humanity.\u201d (DublinReport)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn its work the Tribunal was reminded several times that this civil war was a \u2018war without witnesses\u2019 because the GoSL had prevented either national or international media coverage. In fact, some of the early victims were the many journalists that were murdered by unknown assassins, something which appeared to serve the agenda of the Government by silencing critical opinion\u201d (Dublin Report) \u2013 strategic elimination of observation, control public reaction<\/p>\n

\u201cThe atrocities carried out by the military relate particularly to civilians, and there is evidence of cluster munitions being dropped by warplanes. Some witnesses reported that white phosphorous was used in violation of international law. Several witnesses had seen burn marks on wounded civilians. Others believed that indications of napalm were apparent, and evidence of other incendiary devices has been confirmed by doctors who had cared for hundreds of Tamil civilians wounded in this manner\u201d (Dublin Report)<\/p>\n

The People\u2019s Tribunal also said the crime of genocide should be added to the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity:<\/p>\n

Although the charge of genocide was not included in the inquiry requested of the Tribunal, some of the organizations and persons that gave testimony insisted that it be recognized that genocide occurred, or may have occurred, against the Tamil population inSri Lanka. There was not enough evidence presented before the Tribunal to determine that the crime of genocide be added to the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n

UN Panel of Experts Report seen as a prima facie case for Genocide by TGTE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

TGTE in its arguments further quoting sections of the UN Panel of Experts Report\u2019s said, the report actually established a prima facie case for genocide: \u201cEven though the Panel of Experts did not state that an act(s) of genocide were committed, the facts identified by the UNSG panel, clearly constitutes a prima facie case of genocide,\u201d the briefing paper said, listing the types of serious violations the Panel identified:.<\/p>\n

The Panel of Experts identified five serious types of violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka directed at the Tamil People. These are:<\/p>\n

(i) Widespread killing of civilians largely identified as Tamil (non-combatants) through widespread shelling,<\/p>\n

(ii) Directed shelling of hospitals and protected humanitarian sites<\/p>\n

(iii) Intentional denial of humanitarian assistance aimed at the Tamil populations,<\/p>\n

(iv) Human rights and Humanitarian Law violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including the use of both IDPs upon non-combatants and violence directed at Tamil groups.<\/p>\n

(v) Human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including actions directed against the media and other critics of the Government.<\/p>\n

Other Reports Providing Proof:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another report that emerged, after TGTE\u2019s initial briefing paper, by Julian Vego interviewing UN workers in the field who were asked to leave by the Sri Lankan government, found “genocidal acts” were committed by the government. The UN Internal Review Report which also came later was in itself a scathing indictment on Sri Lanka\u2019s conduct of the war. My extensive analysis of the Panel\u2019s findings can found here<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Higher Standard of proof for Genocide:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The higher standard of proof required for Genocide including how intention could be inferred is out there in the public domain by way of satellite images, authenticated graphic video clips of massacres, graves and executions, eye witness accounts and experts\u2019 evidence. The OHCHR report and in particular the High Commissioner, Ms Navi Pillay\u2019s clarion call for an independent and credible international investigation into international human rights and humanitarian law violations that took place in Sri Lanka needs to be heeded. And it is the Indian government\u2019s duty to heed the people of Tamil Nadu and not shy away from the \u2018G\u2019 word.<\/p>\n

Definition of Genocide<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nThe international legal definition of the crime of genocide is found in Articles II and III of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide”<\/p>\n

Article II describes two elements of the crime of genocide:<\/p>\n

1) the mental element, meaning the “intent to\u00a0destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,\u00a0as such”, and<\/p>\n

2) the physical element which includes five acts\u00a0described in sections a, b, c, d and e. A crime must include both\u00a0elements to be called “genocide.”<\/p>\n

Article III described five punishable forms of the crime of genocide: genocide; conspiracy, incitement, attempt and complicity.<\/p>\n

The heinous crimes committed, also known as ‘Mass Atrocity Crimes’ in legal terms that include war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide cannot be ignored and covered up.<\/p>\n

Senior Political and Military Leaders wouldn\u2019t be held accountable in a domestic setting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The senior military and political leaders including Rajapaksa himself involved in these crimes would not be held accountable in any internal commission of inquiry appointed by the President. The leaked diplomatic cables sent by US ambassador Patricia Butenis<\/a><\/span> cables suggest war crimes were committed by the Sri Lankan government and that there was, \u201clittle likelihood\u201d of anyone being held accountable. In a cable dated 15 January 2010 on the subject of war crimes accountability, the US ambassador in Colombo Patricia A. Butenis implicated President Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/a><\/span> in alleged war crimes committed in the final months of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[2][3] Butenis pointed out “that responsibility for many of the alleged [war] crimes rests with the country\u2019s senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers (Gotabhaya Rajapaksa<\/a><\/span> and Basil Rajapaksa<\/a><\/span>) and opposition candidate General Fonseka.[4][5] Butenis stated that only “few tentative steps” had been taken on accountability and that there was little likelihood of anyone being held accountable for the war crimes, stating “There are no examples…of a regime undertaking wholesale investigations of its own troops or senior officials for war crimes while that regime or government remained in power”.(Wikipedia)<\/p>\n

Structural Genocide continues: \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As India seeks to protect the Rajapaksa government, the TGTE is also concerned with the structural genocide that\u2019s ongoing in the highly militarized zone of the NorthEast of the island; one that\u2019s intended to destroy the Tamil national identity and the demographic compositions of the Tamil people in their own historical habitats.<\/p>\n

US<\/strong> resolution facilitating ongoing Genocide and against Genocide Convention \u2013Prof. Boyle:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just at the time of writing, TamilNet has published, University of Illinois Professor, Francis Boyle\u2019s response to the 3rd<\/sup> draft of the UNHRC resolution: \u201c”By means of adopting this draft Resolution, the U.N. Human Rights Council and its Member States will thereby further whitewash and \u201cbluewash\u201d and facilitate and aid and abet the ongoing campaign of genocide by the GoSL against the Tamils in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention and in particular but not limited to their article 1 obligation \u201cto prevent and to punish\u201d genocide as well as their article 3(e) obligation that prohibits and criminalizes \u201ccomplicity in genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going back to recent history, the 1983 pogrom against Tamils orchestrated by the then Sinhala government, it self amounted to acts of genocide according to Lee Kuper in his book \u2018Prevention of Genocide\u2019 (1985). The TGTE\u2019s is calling for an international field presence in the NorthEast as a form of \u2018international protection mechanism\u2019 against the destruction of the Tamil people as a nation of people in their traditional homeland of Tamil Eelam. Section III of the book \u2018New Directions in Genocide Research edited by Adam Jones, analysed different cases of genocide which included genocide in North America, the Nazi Holocaust, the Armenian genocide and the Sri Lankan genocide.<\/p>\n

BJP Yashwant Sinha\u2019s Revelations on India\u2019s Duplicity and Involvement:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former BJP External Affairs Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha\u2019s speech during the debate relating to the US sponsored resolution was not only most thorough, damning and revealing, it raises serious questions of complicity for which a full disclosure by UPA is in order. Mr. Sinha spoke of the policy of duplicity of the Indian government and referred to a former Defence correspondent Nithin Gokule\u2019s illuminating book \u2018Sri Lankafrom War to Peace\u2019 which alleges \u201cIndiawas the hidden hand behind Sri Lanka\u2019s success (in the war).\u201d It also exposes a channel of communication that was opened on President Rajapaksa\u2019s advice. Indiaagreed to having \u201cinformal exchanges between a troika\u201d formed on either side:\u00a0http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y1y412wIsUc<\/p>\n

The troika composed of\u00a0 the National Security Advisor, the then Defence Secretary and the then Foreign Secretary on India\u2019s side and the two brothers Gotabaya and Basil Rajapaksa and the Rajapaksa\u2019s own Personal Secretary on the Sri Lankan side. \u201cThe Indian Navy destroyed the Sea Tigers and broke the back of the LTTE,\u201d the author revealed, concluding that was what destroyed the LTTE.<\/p>\n

The Government was speaking two languages one to Mr. Karunanidhi in Chennai and another to the Sri Lankan government, Mr. Sinha\u2019 said explaining India\u2019s shameless duplicity.<\/p>\n

Mr. Sinha further went on to quote from a former Commander of the Indian Peace keeping Forces, Major General Ashok Mehta who in June 2009 made the allegation of Indian complicity: \u201cwe were complicit in the last phase of the offensive when a great number of civilians were killed. Having taken a decision to go along with the campaign, we went with it all the way and ignored what was happening on the ground,\u201d he continued quoting from the book.<\/p>\n

India<\/strong> must separate itself from the Rajapaksa brothers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Indian government must separate itself from the Rajapaska regime and should not be accused of complicity in the crimes, especially in view of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the defence Minister\u2019s claim that unlike previous Eelam wars, this time he had kept the Indian government informed of their actions every step of the way which was the reason for their in victory. Gotabaya\u2019s expose that India was briefed all the way was again recalled by Mr. Sinha: When explaining what was different from the Eelam war of 1987 (where India intervened to prevent the complete annihilation of the LLTE) Gotabaya on June 1st<\/sup> had said: \u201cThe primary problem in 1987 was that the relations between India and Sri Lanka was not managed very effectively but this time the President of Sri Lanka went out of his way to keep New Delhi briefed about all the new developments taking place in Sri Lanka (through the troika). The relations was managed through maintaining a clear communication line, at the very highest level; while other countries would mount pressure on us through diplomatic channels and economic means, only India would influence the military campaign,\u201d he had said, Mr. Sinha reminded the Lok Sabha.<\/p>\n

Mr. Sinha not only said India could have prevented the deaths that occurred, he also recalled the joint statement between India and Sri Lanka after the war: \u201cnot a word was mentioned about the \u2026dreadful violations, about the atrocities committed against the Northern Tamils,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Referring to the book \u201cGota\u2019s War\u201d, Mr. Sinha said evidence showed, \u201cdespite the fact that we knew fully well what was happening in Sri Lanka, we not only kept quiet, we became complicit in the crimes against the Tamils.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is India engaged in a cover-up :<\/strong><\/p>\n

In view of Gotabaya\u2019s statement it is critical for India not to be accused of complicity and to be identified with Sri Lanka in what Mr. Sinha referred to as the \u201cbutchering\u201d of civilians\u201d; rather it should distance it self from Sri Lanka and these allegations. If India fails to expose Sri Lanka\u2019s crimes, India will be seen as being engaged in a massive cover-up which is as serious as the commission of the crime (see article 111 of the Genocide Convention). In fact there is a demand from the Indian people for full disclosure of India\u2019s involvement in the war in terms of the assistance given to Sri Lanka including weapons, surveillance equipment, intelligence and personnel.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s foreign policy dictated by China factor, Rajapaksa using India\u2019s \u201cfear\u201d to the max:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Further Mr. Yash want Sinha alluded to India\u2019s (UPA\u2019s) foreign policy based he said on \u201cfear\u201d and \u201chelplessness\u201d and not on \u201cconfidence\u201d. The China factor dictated the way India\u2019s foreign policy direction was headed and the Rajapaksa government has exploited the situation to its maximum advantage. India has shown it does not want to lose out to China, on its most favoured nation status in its dealings withSri Lanka and as its \u201cstrategic and trading partner,\u201d that resulted in India competing with China forSri Lanka\u2019s affections. In fact Manmohan Singh had shared this fear with Mr. Vaikho which is why Manmohan Singh<\/a><\/span> has time again ignored Tamil Nadu Chief Minister\u2019s call for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka; an issue Mr. Sinha took up in the debate, which he said he himself suggested in April 2009: This showed India\u2019s \u201chelplessness\u201d which he said, was not the way to make foreign policy.<\/p>\n

Four key player\u2019s crucial role in reversing India\u2019s Sri Lanka policy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

In an article\u00a0titled: Shivshankar Menon, Vijay Nambiar, MK Narayanan and Nirupama Menon Rao Played Crucial Role in Reversing India\u2019s Time-tested Sri Lanka Policy, Sam Rajappa explains how Indian Sri Lanka policy changed from pro-Tamil to pro-Rajapaksa. He writes the \u201cfoundation\u201d of that pro-Tamil policy \u201crested on the belief the Tamils inSri Lanka are the natural ally ofIndia while the Sinhalese are fair weather allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the article Sam Rajappa writes how the reversal happened and surmises that \u201cIndia has much to answer for the atrocities Sri Lanka had committed.\u201d: \u201cThe turnaround in India\u2019s Sri Lanka policy was brought about by four civilian officers whose primary objective was to promote the sphere of influence of China in the Indian Ocean rim States and keep the USA out. The PMO played along with this group. The leader of this group is Shivshanker Menon who cut his teeth in the Indian Foreign Service as a junior officer in Beijing when he was bowled over by the Thoughts of Mao. He had two more postings in Beijing which helped the Chinese strengthen their ties with the Indian official. Vijay Nambiar, a 1967 batch IFS officer, is fluent in Chinese language and has worked in India\u2019s diplomatic missions in Hong Kong and Beijingamong other palaces and developed close affinity with China. Nirupama Rao also had a stint as India\u2019s ambassador to China before becoming external affairs secretary. The three, with former National Security Adviser MK Narayanan played a crucial role in reversing India\u2019s time-tested Sri Lanka policy enunciated by Nehru and carried forward by Indira Gandhi.The foreign office trio and Narayanan, in the name of fighting international terrorism helped train and equip Sri Lankan armed forces to wipe out the LTTE and along with it the Tamil movement for autonomy.For the final push, Rajapaksa sought the help of Lt.-Gen. Satish Nambiar, a retired Indian Army officer. Vijay Nambiar, as adviser to the UN Secretary-General, had ensured the closing stages of the war was conducted without witnesses. India has much to answer for the atrocities Sri Lanka had committed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stating the obvious Sam Rajappa explains the end result of that policy: \u201cThe Northern and theEasternProvinces, traditional homeland of the Tamils, have come under the virtual suzerainty ofChina.\u201d<\/p>\n

That Sri Lanka continues to blackmail India is evident by its reaction to India\u2019s support for a US resolution. The AFP has reported from Colombo: \u201cIn seeming retaliation, Sri Lanka announced it would repossess part of a strategic oil storage depot from Indian Oil Corp. Ltd<\/a> in the island nation\u2019s northeastern port town of Trincomalee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yashwant Sinha calls for impartial inquiry on Genocide:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raising the plight of Tamils and the tragedy that occurred, he spoke of the, \u201ctriumphalism that became a state policy of Sri Lanka, one that still continues,\u201d further listing some \u201cpoints for action\u201d that India must urge Sri Lanka to carry out: Of those, the call for an \u201cabsolutely impartial inquiry (with \u201coutsiders involved\u201d) into Genocide and other atrocities in the Eelam War\u201d together with \u201cwithdrawal of the army from the Northern province,\u201d stood out.<\/p>\n

No Consensus on Parliamentary Resolution:<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far all signs point to the possibility that a resolution discussed in the Lok Sabha may not materialize: The latest reports from \u2018The Hindu\u2019 say the BJP is itself against passing a resolution that\u2019s \u201ccountry specific,\u201d raising the issue of the Afzal resolution: \u201cThe BJP had pointed out earlier that if India had objected to the resolution passed on the Afzal Guru issue (in Pakistan), it would not be proper for it to pass one on Sri Lanka in Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n

UPA Government\u2019s ploy to Appease Mr. Karunanidhi: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The sudden mention of a possible resolution in the Indian parliament may be a ploy to get Mr. Karunanidhi back into the UPA government. One is still not sure if he has indeed left. What is most disconcerting in this drama that\u2019s been played out on the world stage is the hypocrisy behind it. The UPA government which says it does not want to agree to an international investigation because it would infringe onSri Lanka\u2019s sovereignty is now promising to pass a resolution on Sri Lankain parliament. How would that not count as an infringement is my question? It further illustrates my contention that it\u2019s a tactic by UPA to appease their ally Mr. Karunanidhi and a charade played out by both to find some plausible means for him to return to the fold and to an otherwise weakened government. This same drama was enacted by UPA\u2019s Minister, Chidambaram and Mr. Karunanidhi during the war at huge human cost.<\/p>\n

At the time of writing \u2018The Hindu\u2019 reported that no consensus has so far been reached on the resolution: The \u201call-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday evening to seek a consensus on the government\u2019s draft resolution on Sri Lankan Tamils failed: if the text did not go far enough for the DMK and the AIADMK, the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal-United all said they were opposed to a country-specific resolution,\u201d the paper reported.<\/p>\n

It is no surprise that whilst the AIADMK and the DMK found the text not going far enough to include genocide and a call for an international investigation, the other parties were against UPA government\u2019s move to appease its strong ally Mr. Karunanidhi with a promise of a resolution in the Indian parliament as a conciliatory gesture to woo it back.<\/p>\n

Statements by John Kerry and Indian Ambassador \u2013 \u201cGenocidal Double talk\u201d – Professor Boyle:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Professor Boyle’s reaction to statements by US Secretary of State and by India\u2019s Ambassador to the UN Dilip Sinha after the adoption of the US was reported by TamilNet: Professor Boyle called statements made by the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and by India’s ambassador to the U.N., Dilip Sinha, after the adoption of the US resolution on Sri Lanka in the Geneva sessions of the UNHCR, as “genocidal double-talk,” pointing out the “blatant hypocrisy” in praising a resolution that looked at Colombo to implement the recommendation of its local “truth” commission. While rights groups and Tamils demanded an “international” investigation into the killings in Mu’l’l’vaaykkaal, leaked U.S. State Department memos had earlier revealed US officials acknowledging the futility of local investigations when culpability for the war-crimes pointed at Sri Lanka’s President Rajapakse and his siblings.<\/p>\n

UPA Government must not engage in a cover-up, a violation of \u00a0the Genocide Convention. It must support an Indian call for an International Genocide Probe and come clean and reveal its involvement in the Eelam war:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Yashwant Sinha\u2019s revelations onIndia\u2019s involvement in the Eelam War can\u2019t be ignored and require both an inquiry and debate in parliament. The UPA government has to come clean and reveal the full extent of its involvement in the Eelam War and answer allegations of complicity that has been laid at its feet.<\/p>\n

The UPA should not refuse the demands of millions of Indians. The fact that the US sponsored resolution, vilely inadequate, has been passed should not mean the story ends there until the 24th<\/sup> UNHRC session and the 25th. What the UPA government must do is to support an essentially Indian call for an international genocide probe and make a statement to that effect to placate millions of Indians.<\/p>\n

The higher standard of proof needed for genocide is there to be discovered; what\u2019s needed is credible men and women in the houses of power around the world including in India and the UN to make that crucial call for an international investigation resulting in an ICC referral. Otherwise as Prof. Boyle said to ignore or \u201caid and abet\u201d genocide would be a violation of article 1 of the Genocide Convention: obligation \u201cto prevent and to punish\u201d genocide as well as article 3(e) : obligation that prohibits and criminalizes \u201ccomplicity in genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah- Chair, TGTE Senate<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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