5-member TNA delegation to head to Geneva

Monday, 7 September 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is expected to leave for Geneva this month to hold discussions with UN Human Rights officials and the international community to gather their support for an international war crimes probe.

The visit will take place ahead of the release of the report on Sri Lanka by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 30th session of the UNHRC in Geneva.

The report is expected to be critical towards the LTTE and the former Government who have been accused of widespread human rights violations in the final stages of the war between the military and the LTTE.

“Before the report is submitted, we will be holding discussions with members from the international community and the UN Human Rights office to make our stand clear. We reject any domestic investigation and want war crimes probed by an independent foreign team,” TNA Northern Provincial Council member M.K. Shivajilingam said.

The five member TNA delegation will be travelling to Geneva independently and will not be a part of a Government delegation which will also be attending the Council sessions, Shivajilingam added.

The UN estimated that at least 40,000 Tamil civilians had been killed in the final months of the battle by both government and rebel shelling and had earlier called for an international independent probe.

Last week the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) passed a resolution refusing to back a domestic investigation into the war crimes. (Colombo Gazette)