[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2011, 00:08 GMT]
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) Tuesday released a document which the group claimed "substantiates allegations of war crimes committed by the 57 Division of the Sri Lankan Army under the command of Jagath Dias." ECCHR appealed to the German Government to take the allegations levelled against Major General Dias' 57 Division seriously, and to seriously investigate his [Dias's] individual criminal responsibility. ECCHR also appealed to the German Government to withdraw the diplomatic visa of Major General Dias as well as declare him a persona non grata.
The allegations follow the filing of a complaint by Switzerland Council of Eezham Tamils (SCET), the Norwegian Council of Eezham Tamils (NCET), and the US based NGO, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) in July of last year, against the Federal Republic of Germany with the European Courts of Human Rights (ECHR) for violating the ‘European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’ in accepting Maj. Gen. (retd.) Jegath Dias as deputy Counsel in Sri Lanka’s embassy.
The European Court of Human Rights is yet to respond to the filed complaint.
"In breach of its obligations under international law, in particular those outlined in the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols, the German Government failed to to investigate and accordingly prosecute allegations of war crimes. Instead, it granted a suspect of war crimes a diplomatic passport. As such, one of the main suspects has now been in residence in Berlin for almost one and a half years, allowing him to threaten members of the Tamil diaspora whenever they contact their embassy," the ECCHR complaint said.
German judicial system, based on the principles of Roman Law, is a civil law system where judges base their decision on comprehensive system of legal codes.
The website of the Rights Group says, "ECCHR initiates, develops, and supports high-impact, strategic human rights litigation to hold state and non-state actors accountable for the violations of the rights of the most vulnerable. ECCHR focuses on cases with the greatest likelihood of setting precedents and advancing policies that strengthen the legal framework for global human rights accountability. ECCHR actively litigates cases and but also researches, investigates, and helps to coordinate the development strategies of legal advocacy around cases."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In April, after reading about a leaked UN report on alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka's army against Tamil civilians, a 23-year-old engineer from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu set himself on fire. His suicide note said he hoped the state's next government's leaders would help their fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka. Full Story>>>
-------------------------------------------------------------
On Sri Lanka, As G.L. Peiris Riffs on 10 Day Old Call with Ban, Kohona Comes Calling at UN: War Crimes Response?
Maj. Gen. Jagath Dias [Library Photo]
The European Court of Human Rights is yet to respond to the filed complaint.
"In breach of its obligations under international law, in particular those outlined in the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols, the German Government failed to to investigate and accordingly prosecute allegations of war crimes. Instead, it granted a suspect of war crimes a diplomatic passport. As such, one of the main suspects has now been in residence in Berlin for almost one and a half years, allowing him to threaten members of the Tamil diaspora whenever they contact their embassy," the ECCHR complaint said.
German judicial system, based on the principles of Roman Law, is a civil law system where judges base their decision on comprehensive system of legal codes.
The website of the Rights Group says, "ECCHR initiates, develops, and supports high-impact, strategic human rights litigation to hold state and non-state actors accountable for the violations of the rights of the most vulnerable. ECCHR focuses on cases with the greatest likelihood of setting precedents and advancing policies that strengthen the legal framework for global human rights accountability. ECCHR actively litigates cases and but also researches, investigates, and helps to coordinate the development strategies of legal advocacy around cases."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tackling Ethnic Inequality in Sri Lanka
Policymakers must address the economic roots of the conflict between Tamils and the Sinhalese majority, writes columnist Maha Hosain Aziz
#storyTools ul li { }#storyTools ul li#stLinkedIn.active { display: none; }
In April, after reading about a leaked UN report on alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka's army against Tamil civilians, a 23-year-old engineer from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu set himself on fire. His suicide note said he hoped the state's next government's leaders would help their fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka. Full Story>>>
-------------------------------------------------------------
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 3 -- After in Sri Lanka external affair minister G.L. Peiris told Parliament he had spoken with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by telephone and would be formally responding to the UN Panel of Experts' war crimes report, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about the referenced call. Full Story>>>
-----------------------------------------------------------
the Saudi
Power devolution to minorities in Lanka
The devolution of power to the minorities is not something Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed himself over since defeating the Tamil Tigers in battle. With the rebels gone and the state firmly in control of all territory,. ...Read more
The devolution of power to the minorities is not something Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed himself over since defeating the Tamil Tigers in battle. With the rebels gone and the state firmly in control of all territory,. ...Read more
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
