by Pearl Thevanayagam (February 17, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is the June 2012 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN which would determine whether Sri Lanka could be hauled up for war crimes. This month's session at the UNHRC (Unitend Nations Human Rights Council) could be easily thwarted with Russia, China and possibly India supporting Sri Lanka in its latest proclamation that it is subjecting its defence forces to scrutiny way ahead of UNHRC special sessions beginning February 22, 2012.
This sudden announcement that Sri Lanka would investigate its own defence forces well past two and a half years after unleashing them on innocent civilians in the name of wiping out the LTTE should not ameliorate the hard facts.
If the investigation into possible atrocities by the defence forces began in January why was it kept under wraps until Wednesday.? All politicians lie; but seasoned politicians know how to lie without being detected and with panache. Heaping on lies, retracting statements made and ministers and public officials contradicting each others' statements to the media has become a habit with the government.
