Former Norwegian peace envoy calls for international probe into right violations in Sri Lanka
Aug 12, Colombo: Former Norwegian minister and peace envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, has called for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations in the island.
In an e-mail to China's Xinhua News Agency, Solheim, whose facilitator role in the peace process was questioned by the Sri Lankan government, has said that the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay should pass on a strong message to the Sri Lankan government during her visit to the island later this month.
"Tens of thousands of humans perished in the last phase of the Sri Lankan war. Time has long passed when the international community will close its eyes and allow impunity for alleged war crimes. As long as there is no credible domestic process in Sri Lanka, the international community should start an international enquiry," Xinhua quoted the ex-Norwegian minister.
"The diaspora should come together on a platform of nonviolent struggle under the leadership of Tamils resident in Sri Lanka. They should reach out to Muslims, Singhalese and others to restore democracy and promote economic and social progress," he said.
Solheim, who is considered as a LTTE supporter by a majority of the country, has stressed that with four years passed after the war ended in Sri Lanka, there can be no excuse to delay the restoration of democracy in the country.
He has told Xinhua that the huge Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora can play a key post war role on Sri Lanka which includes fighting for legitimate political rights for the minority Tamils.
Norway brokered the 2002 ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lankan Government of then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and the LTTE Tamil Tiger leaders. President Rajapaksa's government abrogated the defunct ceasefire agreement in 2008 and launched a military operation to liberate the North and East from the LTTE. Although Norway has not had a specific role since the end of the war in May 2009, it continues to work for a political solution in Sri Lanka.
Aug 12, Colombo: Former Norwegian minister and peace envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, has called for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations in the island.In an e-mail to China's Xinhua News Agency, Solheim, whose facilitator role in the peace process was questioned by the Sri Lankan government, has said that the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay should pass on a strong message to the Sri Lankan government during her visit to the island later this month.
"Tens of thousands of humans perished in the last phase of the Sri Lankan war. Time has long passed when the international community will close its eyes and allow impunity for alleged war crimes. As long as there is no credible domestic process in Sri Lanka, the international community should start an international enquiry," Xinhua quoted the ex-Norwegian minister.
"The diaspora should come together on a platform of nonviolent struggle under the leadership of Tamils resident in Sri Lanka. They should reach out to Muslims, Singhalese and others to restore democracy and promote economic and social progress," he said.
Solheim, who is considered as a LTTE supporter by a majority of the country, has stressed that with four years passed after the war ended in Sri Lanka, there can be no excuse to delay the restoration of democracy in the country.
He has told Xinhua that the huge Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora can play a key post war role on Sri Lanka which includes fighting for legitimate political rights for the minority Tamils.
Norway brokered the 2002 ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lankan Government of then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and the LTTE Tamil Tiger leaders. President Rajapaksa's government abrogated the defunct ceasefire agreement in 2008 and launched a military operation to liberate the North and East from the LTTE. Although Norway has not had a specific role since the end of the war in May 2009, it continues to work for a political solution in Sri Lanka.
