Families of enforced disappeared Tamils decry

domestic investigations
[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 August 2015, 15:38 GMT]
Around 1,200 people from all the 8 districts of North-East came together at an
emotional gathering on Sunday at the De La Salle Brothers School in Mannaar,
remembering the enforced disappeared persons in the country of Eezham Tamils.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, the families of
enforced disappeared demanded independent international investigations and
categorically rejected the domestic and so-called hybrid mechanisms that are
currently being advocated by the USA. In the meantime, leading lawyers from
Mannaar told TamilNet on Sunday that international investigations were necessary
on the mass graves at the killing fields of Mannaar. On Friday, an abandoned well
allegedly used by the SL military to dump slain Tamils was located 40 meters close
to Maanthai Junction near Thirukkeatheesvaram temple.

Object 1

An abandoned well, allegedly used by the SL military to dump slain Tamils, was located on Friday, 40 meters from Maanthai Junction towards
Thirukkeatheesvaram temple

NPC Councillor Primussiraiva inaugurating the event at Mannaar on the International Day of the Disappeared

Mothers of enforced disappeared Eezham Tamils from 8 districts gathered at Mannaar on Sunday

Rev Fr Elil Rajendram

Northern Provincial Councillor Mr Antony Soosairatnam Pirimussiraiva, who
is a leading lawyer in Mannaar, representing the families of the enforced
disappeared told TamilNet Sunday that international investigations only
could establish the truth about the mass graves.
Rev Fr Emmanuel Sebamalai, who is the president of the Citizens'
Committee of Mannaar, openly declared that the global powers have

exploited the fate of Tamil victims for their selfish gains. Tamils, who
expected justice from global players are now told expect justice from a
domestic mechanism. Tamils have to either succumb to the unfortunate
situation that has befallen them or prepare themselves to resist the designs
and dramas being staged by these powers, even though the Tamils are
already exhausted with all the forms of struggle in their long journey to
justice, he said.
Rev Fr Elil Rajendram, the country Director of Jesuit Refugee Service and a
co-spokesperson of Tamil Civil Society Forum was the chief guest in the
event organised by the AFVED and the Mannar Citizens' Committee.
In his address, Fr Elil Rajendram urged the people to find creative ways to
advance their struggle for justice in the changed context, reminding the
audience that enforced disappearances were part of the genocidal project.
Fr Elil Rajendram cited the example of the legal project undertaken by the
mothers of enforced disappeared in Argentina. SL State structure played a
crucial role in the enforced disappearances, he said.
Tamils should structure their own terminology and be in command of their
own narrative in conveying and documenting their experiences instead of
expecting others to steer the process, Fr. Elil Rajendram concluded.
Mrs M Uthayachandran, the president of the AFVED, in her address said the
association had taken up the burning issue of the enforced disappeared and
the political prisoners with both the SL President Maithiripala Sirisena and
SL Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. Both of them were pre-occupied
with the votes of the Tamil people. There has been no progress on the
critical issues, she told the families who had gathered at the venue.

The Association of Families of Victims of Enforced

[Tamil] Address by Fr Elil Rajendram

Disappeared (AFVED), in an appeal sent to Sri Lanka's President

Maithiripala Sirisene, categorically rejected domestic and hybrid
mechanisms.
We firmly believe that justice can only be meted out through the creation
of an international tribunal mechanism, stated the memorandum sent by
the AFVED to SL President Maithiripala Sirisena on behalf of the victims of
enforced disappeared. The memorandum was signed by Mrs.
M.Uthayachandra and Mrs. T.Puspambal, the secretary of the AFVED.
Interpreting the mandate given by the UNHRC to the OISL, also as giving
space to address the crime of genocide, the AFVED argued that the Sri
Lankan State, controlled almost exclusively by the Sinhala ethnic group,
will not be able to adjudicate any charge of genocide by the Sri Lankan
State against the Tamils, whether as part of a hybrid mechanism or a
domestic mechanism. Therefore an outside, independent international
mechanism is essential for a fair adjudication of the crimes which fall within
the purview of the mandate the memorandum stated.
Given the history and politics of Sri Lanka, a domestic or hybrid mechanism
will not meet these standards and thus the only fair option is an
international process led by the UN, the memorandum further stated.

Full text of the memorandum by AFVED follows:

We the undersigned civil societies members. The Association of relatives of
Enforced Disappeared Would likes to submit our grievances to you. As there
is a change of leadership of the country and a new parliament has come
into power, we hope and expect many good things to happen in the near
future.
We submit this memorandum to responsibly convey to you that neither a
domestic mechanism nor a hybrid mechanism would be able to deliver
justice to Tamil victims in Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that justice can only
be meted out through the creation of an international tribunal mechanism.
In the UN Expert Panel Report on Accountability in Sri Lanka (March 31,
2011) it is stated Accountability also requires official acknowledgement by
the State of its role and responsibility in violating the rights of its citizens
when that has occurred. When the State itself is implicated in international
crimes, it cannot play any role in the administration of justice pertaining to
those crimes. As the accepted legal principle holds, an accused cannot be

judge in ones own case.

The underlying nature of the conflict in Sri Lanka is an ethnic conflict. Given
that, for a State to play a role in its resolution, it must be ethnically
neutral.
However, as demonstrated by Sri Lankas history since independence, the
Sri Lankan State, including the judiciary, has failed to uphold even the
appearance of neutrality.
The judiciary has always been subservient to the political leadership when
it comes to abuses against Tamils, and that is evidenced by all of the past
Commissions of Inquiry.

The mandate of the OISL is not limited to war crimes, but also includes
international crimes, which is further defined in Article V of the Rome
Statute of the International Criminal Court as consisting of the crime of
genocide; crimes against humanity; war crimes; and the crime of

aggression.
Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide to mean any
of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a
national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such.
By this very definition of genocide, the Sri Lankan State, controlled almost
exclusively by the Sinhala ethnic group, will not be able to adjudicate any
charge of genocide by the Sri Lankan State against the Tamils, whether as
part of a hybrid mechanism or a domestic mechanism. Therefore an
outside, independent international mechanism is essential for a fair
adjudication of the crimes which fall within the purview of the mandate.
It has been the belief in some quarters that the changing of the guard
would result in a change in institutionalized impunity in Sri Lanka. The
Tamils have seen numerous regime changes since Sri Lanka becoming an
independent State in 1948, and none of the regimes made any sincere
effort to address Tamil grievances.

The promotion of former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka to Field Marshal and
the recent appointment of former Commander of the notorious 57th

division Major General Jagath Dias to Army Chief of Staff, both of whom
have been implicated in grave international crimes by reputable INGOs, is
not only a slap on the face to the victims, but also to the OISL, an open
flaunting of the accountability demanded of the Sri Lankan State.
None of Sri Lankas domestic mechanisms, including the one that had the
International Independent Group of Eminent Persons, has been successful.
Accountability and justice are processes that must be credible in the view
of the victims, ensuring the free participation of the victims, and complying
with international norms and standards.
Further, given that the exclusively Sinhalese Sri Lankan military apparatus
is still intact, and given the intense militarization of the North East where
the Tamil victims live, the Tamils will continue to be fearful to participate in
any in-country process.
Given the history and politics of Sri Lanka, a domestic or hybrid mechanism
will not meet these standards and thus the only fair option is an
international process led by the UN.
A hybrid tribunal can be useful, where a state has the will, but lacks the
capacity to deliver justice. This is not the case in Sri Lanka, because there
is no political will to prosecute members of the Sinhala Nation or to deliver
justice to the Tamils. Even the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka recently told
the Southern constituency that they will set up domestic inquiry to clear
the name of the army.
Therefore we would like to request to refer the case to the International
Criminal Court or create an international accountability process, rather than

to support for a domestic or a hybrid judicial mechanism

With great respect for your commitment and work to protect and promote
human rights in Sri Lanka, to ensure justice and accountability, to build
deterrence, and to ensure that injustices are never repeated.
Thanking you in anticipation.
(Signed)
Mrs. M.Uthayachandra
President

(Signed)
Mrs. T.Puspambal Secretary

Posted by Thavam