U.N.: Sri Lankan government responsible for ‘carnage’
While the controversy over the Goldstone retraction continues, the three-member panel tasked with investigating war crimes during the Sri Lankan government’s final offensive against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 has released its report, and it’s pretty damning: Hospitals, UN centers and Red Cross ships were deliberately shelled by government forces, prisoners shot in the head ...
While the controversy over the Goldstone retraction continues, the three-member panel tasked with investigating war crimes during the Sri Lankan government's final offensive against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 has released its report, and it's pretty damning:
Hospitals, UN centers and Red Cross ships were deliberately shelled by government forces, prisoners shot in the head and women raped, it said. LTTE leaders used 330,000 civilians as a human shield and deliberately shot those who tried to escape.
"Tens of thousands lost their lives from January to May 2009, many of whom died anonymously in the carnage of the final few days," said the three-member panel led by former Indonesian attorney general Marzuki Darsman.
While the controversy over the Goldstone retraction continues, the three-member panel tasked with investigating war crimes during the Sri Lankan government’s final offensive against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 has released its report, and it’s pretty damning:
Hospitals, UN centers and Red Cross ships were deliberately shelled by government forces, prisoners shot in the head and women raped, it said. LTTE leaders used 330,000 civilians as a human shield and deliberately shot those who tried to escape.
"Tens of thousands lost their lives from January to May 2009, many of whom died anonymously in the carnage of the final few days," said the three-member panel led by former Indonesian attorney general Marzuki Darsman.
"Most civilian casualties in the final phases of the war were caused by government shelling," the report added. The UN experts said there were "credible allegations" of serious violations of international law by government forces and the LTTE "some of which would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."
It’s not clear what this really means going forward. Secretary Ban Ki-moon says that an international investigation could only be conducted if Sri Lanka agreed to it or if it was ordered by the Security Council or Human Rights Council — none of which seem particularly likely scenarios. The report also criticizes U.N. agencies themselves for failing to "take actions that might have protected civilians."
Sri Lanka has not yet responded, but as Mark Leon Goldberg notes, it’s likely to get ugly:
Back in July, government-sponsored protesters blockaded the UN building in Colombo and burnt Ban Ki Moon in effigy after he merely announced he was forming a panel to look into the war crimes allegations. So, if that was the reaction back then, expect something even more unhinged this time around.
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.
It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.
Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
