Return to War - Human Rights Watch
Return to War - Human Rights Watch
Return to War - Human Rights Watch
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commission, highlighting examples of lacking impartiality. The report said the<br />
commission’s conduct was “inconsistent with international norms and standards”<br />
and that failure <strong>to</strong> take corrective action “will result in the commission not fulfilling<br />
its fact-finding mandate in conformity with those norms and standards.” 12<br />
All of these problems suggest that the Commission of Inquiry is unlikely <strong>to</strong> make<br />
significant progress <strong>to</strong> change the climate of impunity in Sri Lanka <strong>to</strong>day. The<br />
Rajapaksa government has not seriously addressed the escalating human rights<br />
crisis, and measures by the government and the CoI <strong>to</strong> address issues such as the<br />
independence of the Commission and witness protection are falling short. The<br />
Commission of Inquiry seems more an effort <strong>to</strong> stave off domestic and international<br />
criticism than a sincere attempt <strong>to</strong> promote accountability and deter future abuse.<br />
An international role<br />
Foreign governments were especially supportive of the Commission of Inquiry, and<br />
its increasingly evident failings highlight the need for concerned governments <strong>to</strong><br />
rethink their approach <strong>to</strong> human rights protection. In particular, international donor<br />
states should intensify their expressions of concern, urging the government <strong>to</strong> end<br />
abuse and punish those responsible. The Sri Lankan government time and again has<br />
pledged <strong>to</strong> its people and the international community that it will protect human<br />
rights and hold abusers accountable; it has routinely failed <strong>to</strong> fulfill that pledge.<br />
The international co-chairs for the peace process (the United States, Japan, the<br />
European Union, and Norway), as well as other states, should use their leverage with<br />
both the government and the LTTE <strong>to</strong> encourage respect for international law,<br />
including the protection of civilians during hostilities. Financial aid is one lever that<br />
international governments have, and states such as the United Kingdom and<br />
Germany have recently elected <strong>to</strong> limit their assistance until government practices<br />
improve.<br />
12 “International Independent Group of Eminent Persons Public Statement,” June 15, 2007. For the full text of the statement<br />
see http://www.medico-international.de/en/projects/srilanka/watch/20070615iigep.pdf (accessed July 2, 2007).<br />
<strong>Return</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>War</strong> 16