Stop-Torture-Report

with command responsibility as well as individual torturers and rapists, shows
how little political will there is to do this work inside the country. Unlike the
investigative authorities inside Sri Lanka, we do not have powers of subpoena
or wire taps, large funds or numerous staff but we do have the trust of victims
and witnesses, thousands of whom are now outside the country. The evidence
is here, fully documented, and this is only a representative sample of its scope.
The question remains: will Sri Lanka and the international community take any
genuine steps to ensure accountability and justice for these violations? Or will
the complete lack of accountability, the continuation of the militarisation and
state oppression by the security forces, and the terrorisation of the Tamil
population, and in some cases Muslim or Sinhalese who support them,
continue?
Sadly, the only reasonable inference is that despite the high hopes that came
with the change in government in 2015 that the culture of impunity would be
pierced and the rule of law would prevail in Sri Lanka, the suffering inflicted on
Tamils by the security forces will continue unless there is strong, effective and
meaningful international intervention.
Accountability
Given there already have been two UN inquiries into the conduct of the end of
the war (UN Panel of Experts and OISL), sufficient evidence from witnesses
who are already safely abroad exists from these two inquiries, as well as that
gathered by ourselves, other INGO’s and local NGOs. This body of evidence that
now exists can be presented to a competent independent body for their
consideration for drafting indictments and international arrest warrants. There
is no need for yet another Presidential Commission of Inquiry which would
cause increased and unnecessary delay, risk and trauma for victims and
witnesses and their families and financial costs, that are better dealt with by
other justice mechanisms or processes which can deal with those cases which
will never come before the courts.
Sri Lanka has a very poor record of achieving truth or justice through the
various Commissions of Inquiry it has established in the past with no
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