Impending UN Human Rights Chief’s Sri Lanka Report : Comparing North Korea & Sudan recommendations for mass atrocities – TGTE

An Event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/270894615/impending-un-human-rights-chief-s-sri-lanka-report-comparing-north-korea-sudan-recommendations-for-mass-atrocities

When: Tuesday, June 16
Time: 15h00
Where: Room XXVI, UNOG, Palais des Nations

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council organized by:
• Association Ibn Sina, with partnership of Collectif la Paix au Sri Lanka (ICCPG) and
• Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)

Moderator: Hon. Manickavasagar, Minister of International Affairs, TGTE.

Speakers:

1) Hon. Geoffrey Robertson QC, human rights barrister, academic & author: UK.
2) Hon. Piquois Gilles, Human Right Lawyer, France.
3) Prof. Ramu Manivannan, Madras University, India.

• Whether Change of Head of State [part of the old regime] constitutes fundamental and durable change in the domestic environment?
• Can a state accused of genocide deliver justice?
• From Sovereign Impunity to International Accountability.
• International Justice v Realpolitik.

1) The Potential Culpability of the New President Sirisena will not be Conducive for a Domestic or Hybrid Mechanism: President Sirisena served as the acting Defense Minister during the period at the end of the war, when large numbers of Tamils were killed.

“Sirisena is hardly a beacon of hope for the Tamils: he was acting as defense minister in the nightmarish final fortnight of the war.” – Economist, January 3rd, 2015.

2) The Change of Guard in Sri Lanka will not result in a Change of the Institutionalized Impunity:
Even though the President has been changed, the political environment vis-à-vis Tamils, has not changed: Several former military personal, including the military commander at the end of the war General Sarath Fonseka, are in senior positions in the current government.

The fact that the military apparatus is still intact and the militarization of the NorthEast continues perpetuates fear among the Tamils, and has a deep impact on day to day activities there. Therefore, it is unlikely that victims/witnesses will be truly independent before a domestic or hybrid tribunal.

• Please sign: A Million Signature Campaign to “Refer Sri Lanka to International Criminal Court” at: www.tgte-icc.org

Panel Discussion will be followed by a Q&A Session. Light Tamil food and refreshments will be served.

Contact: +33-6- 2349- 1406