Addressing a press conference in Colombo at the end of his visit to Sri Lanka, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake, Jr. said the UN report points to "the need for a comprehensive national reconciliation process that includes a full, credible and independent accounting of and accountability for those who violated international humanitarian law."
"We hope that the LLRC report will address the allegations raised in the Panel of Experts report," Blake said.
The UN Secretary-General has sent the report of the Expert Panel, appointed by him to advise on the accountability issue to the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner of Human Rights Ms. Navi Pillay. The government has rejected the UN report saying it is flawed and based on unsubstantiated information.
The US Assistant Secretary who was on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka toured the conflict affected North and met with the military commander, NGOs and students of Jaffna University.
In Colombo, Blake met with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and representatives of major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the major opposition UNP.
The former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka noted the progress made in the North since his departure in May 2009. He observed that most of the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) have left the camps and democratic process has taken place in the North with the local council elections.
the official has observed the work that has been done in the North to re-open schools, improve infrastructure, and remove mines
Blake said he was pleased that the government and the TNA are resuming the talks on power devolution and other concerns.
Emphasizing the need to improve the human rights situation in the country, the U.S. official said an important part of reconciliation and returning people's lives to normal in the North is an improvement in human rights.
He noted the progress made in disarming paramilitary groups in the country and urged the authorities to put an end to the Grease Devil incidents that threaten the security, mostly, in the North. He asked the authorities to deploy Tamil police to the North so the military no longer needs to perform these functions. Blake also expressed concerned about attacks on journalists.
Referring to the humanitarian assistance the U.S. is providing to the country, Blake said the U.S. is prioritizing its assistance plans.
He noted that the U.S. is investing $20 million to partner with the private sector to create 20,000 jobs in horticulture, dairy, apparel, aquaculture, logistics and construction sectors in the North and East.
The U.S. has contributed $1.4 million in the last year to support transitional housing across the North and provided $5 million over the past 12 months to the World Food Program in Sri Lanka.
Blake reiterated the support for demining operations in the war-torn land for the remaining IDPs to return to their homes.
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