UK presses Sri Lanka for war crime probe after Channel 4 broadcast

Following the broadcasting of a documentary on Sri Lanka's war on Tuesday by the Channel 4 TV, the United Kingdom pressed Sri Lanka to investigate the alleged war crimes or face an international inquiry.
The Foreign office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt described the Channel 4's documentary 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' as 'horrific'.

"I was shocked by the horrific scenes I saw in the documentary that was broadcast on 14 June," Minister Burt said.

According to Britain's Channel 4 the one hour-documentary shows footage that has not been seen before.

The video footage, according to the producers said to have been taken by some soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army using cell phones, shows execution of naked bound men and women in close range by army uniform clad men.

Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry rejected the video footage saying it is fabricated to discredit the army.

Sri Lanka has consistently maintained that it did not commit war crimes during the military operation that defeated the LTTE terrorists in May 2009 ending three-decade long terrorism.

A statement by the Foreign Office said the recent UN Panel of Experts' report, this documentary and previously authenticated Channel 4 footage, constitutes convincing evidence of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

"The whole of the international community will expect the Sri Lankans to give a serious and full response to this evidence," the Minister, who visited Sri Lanka in Feruary this year, said.

Pointing out that since the end of the conflict the UK has called for an independent, thorough, and credible investigation of the allegations that war crimes were committed during the hostilities, the Minister said the UK Government expects to see progress by the end of the year.

"I reiterated this message to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 14 June," Burt said.

The Minister warned the Sri Lankan government that if it does not probe the allegations the UK will join the international community to pursue all optional available to press the government.

"If the Sri Lankan government does not respond we will support the international community in revisiting all options available to press the Sri Lankan Government to fulfill its obligations," he said.

The British Minister stressed that unless an investigation is conducted Sri Lanka will not be able to move on, and the prospects for reconciliation between Sri Lanka's communities will be curtailed.

"It is of the greatest importance that this does not happen," Burt stressed.