Probe Sri Lanka killings, CPI-M says

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday called for “a credible investigation” into widespread allegations of extra-judicial killings in Sri Lanka.

“The Indian government should take the stand in the UN Human Rights Council that Sri Lanka should take up the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC without any further delay,” the party said, referring to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

“These include the necessity for a credible investigation into the allegations of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and a political settlement involving the devolution of powers to the provinces.

“Given the growing evidence of killings of civilians and serious human rights violations, it is necessary to have a credible and independent investigation into these charges.

“All those responsible should be held accountable and brought to book,” it added.

CPI-M said in a statement that although the conflict in Sri Lanka ended two years ago with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, the question of bringing to book those accountable for serious human rights violations and killings during the last phase of the war was still hanging fire.

“The Sri Lankan government constituted (the) LLRC to go into the matter. The recommendations submitted by the Commission five months ago have still not been implemented by the Sri Lankan government.”

The CPI-M statement accompanied the uproar in the Indian parliament over fresh video footage that indicated that Sri Lankan soldiers had gunned down the 12-year-old son of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in May 2009.

Colombo has routinely denied killing civilians during the war.