"UN rights chief blasts Sri Lankan attacks on investigation" Associated Press November 08, 2014
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The United Nations’ human rights chief sharply criticized Sri Lanka’s government on Friday for attacking the integrity of a UN inquiry into alleged war crimes during the country’s civil war.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein accused the government of conducting a campaign of ‘‘distortion and disinformation’’ about the investigation, and of attempting to prevent witnesses from submitting evidence. He called the actions an affront.
Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of abuses by government soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels in the final period of the country’s civil war in 2009.
Zeid’s predecessor appointed a three-member panel in June to look into the allegations.
On Tuesday, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gamini Peiris ‘‘expressed strong displeasure at the selective and biased approach’’ of the inquiry and said it infringed ‘‘on the basic norms of justice and fair play.’’
Zeid rejected Peiris’s accusation, saying his office had many years of experience with similar inquiries.
He said the Sri Lankan government’s refusal to cooperate raises questions about its integrity. “Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths to sabotage an impartial international investigation?’’
Zeid said Sri Lankan civic groups and human rights defenders have been subjected to surveillance, harassment, and other forms of intimidation.
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They are only acting like USrael, so what's the big deal?
