Monday, 20 June 2011BEN DOHERTY
A US court has summonsed the Sri Lankan President to appear before it over war crimes allegedly committed towards the end of that country's civil war in 2009.
Mahinda Rajapaksa will ignore the summons over the $30 million damages suit against him, claiming sovereign immunity.
In May 2009, Sri Lanka's 26-year-civil war between the government and separatist Tamil Tigers was ended by a ruthless offensive by government troops. The UN estimates up to 40,000 civilians were killed.
The civil case against Mr Rajapaksa, lodged in the District of Columbia District court, alleges that the he, as commander-in-chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces, bears responsibility for the torture and extrajudicial killing of civilians during the war.
The petitioners, relatives of three Tamil civilians killed by troops, are seeking $30 million damages, alleging six counts of violating the US Torture Victims Protection Act.
Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry said the court action was designed to embarrass Mr Rajapaksa and his government and would not be responded to.
Last month the Herald detailed allegations of war crimes made against a dual Australian-Sri Lankan citizen, Palitha Kohona.
Dr Kohona, who was foreign secretary during the war and is now Sri Lanka's ambassador to the UN, is accused of engineering the surrender under white flags of key Tamil Tigers and civilians. The surrendering Tamils were then shot by troops.
Dr Kohona had denied all allegations against him, telling the Herald: ''I never had the authority to issue orders to troops or to discuss surrender terms of any terrorists.''
A petition made to try him before the International Criminal Court is being considered by the court.
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Monday, 20 June 2011
THE CANBERRA TIMES
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