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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: EU demands war crimes inquiry --of both sides

2009-05-19

European Union foreign ministers have called for an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by Tamil Tiger militants and the Sri Lankan military during the fierce conflict in the country's north.
Oh, how even-handed.
At a meeting in Brussels on Monday, ministers from the 27 member states said they were appalled by the high number of civilian casualties.
Did they mention any feelings they may have had on Lanka's restoration of its territorial integrity, on Porky's ejection from the gene pool, and on the suppression of terrorism within an entire nation?
The ministers called for an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes committed not just by the Tamil Tigers, who have long been on the EU's list of banned terrorist groups, but also by the government.

Busybodies. Don't they have an economic crisis to deal with?

"There have been very grave allegations on all sides and the British position is always that whenever serious and credible allegations are made they should be properly investigated," British foreign secretary David Miliband said. "Secondly, there's obviously a crying need for an inclusive political settlement - the tens of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians want to be Sri Lankan citizens of equal rights and equal value."

Yes, and so they already are, I think, although perhaps I'm wrong. The Tamil Tigers wanted extra-special privileges, and were willing to kill for it.

The Tigers wanted approximately half the country for their very own, where they could oppress the Sinhalese, who've had the impertinance to occupy the country for the past 3000 years or so. So the political settlement's been reached, in spite of the Norwegian-brokered ceasefires.
The EU is pushing for the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session on Sri Lanka next week, as it did in Burma,
That worked well...
Darfur
Sheer brilliance...
and the Palestinian territories.

It's all about the process -- who cares that nothing has come from our special sessions except some fabulous dinners... and a very few fabulous working breakfasts (for a given value of working, of course).

Another gathering of "veteran peacemakers"...
The European action came as Sri Lankan security forces claimed to have killed Tamil Tiger leader and founder Vellupillai Prabhakaran as he tried to flee the war zone on the northeast of the island. State television announced the death of the 54-year-old on Monday.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the Tamil Tigers are commonly known, are trained to commit suicide rather than surrender. The guerrilla leader reportedly wore a cyanide capsule around his neck, like many other Tamil Tigers.

The EU urged the Sri Lankan government to allow United Nations aid workers access to the war zone to ease the humanitarian crisis.

Busybodies running to get in front of the parade. The Indian medical corps are already on their way.

Posted by:trailing wife

#13 So what was the EU talking about? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. These pretzels are making me thirsty.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-05-19 23:06

#12 But, but, but.....another "War of Liberation" backed by the ANC, the Poms, the EU, and the Hildebeast? I have no further questions Your Lordship.

The ANC of the Government of South Africa, noting in January 2009 that the continued conflict on the island has been cited on international monitoring mechanisms as reaching genocidal proportions described the conflict as a liberation war between the Tamil Tigers for self determination and the Sri Lankan Government that had led to the deaths of thousands of lives, and called for an end to hostilities and a political solution.[62] Willis Mchunu of the state legislature of KwaZulu-Natal condemned the genocide of Tamils and expressed support to the Tamil struggle for freedom. Mtandeni Dlungwana, leader of the province's branch of the African National Congress Youth League stated they were fully backing the Tamil Eelam struggle.[63]

Posted by: Besoeker 2009-05-19 12:21

#11 Apparently this is the knee-jerk EU response to most everything that doesn't involve sex or food. EU, the creatures with appetites but no spines.

Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-05-19 12:15

#10 If the Brits were in fact supporting the Tamils then they got what they deserve, actually its pretty much a slap on the wrist compared to being barred from Sri Lanka which, if the case is correct, should be their punishment.

Posted by: 746 2009-05-19 11:54

Posted by: Bright Pebbles the pedantic 2009-05-19 11:38

#8 Sri Lankans reply: Tell us how our ass tastes...

THE UK issued an angry rebuke to the Sri Lankan authorities yesterday after protesters attacked the UKs High Commission in Colombo. The High Commission said it was an outrage that the demonstration was allowed to turn violent and damage British property.

The protest came hours after the rebel Tamil Tigers conceded defeat in their bloody 25-year conflict with Sri Lankas government.

More than 1,000 people massed outside the British High Commission building in the Sri Lankan capital yesterday morning, accusing the UK of supporting the Tamil Tigers.

The demonstrators burned an effigy of Foreign Secretary David Miliband, pelted the compound with rotten eggs and stones and sprayed graffiti.

They carried placards with slogans reading Hands off Sri Lanka, we are not your colony and describing Mr Miliband as a White Tiger.

After about an hour, the protesters dispersed, leaving damage to the compounds outer wall and a CCTV camera, although no members of staff were injured.

A High Commission spokesman said: It is an outrage that the authorities allowed this demonstration to become so violent and to cause such damage to our property, in clear contravention of their responsibilities.

Posted by: tu3031 2009-05-19 10:31

#7 .5MT moves WAY ahead in the 'Snark of the Week' contest.

Posted by: Steve White 2009-05-19 09:05

#6 What's with this EU fascination with war crimes?

It's the EU bureaucrats trying to keep their leftist supporters happy.

Posted by: Pappy 2009-05-19 08:28

#5 TW's comment of "Busybodies." covers it quite well. Piss off EU, nobody asked you.

Posted by: Spot 2009-05-19 08:25

#4 What's with this EU fascination with war crimes?

It's like Babe Ruth fans when Hank made his run...

Posted by: .5MT 2009-05-19 07:06

#3 Well, since the LTTE doesn't exist any more, this is pretty much a witch hunt for the SL government for having the nerve to win a war. The EU and others will try very hard not to let them get away with it.

Posted by: gromky 2009-05-19 03:08

#2 What's with this EU fascination with war crimes?

Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-05-19 01:01

#1 Well, since China funded Sri Lanka and much bailout capital for the current economic mess comes from China, and money for someplace needs to dry up so there is more for other places....
Yes the EU should persue this line of questioning all the way back to China....
heh...

Posted by: 3dc 2009-05-19 00:14

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