http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/09/26/news11.asp
Scores of LTTEers likely to be indicted: GL
Scores of hardcore LTTEers are likely to be prosecuted on charges including mass murder for crimes committed during the three decade conflict that ended in 2009, External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris told The Associated Press.
The Tigers are among some 11,500 fighters who were captured or surrendered after the war’s end. Prof Peiris said all but about 3,000 of them had already been released from military-run rehabilitation camps and were re-integrating into society.
Interviewed in New York where he attended the UN General Assembly opening session this past week, Peiris said that of those remaining, “less than 2,000” hardcore tigers were expected to be indicted, and that court proceedings were likely to begin next year.
Peiris denied that Lankan troops targeted civilians during the conflict.
But he said it was within the mandate of a reconciliation commission appointed by the President last year to review the conflict and learn lessons from it, and to also look into allegations of rights violations. If the commission found reliable evidence that any individual had committed serious crimes, they would be indicted in a Sri Lankan court.
“They (the commission) cannot fulfill their mandate if they exclude from consideration these issues,” he said.
He said, for example, the commission would examine British TV footage purporting to show atrocities by troops.
The commission is due to submit its final report by November 15.
Peiris accused several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada of being unduly critical of Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover from the war and using the island nation as a “political football.”
“Sri Lanka has to be given the time and space to resolve its issues. It’s premature for any kind of intervention by the international community,” the minister said.
Peiris did not comment on the video’s authenticity, but said the reconciliation commission “has indicated that even matters like the Channel 4 footage will be looked at by them.”
Peiris said progress would take time and refused to set deadlines for a settlement. But he said provincial council elections would be held in early 2012.
He said the government has cleared 440,000 landmines since the end of the conflict and has resettled 95 percent of the 300,000 Tamils displaced by the conflict.