Virtual Statement I 46th Session I UN Human Rights Council I Ministry of International Affairs TGTE

Virtual Statement for the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) by Minister Manicka Vasagar ( International Affairs - Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam(TGTE)

On behalf of The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), and the victims of the Mulliavaikkal War, appeal to the Council, that after 12 years, we are still waiting for justice and accountability.

As you all are aware, the war has resulted in more than 70 000 dead including women, and children, 89 000 widows, about 40 000 disabled, 60 000 IDPs, and 146 000 are still unaccounted for, either dead or missing.
The continued non-compliance, by the Government of Sri Lanka on the UN HRC resolutions, and delaying the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, including a special court to prosecute alleged war crimes, is an attempt to avoid delivering on the truth and justice, for the thousands of victims of the country’s civil war.

It has become very clear, and repeated and reiterated by the GoSL, that a home-grown mechanism to implement any resolution will never ever be possible, to build any trust for an environment for reconciliation, justice, or accountability.

Your current draft is only to continue to victimise and suppress the victims with more pain and sufferings, and to reward a rogue state and the perpetrators to buy more time.

The relevancy of the Council for the victims of war, around the world, has now come into question, who are continued to be subjected to structural Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

Here, it’s an opportunity for the Council to show leadership, to correct past mistakes and to move forward, by referring Sri Lanka to the ICC.

Thank You.