Canada’s Prime Minister reiterated the need to establish a process of accountability in Sri Lanka, in a message released to mark the Black July pogrom of 1983, in which thousnads of Tamils were killed.
““Between July 24 and 29, 1983, anti-Tamil pogroms were carried out in Colombo and other parts of Sri Lanka resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of countless victims,” said Justin Trudeau.
“As we pause to reflect on the dark days of the Sri Lankan Civil War, we must continue to work to heal the wounds of all those who suffered,” the statement added.
“Canada welcomes international efforts underway to achieve long-term reconciliation and peace for all Sri Lankans, but we reiterate the need to establish a process of accountability that will have the trust and the confidence of the victims of this war.”
See the full text of the statement here.
A United Nations resolution passed in 2015 calls for the establishing of a court with the involvement of international judges to try those accused of human rights violations committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in the island. It still has not been established.
Senior Sri Lankan government officials, including the president, have repeatedly stated they would protect Sri Lankan soldiers from war crimes trials.
