“Australia’s Attorney-General, Robert McClelland promptly quashed the case [against President Rajapaksa], claiming it breached domestic law and Australia's treaty pledges of diplomatic and sovereign immunity for visiting leaders.
“A smokescreen, of course, since domestic law does allow private war crimes prosecutions - if they are taken over by federal prosecutors and approved by the attorney-general.
“As for immunity, Australian National University expert Donald Rothwell says this is yet to be tested in an Australian court where serious war crimes are involved.”
- Hamish McDonald, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Asia-Pacific editor. See his comment here.