Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a US-based activist group, claimed in a press release issued last Saturday, that it has obtained a 100-page long sworn affidavit from a senior commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) who has fled Sri Lanka seeking asylum for himself and his family.
TamilNet reports that noting the sensitivity of the evidence, TAG said that the affidavit was recorded by a court reporter but declined to reveal the name of the commander or the modalities used in obtaining the affidavit.
The sworn testimony contains ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that Colombo committed war crimes, and this document can be made available to ‘other independent organisations which can demonstrate serious intent in pursuing legal action against Colombo officials,’ a TAG spokesperson told TamilNet.
Full text of the press release follows: ‘Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) has in its possession a 100-page long sworn affidavit from a Senior Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Commander who is in hiding, and is seeking asylum in an undisclosed country.
‘Due to the sensitive nature of the document and the potential threat to the Commander’s security, TAG would like to keep the details of the document and the modalities involved in obtaining the document confidential.
‘The affidavit contains credible evidence that can be used in a court of law to establish that several officials of the Sri Lanka Military hierarchy are culpable of committing war crimes during the war against the Liberation Tigers.
‘TAG expects to use the affidavit in its pursuit to file civil and/or criminal charges, in the US and through its partner organisations in Europe, against Sri Lanka military and political officials alleged to have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture.
‘The SLA Commander’s affidavit contains incriminating information in several areas including:
• Description of chain of command, how documentation procedures were eliminated, and details surrounding orders to execute hardcore LTTE cadres, including those who surrendered.
• Details of people involved in the torture and killing of LTTE leader Pirapaharan’s 12-year-old son, and his five body guards who surrendered to the SLA during May 2009.
• Order from the top to burn bodies to eliminate evidence.
• Plans to be carried out through Sri Lanka Army in establishing Sinhala settlements in Tamil areas.
• Details of Colombo sponsored assassination squads in Colombo, and person(s) in charge.
‘TAG will be willing to provide the affidavit to other independent organisations which can demonstrate serious intent in pursuing legal action against Colombo officials.
‘TAG appreciates the support provided by the sponsors and the many well-wishers.
‘Signed, Director, TAG.’
A TAG spokesperson added that ‘TAG’s mission is to pursue war-crimes charges against identified Sri Lanka officials in a court of law outside Sri Lanka, both in international forums and in countries where extra-territorial or universal jurisdiction is exercised by the local courts.
‘TAG will continue to seek eye-witnesses and other disgruntled members of Sri Lanka armed forces to accumulate evidence towards establishing the culpability of Rajapakse administration in slaughtering nearly 40,000 Tamil civilians.
‘While Colombo continues to destroy evidence on the ground, TAG believes that credible eye-witnesses will emerge who will be able to provide evidence that will ultimately trump any defence by Colombo,’ TAG’s spokesperson said.
• Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has invited the representatives of Tamil National (TNA) for talks on the eve of his visit to India on Tuesday, officials in Colombo said on Sunday.
The president also invited representatives of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) led by Minister Douglas Devananda for talks to be held following his meeting with TNA representatives on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, the joint statement by Sri Lanka and India to be released following the meeting with the heads of both governments in India is expected to include the various development projects that are to be launched in Jaffna peninsula.
Minister Douglas Devananda was also named as a member of the delegation led by President Mahinda Rajapakse on his visit to India for talks.
The renovation of Palaali airport and Kaangkeasanthu’rai harbour, reopening of Achchuveali Industrial Estate and the opening of a Cultural Centre in Jaffna are some of the development projects that are expected to be announced in the joint statement of India and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Colombo’s ‘victory parade’ postponed due to bad weather in May is re-scheduled to be held on June 18 at Colombo Galle Face Green, according to government officials in Colombo.
The three armed forces, police, and Civil Defence Force are to participate in the parade to be held by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) would mark ‘Victory Day’on June 8th with Adishtana Pooja at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre, said Mrs Anoma Fonseka, wife of General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army who led the Sri Lankan forces in the war against Tamils.
Mrs Anoma Fonseka added that the day, June 8th, also marks four months since Fonseka was taken into custody.
Fonseka is currently being detained in the Naval Headquarters after his arrest following the defeat in last presidential election against Mahinda Rajapakse.
The Rajapakse government earlier decided to hold the victory parade to commemorate the first anniversary of the victory in defeating the LTTE on May 20.
Later, it was put off for another date due to bad weather that displaced over five hundred thousand people in the south due to floods caused by torrential rains.