Berman Calls on Sri Lankan Government to Hold Accountable Human Rights Abusers

by Rep. Howard Berman, US House Foreign Affairs Committee, January 10, 2012

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Howard Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the following statement on the recent release of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report. 

“I welcome the public release of the report of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), and I urge the Government of Sri Lanka to expeditiously implement the Commission’s recommendations on a wide range of issues, including on devolution of power, language policy, rule of law and governance, and media freedom,” said Rep. Berman. “Such steps would help foster reconciliation and strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka.” 

“At the same time, I remain concerned that credible allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as described by the UN Panel of Experts report, continue to go uninvestigated, and I call upon the Sri Lankan government to allow for an independent international mechanism to investigate alleged war crimes and violations of international human rights law during the nearly 30 year conflict,” continued Rep. Berman. “Only a credible investigation and process that holds those guilty accountable for their crimes can ensure that reconciliation in Sri Lanka is long lasting.“ 

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) is the Ranking Member on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.