Colombo: With whom has a rights group documenting alleged abuse in Sri Lanka filed a criminal complaint? SingaporeDemands for the arrest of the Attorney General of the United States, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa For his role in the South Asian nation’s decades-long civil war.
According to a copy of the complaint seen by Reuters, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said Rajapaksa had seriously violated the Geneva Conventions during the civil war in 2009, when he was the country’s defense chief.
South Africa-based ITJP argued that the alleged misconduct on grounds of universal jurisdiction was subject to prosecution in Singapore, where he fled after months of unrest over his country’s economic crisis.
Rajapaksa submitted his resignation in Singapore on 13 July, a day after fleeing. Anti-government protesters stormed the offices and official residences of the president and prime minister.
“The criminal complaint that has been filed is based on verifiable information on both the offences, but also on evidence that the person is actually being linked, who is now in Singapore.” Alexandra Lily CatherineOne of the lawyers who drafted the complaint told Reuters by telephone from Berlin.
“Singapore really has a unique opportunity to speak the truth to power, with its own law and its own policy, with this grievance.”
Rajapaksa could not be reached for comment through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore. He has previously vehemently denied allegations of being responsible for rights abuses during the war.
A spokesman for Singapore’s attorney general did not respond to a request for comment. The country’s foreign ministry said Rajapaksa entered the Southeast Asian city-state on a private visit and had neither sought nor granted asylum.
mascot damoa professor in University of Portsmouth School of Law Britain, which has taught in Singapore, said that while its courts were capable of trying alleged war crimes, genocide and torture, it has repeatedly stated that such jurisdiction was invoked only as a last resort. should go.
“Although neutrality is not officially included in Singapore’s foreign policy, it has long developed into a form of equity,” Dam said.
“Any decision to prosecute a former foreign chief must be balanced against his foreign policy objectives.”
Sri Lanka ends 25 years of civil war between ethnic separatist rebels Tamil Minorities and government forces in 2009. Rights groups accused both sides of abuse during the war.
ITJP assisted in two civil lawsuits against Rajapaksa, one of which took place in a California parking lot in 2019. Rajapaksa was an American citizen at the time.
Both cases were withdrawn after Rajapaksa was granted diplomatic immunity when he became president later that year.
According to a copy of the complaint seen by Reuters, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said Rajapaksa had seriously violated the Geneva Conventions during the civil war in 2009, when he was the country’s defense chief.
South Africa-based ITJP argued that the alleged misconduct on grounds of universal jurisdiction was subject to prosecution in Singapore, where he fled after months of unrest over his country’s economic crisis.
Rajapaksa submitted his resignation in Singapore on 13 July, a day after fleeing. Anti-government protesters stormed the offices and official residences of the president and prime minister.
“The criminal complaint that has been filed is based on verifiable information on both the offences, but also on evidence that the person is actually being linked, who is now in Singapore.” Alexandra Lily CatherineOne of the lawyers who drafted the complaint told Reuters by telephone from Berlin.
“Singapore really has a unique opportunity to speak the truth to power, with its own law and its own policy, with this grievance.”
Rajapaksa could not be reached for comment through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore. He has previously vehemently denied allegations of being responsible for rights abuses during the war.
A spokesman for Singapore’s attorney general did not respond to a request for comment. The country’s foreign ministry said Rajapaksa entered the Southeast Asian city-state on a private visit and had neither sought nor granted asylum.
mascot damoa professor in University of Portsmouth School of Law Britain, which has taught in Singapore, said that while its courts were capable of trying alleged war crimes, genocide and torture, it has repeatedly stated that such jurisdiction was invoked only as a last resort. should go.
“Although neutrality is not officially included in Singapore’s foreign policy, it has long developed into a form of equity,” Dam said.
“Any decision to prosecute a former foreign chief must be balanced against his foreign policy objectives.”
Sri Lanka ends 25 years of civil war between ethnic separatist rebels Tamil Minorities and government forces in 2009. Rights groups accused both sides of abuse during the war.
ITJP assisted in two civil lawsuits against Rajapaksa, one of which took place in a California parking lot in 2019. Rajapaksa was an American citizen at the time.
Both cases were withdrawn after Rajapaksa was granted diplomatic immunity when he became president later that year.