Press release by CWVHR

June 14, 2011

Channel 4 Film Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields is a step towards International War Crime Investigation

The Centre for War Victims and Human Rights welcomes the documentary film

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields of Channel  4 in the United Kingdom. This telecasting by Channel  4  in the UK at 11.05 p.m.  today, and later internationally at www.Channel4.com/4oD,  will undoubtedly enhance the effort to call for international investigation of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity committed by the Sri Lankan State and other warring parties.

This documentary speaks of volumes of War Crimes committed largely by the Sri Lankan State, under cover of wiping out terrorism.  Sri Lankan Military, Navy and Air Force had bombed and shelled hospitals, schools, churches and temples and “no-fire zones” which were declared as such by the armed forces. Thousands of innocent civilians were killed and lost their limbs. Families with their children were brutally bulldozed while seeking protection from bombardment.

The Centre(CWVHR) believes that this film can change the consciousness of the world, if not the conscience of Sri Lankan State and its rulers.

This Documentary poses the question to the Human Rights World as to what prevented them from saving thousands of innocent lives, while over 100,000 perished in April and May 2009 alone. Was it fear, prejudice, or lack of courage and respect towards humanity?

CWVHR is willing to assist any International Investigation on War crimes with hundreds of testimonies and witnesses who were present in the war zone while War crimes were committed. Thousands of witnesses in Wanni where these atrocities were committed will come forward with their stories, if an internationally guaranteed witness protection programme is established.  The Centre also can present hundreds of sworn affidavits testifying to these war crimes.

It is the responsibility of the International Community including Canada to support the report of UN Experts Panel which says there is credible evidence to warrant investigation of War Crimes committed by Sri Lankan State on innocent Tamils.

For Media Contact: 416 300 7026 or   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jon Snow presents a forensic investigation into the final weeks of the quarter-century-long civil war between the government of Sri Lanka and the secessionist rebels, the Tamil Tigers. The programme features devastating new video evidence of war crimes - some of the most horrific footage Channel 4 has ever broadcast.

Captured on mobile phones, both by Tamils under attack and government soldiers as war trophies, the disturbing footage shows: the extra-judicial executions of prisoners; the aftermath of targeted shelling of civilian camps; and dead female Tamil fighters who appear to have been raped or sexually assaulted, abused and murdered.

The film is made and broadcast as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon faces growing criticism for refusing to launch an investigation into 'credible allegations' that Sri Lankan forces committed war crimes during the closing weeks of the bloody conflict with the Tamil Tigers.

In April 2011, Ban Ki-moon published a report by a UN-appointed panel of experts, which concluded that as many as 40,000 people were killed in the final weeks of the war between the Tamil Tigers and government forces.

It called for the creation of an international mechanism to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by government forces and the Tamil Tigers during that time.

This film provides powerful evidence that will lend new urgency to the panel's call for an international inquiry to be mounted, including harrowing interviews with eye-witnesses, new photographic stills, official Sri Lankan army video footage, and satellite imagery.

Also examined in the film are some of the horrific atrocities carried out by the Tamil Tigers, who used civilians as human shields.

More :

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

Video :  June 14 ,2011 ,23:05 (GMT 00:00)
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od)  

Discussion on UN Expert Panel Report
 
Date: May 1, 2011 Sunday
Time: 9:30 - 12:00 am
Place: Scarborough Civic Centre ,Council Chamber
 
What is the content of the report?
What kind of pressure could be brought to implement the recommendations of the report?
 How can we contribute towards truth and justice?
 
Activists, experts, journalists, general public all are welcome.
 
Organized by:
Centre for War Victims and Human Rights
416-628-1408
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www.cwvhr.org