OTTAWA – NDP MP Wayne Marston (Hamilton East–Stoney Creek), a member of the House of Commons’ Subcommittee for International Human Rights, and fellow NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough-Rouge River), were joined by Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, as he officially launched a petition calling on the Government of Canada to press the United Nations into creating an independent body to investigate alleged war crimes committed during the Sri Lanka civil war.
The petition calls on the United Nations to act on its recent report which concluded that an investigation into alleged war crimes committed during this conflict is warranted. This follows the recent British Channel 4 documentary “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” which showed graphic evidence of possible war crimes.
“The victims on both sides of the conflict have waited too long for justice,” said Marston. “Ultimately, it is not force of arms, but justice, that will ensure an enduring peace – and I think all sides can agree that a lasting peace is what everyone desires.”
“We are asking that the United Nations follow the recommendations provided by its own panel of experts, and to do so expediently,” added Sitsabaiesan. “We need to work together to end the culture of impunity and to build a sustainable process based on respect, dignity and justice for all of the victims of this horrific war.”
