Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent
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Exclusive: the investigation | Protesters' reaction | How effective is UN? | Life inside no-fire zone | Sowing seeds of new conflict | Plenty of firepower | Government's lies | Bunkers and carnage | Leading article | Graphic: Map of no-fire zones
Sri Lanka faced new calls for a war crimes inquiry today after an investigation by The Times revealed that more than 20,000 civilians were killed – mostly by the army – in the latter stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers.
The army dismissed that figure as an exaggeration and repeated the Government’s assertion that not a single civilian was killed by government forces in the final assault on the northeastern conflict zone.
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman, declined to say how many civilian deaths had been confirmed, but insisted that they had all been caused by the Tigers, also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“This is an exaggerated story. Whoever has put up this report has been paid by the LTTE,” he told The Times.
“There can’t be any civilians killed by government forces in that area. How can the UN know about this? It had no people on the ground.” The UN, however, described its figures as “well-informed estimates”, adding that it did not have “precise, verifiable numbers” because of a lack of access to the conflict zone and the camps holding refugees from the area.
“The UN has publicly and repeatedly said that the number of people killed in recent months has been unacceptably high and it has shared its estimates with the Government as well as others concerned,” said Elisabeth Byrs, of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
“The point is the UN has not been shy about the scale of human suffering and civilian casualties,” she said. “It has been ringing the alarm bells for a long time.”
Sri Lanka officially declared victory in its 26-year civil war with the Tigers early last week after killing almost all of their leadership, including Velupillai Prabhakaran, their founder, in a tiny patch of coconut grove on the northeastern coast.
Backed by China, Russia and other allies, Sri Lanka also easily defeated a proposal for a war crimes inquiry at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The new civilian death toll figure has prompted new calls for an inquiry, which could still be ordered by Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, or by Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Managala Samaraweera, a former Foreign Minister who left the Government to become an opposition politician in 2005, told The Times that an inquiry was the only way for Sri Lanka to repair the damage to its international reputation. “As Sri Lankans, we’re extremely concerned about what happened during the last stages of the conflict,” he said. “The Government must immediately initiate an independent inquiry. Only by doing so will Sri Lanka be able to clear up its good name.”
Human rights groups, aid workers and numerous civilian witnesses have accused the Tigers and government forces of repeatedly firing on non-combatants in violation of international humanitarian law. The Tigers have also been accused of using civilians as human shields and recruiting children forcibly, while the army has been accused of deliberately shelling hospitals in the conflict zone.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, told The Times: “There’s no doubt there’s a need for a war crimes inquiry. The whole operation has been done in secret and the scale of deaths is so large that it has to be investigated. This is not going to go away.”
The UN and the Red Cross also complained today that the Sri Lankan Government was still refusing to provide aid workers with full access to the former conflict zone despite a direct appeal by the UN Secretary General.
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Mike, fair point. LTTE must be included in the probe. But how about the bombing of the hospitals? What possible motive could an innocent Govt have for that? How about not allowing aid or media, even now? The doctors who dissappeared?
Terrorists defeating terrorists, imo. And the UN applauded it.
Haran, London, UK
Thanks times. So what can the humanitarian agencies can do about this genocide. Still people in the Menik farm camps suffering a lot according to the news comes from there.apart from that there are more detain camps in Vanni as well.
Where is the Humanity of the world leaders??
Pratheepan, Hayes, UK
This is not news to the Tamils. This is why they were protesting for months before the final inevitable slaughter by the Sinhalese. It is open to any country party to the Rome Statute to request the ICC to investigate before Sri Lanka becomes another Rwanda, which it will do if nothing is done now.
Jan, Croydon,
Well, unless there is some Israeli or American to be blamed somehow about it, I wouldn't expect much turmoil in the coming weeks about this tragedy...
ELphin, Madrid, Spain
What about war crimes in Afghanistan, and Iraq and Plaestine.What about 9k innocent civilian deaths in AFGHANISTAN, CHECHNYA, PALESTINE AND IRAQ. Those innocent 3 year old and 6 year old bodies in a wheel barrow carried by the father to bury them respectfully. Humans are back to basics "JUNGLE LAW"
Urim, Middlesex, UK
They killed more than 20000 Tamil civilians...this is a GENOCIDE commited by Srilankan Government and that is why they did not allow the media and aid workers to the "No Fire Zone".
I knew already this is going to happen and GOSL will deny everything.
Dave, London , UK
Who are you to analyze and get a figure 20,000 ? .
Some fools will believe anything what you create and publish. But you must remember there are some people living on this planet who can use their brains before accepting all you create. How you identified 20000 civilians in these pictures?
Sunil B, Colombo, Sri Lanka
As most Americans I admit to having little knowledge concerning Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers; however, when the UN (useless nations) are stymied by Russia and China on a subject concerning the human rights of many innocent civilians I believe the Timesonline is on to something.
Heinrich, Sherman, U.S.A.
How surprising that left-wing groups would condemn the government's handling of this conflict. Regardless of the total number of casualites, civilian and combatant, that number is less than it would have been a year from now in a continued, endless chain of attacks and reprisals. Bravo Columbo.
Randy, Memphis, USA
British are already been screwed by the LTTE. Very soon The LTTE supporters will screw your Queen as well.
N.Abeywardena, Colombo , Sri Lanka
Thank you Jeremy for reminding people what happened. This was a war without winesses. You have worked hard to produced credible evidence. This is like the case of British MP's allawances, all done in secrecy and within the rules that suit only offenders.
mahindan, Colombo,
Boycott Srilanka. Dont give IMF loan. If anybody don't fellow the rules, must be punished. Decent society must be alive in the world.
Tamils want JUSTICE and SAFE life now.
US, IC must act soon to save Tamils in singhala srilanka
Suja, London,
Western countries failed to protect VP as the SL Gov fully aware with the double game by the Westerners. The second tried, at the UN HRC they failed to come anywhere to near to probe a war crime inquiry which also confirmed that the international community is "not the Westerners. ITS SHAME!!!
Kumara, CMB, SL
My cousin and her 4 kids were in the hospital and they died the last day, also two of my nieces. SL government bombed the hospital in the SAFEZONE. UN please atleast help the ones in Camps now. They are suffering. Girls are taken to Anuradapura for the Army to RAPE them. Please HELP.
Ruban, Rome, Italy
tigers will allways exagurate civiliance numbers cos its thair ticket to survivel and nevy pilly seems to get her figures from praba him self.i think the final figure will be less than 7000.1000 a day in MAY is just to hype things up and funny how they came to 20000 next time try 50000.
don, colombo, sl
I request the world, never ever say again anywhere anytime about human rights hereafter. Why the international journalists are not allowed in the war zone till now? Srilanka said war is over and why till they are not allowing the world community? Where the hell human rights organization are gone?
Jayakanthan, Chennai, India
Sri Lanka has conduct war without permitting any media personals and international aid organizations because they wanted to hide all the massacres. Anyone conduct war without allowing media personals or international aid organization is a biggest war crime. Does Sri Lanka government aware of this?
Ravi, Tamil Nadu,
Times, you have done a wondreful job. I salute your entire team. Perhaps you should dedicate this tremendous effort to the 14 Sri Lankan journalists who were murdered under the watchful eye of the GOSL
Malar, Singapore, Singapore
LTTE is responsible for creating ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka and eliminating an entire Tamil Intellectuals in the country. Western Media, go find something else to do, after all, we who have suffered at the hands of the LTTE.
Living in London, we still are forced to contribute to their lifestyle!
Rajanayagam, Surrey Hill, UK
My cousin and her 4 kids were in the hospital and they died the last day, also two of my nieces. SL government bombed the hospital in the SAFEZONE. UN please atleast help the ones in Camps now. They are suffering. Girls are taken to Anuradapura for the Army to RAPE them. Please HELP.
Ruban, Rome, Italy
thank you thank you thank you Jeremy for trying to save the Tamils of Elam who are alive and punish Sri Lanka.
Mahindan, Colombo,
It is very sad to see this continuous killing of innocent civilians. The SL govt. is doing an ethnic cleansing of Tamils in the pretext of war against terrorism. We should put an end to this menace. We couldn't stop in Darfur, now Sri Lanka., where next?
Thanks Times for bringing this up.
Jan K, Ottawa, Canada
While the accusations against the Sri Lankan may well be true the Muslim/non Western World sees the double standard very clearly.
By all means bring the War criminals to justice.
Would that include those responsible for the recent massacre in Gaza?
ithamer, toronto , canada
Who cares? This sounds callous, but everyone goes on and on about some human rights violation over their breakfast. Then promley forget about it because the next cause arrives the next morning. All victims really of the 24 hour news world we live in.
Evan, Mansfield, UK
Sure everyone jump on the bandwagon to prosecute the Sri Lankan government for 20,000 deaths. How many have the U.S. caused in the middle east in our "war on teror"? Estimates vary from 30,000 to 1.4 MILLION. Justice is not without a sense of irony.
Gitter, Chicago,
We need reports like you to bring out the truth and inform the world about the reality that happened to Tamils in Srilanka. Thank you.
Dhushi, Toronto, Canada
Thanks Jeremy,
At least the truth come out now,this killing has been going on for years and years but now only came out. Are the UK and USA going to watch this and doing nothing? if India, China, Russia are covering SL, who is going to save the innocent Tamils?
Rajapak. and family are robbing SL
Raj, Surbiton, Surrey
Nambiar and Ban-KI_MOON two funny couples are running the show here. One from India who's fully responsible for the war and his brother is work for the Sri Lankan Army. Ban Ki-Moon,who is bhudist, just had a great visit to Kandy, Sri Lanka to pray at bhudist temple. 20,000 people died 30,000 amputed
Dave, Califax, Canada
The complete disregard for human lives exhibited by the Sri Lankan Army is sickening. I don't think that the US will have any take on this other than a condemnation statement because Sri Lanka does not have any oil in it.
Nawar patil, Mumbai, India
India never use chemical weapons in Kashmir because, kashmir people are indian citizen.
All illegal weapons and methods were used in Wannni.
There is Tamil genocide in srilanka.
Sathaam was punished for few amound of death.
Tamils want JUSTICE and SAFE life now
tharshi, london,
What a a government do when fighting a war on terror?As I understand, the LTTE has been and still is, on lists of terrorist organisations in a number of countries including the UK and USA. What would the USA or UK have done in the same situation as faced by the Sri Lankan government?
Kev, London, UK
Wonder if there will be an enquiry into those who used human shields.
Stuart, Witney, Oxon
"What about prosecuting the remnants of the Tamil Eelam Tigers as well, since, in holding their own people hostage" - Sri LIEnkan Dale, maybe when they surrendered with white flags, your war criminal junta should NOT have executed them by shooting them on the heads. Your regime is not the sharpest!
Narmatha Siva, Oshawa, Canada
China, Russia and India should not have veto power in the security council if they can not protect their own citizens or others. Commercial gains made by causing immense human suffering or glorifying human abuses , needs to stop once for all. It is time the veto powers were abolished.
sam, london, uk
Why do we always find China backing the bad guys in every trouble spot? China provided the weaponry to SL and is now providing the cover for them at the UN. Could it be that SL's deal with China to provide them with a naval base in SL have anything to do with it?
jay, Beijing, China
Where are all the craters then? I would have thought heavy ordinance would have left some mark. Also where does 20,000 come from?
Fred, London,
Thanks Times, you are the only newspaper who takes notice of our belowed former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera. What he says is true every single Tamil person supports him. He is an honest and brave man. We will elect him as our new leader if he is given the chance. He knew what was going on.
Mahindan, Colombo,
Times UK, Thank you. Please dont allow UN's Ban-Ki-moon or Navi Pillay to appoint a stooge of India, China or Russia. This will lead to cover up in the name of independent inquiry.
M. Pereira, Bedminster, NJ, USA
There's 1 important thing.this was The war and in fact war is a tragedy itself.if a humankind will be involved in any war,we must expect causalities and this isnt a matter of civlian or non-civilian dead people.this is abt dead people on both sides.remember there are no humane wars!there is only war
sebastian, Prague, CZ
War is hell. An unfortunate by-product of war is that innocent civilians die. Name one war where that has not happened. Several reports show overwhelming evidence that the Tamil Tigers were using civilians as "human shields" in the final days. The surviving Tigers are the criminals, not the SL army.
Mike, Indianapolis, USA
My heart is bleeding for the innocent peoples killed in Lanka. Is the world watching this because they are Tamils?
Shanmugam, Bangalore, India
I am sure that there were deaths and for that I am sorry. Remember that the Tiger "government" for over 20 years wage a terror campaign against the people and lawfully electted government. Now that the bombings will stopped, the healing can begin address the concerns on BOTH sides of the conflict.
James Donohue, London, UK
Colossal Civilian deaths.
United Nations officials including Mr. Nambiar should resign now.
This is not joke holding an responsible office and taking vacation.
Find a Commercial Bank to work with.
Sencholai, Toronto, Canada
The sri lankan govt and army continues to lie. Not a single tamil death?? What a joke? They tried to prevent the media telling the truth by banning them but the truth has a way of always coming out.
now they commit further genocide by preventing the aid workers from helpin the tamils in the camps
sujeewa, London,
Killing of innocent civilians whether in the name of terrorism or defeating terrorism is not acceptable. And people who are responsible should not be forgiven. And i cannot say what to tell about the people who celebrated their government's killing of their own citizens,sorry victory over rebel.
King, World,
Good work Times. If the accusation of 20,000 deaths also fails to get the war crimes probe, try a figure of 50,000. You should some how try and screw the Sri Lanka government for rescueing 250,000 civilins from the clutces of terrorism.
Gayan, Colombo, Sri Lanaka
Sri-Lankan Tamils should realize that their neighbors are Indians and Sri-Lankans, not Britons and Canadians. They should swallow their false pride and work for an honorable settlement to their just grievances.
T. Varadaraj, Bangalore, India
jason jones, Chicago, US,
Do you expect the whole world to follow US ? Just like in Iraq, Afgan?? Is that you want? invade other countries and kill millions of civilians? displace more?? what for? For you to be safer in Chicago... BULLs
MNG, Colombo, Sri Lanka
More than 30,000 civilians have died because of the use of heavy weapons by Sri Lankan Government. And now they are denying that no civilian were killed by them? Oh my god! SL govt, stop lying to the world! Don't tell us that you defeated without causing any lives because that just don't add up.
Thenuka, Canada,
Good job Jeremy,
We all know the hard work done by Jeremy to bring the truth to light. Who ever behind these deaths should be punished. I hope UN will investigate this and give a resolution to this ethnic problem.
Ravi, Uxbridge, UK
Clearly the comments coming from Colombo shows that the hidden truth can not surface because they limited access to journalist. Very soon, they will see the will of the people and justice will be served. I think U.S. will not sit on the side lines and watch Colombo follow the steps of Russia and C
jason jones, Chicago, US
sure the tamils were killed indiscimnatly but sri lanka has far more escuses then what happend various times in iraq like fallujah and then ofcourse the daily idiscriminate killings in afghanistan, no calls for war crimes there from the times, western libral media are just hypocrits
Redwan, london, UK
i'll believe when it happens, all this noise but they will wriggle out of being investigated again. society prefers to remain ignorant
meena, london, uk
It was India that trained and armed Tamil militants in the eghties to fight Sri Lanka. In the late eighties they forced themselves into the island but failed miserably to secure peace. From then onwards India provided all military supports to SL, The end game has had 20,000 civilians massacre.
Kumar, London,
Thank you!
mister, Colombo,
What to do now? Have Spain prosecute the Sri Lankan leaders? What about prosecuting the remnants of the Tamil Eelam Tigers as well, since, in holding their own people hostage, they cynically calculated that Colombo would not do what they did in order to end a decades long war.
Dale, Rocky Mount, USA