The Hindu : National : Chandrika urged to make public massacre report

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Friday, Jun 03, 2005

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Chandrika urged to make public massacre report

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Asian Centre for Human Rights has appealed to Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to make public the report on the Bindunuwewa massacre in which 28 Tamils in the protective custody of the State were killed.

In its report on the massacre, which was handed over to the Sri Lankan High Commission here [coinciding with the visit of Ms. Kumaratunga to India], the ACHR expressed serious concern over the acquittal of the accused in the massacre. It said the fact that not a single person could be held guilty for the mass murder would further increase the distrust of the moderate Tamil minorities in the democratic institutions of Sri Lanka. Describing the massacre case trial as "operation whitewash," the report said the Sri Lankan President ordered a Commission headed by Justice P.H.K. Kulatilaka but failed to make public its report.

The human rights panel urged Ms. Kumaratunga to instruct the island Government to make public the report and file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking review of the judgment. It also urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to study all judgments relating to the massacre and consider appointing a high level panel of inquiry into the massacre.

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