Local war crimes probe helps UNHRC: Gammanpila

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila addressing the media yesterday – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

On the sidelines of a top US delegation’s visit to Sri Lanka, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday claimed that the Government’s proposed local mechanism for war crimes investigations would only help the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Criticising the mechanism, PHU Leader and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Udaya Gammanpila charged that the Government wanted to fulfil the aspirations of western imperial powers by implementing this process.

“This planned local mechanism is only local on the surface. It will be assisted and guided by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. We could compare it to a vehicle driven by a person with an L Board. In this L Board situation, the Government cannot make a decision without UN approval,” he said.

Speaking further, Gammanpila stated that this internationally-governed process would leave the Sri Lankan armed forces vulnerable to persecution.

“Western powers already want to make trouble for our war heroes. They are especially focusing on army personnel and political leaders who guided the war mission. We urge the Government to conduct this mechanism without international interference,” he stressed.

Gammanpila also asserted that PHU would continue to defend war heroes.

“We promise to protect all army personnel as well as former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka from this unfair investigation. We will never allow them to be punished,” he emphasised.

Talking about the statement made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the devolution of power under a unitary system, Gammanpila claimed that it would cause another youth struggle similar to JVP insurrections of the past.

“Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the Government expected to divide powers of the country according to a unitary system. That system will devolve land and police powers to local government bodies. When the previous UNP Government tried to do the same, thousands of youngsters took to the streets against it and sacrificed their lives. We believe this is going to happen again. We wonder why the JVP is silent over this matter,” Gammanpila asserted.