[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE 26-YEAR-LONG 
                         CIVIL WAR IN SRI LANKA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. GRIMM

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 18, 2012

  Mr. GRIMM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the three year 
anniversary of the end of the 26-year-long civil war in Sri Lanka.
  Although this war ended three years ago, and a United Nations panel 
of experts found evidence of war crimes and the Government-established 
Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission called for an inquiry into 
the events surrounding February 21, 2002 to May 19, 2009, a credible 
plan of action has yet to be determined.
  Evidence of child soldiers, the killing of captives and combatants 
seeking to surrender, large-scale shelling of ``No Fire Zones,'' and 
the rape and torture of civilians fleeing the conflict zone are 
extremely serious. Serious crimes such as these--committed against 
civilians on such a large scale during war--must be investigated and 
those responsible held accountable. Accountability is important for the 
benefit of the victims and their families--for the trust necessary for 
reconciliation in Sri Lanka to be established and for the entire 
structure of the rules of war on which our soldiers and all innocent 
civilians depend.
  A resolution recently adopted in March by the United Nations Human 
Rights Commission ``calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement 
the constructive recommendations made in the report of the Lessons 
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and to take all necessary 
additional a steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and 
commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure 
justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri 
Lankans.'' Furthermore the UNHRC Resolution ``requests the Government 
of Sri Lanka to present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehensive 
action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will 
take to implement the recommendations made in the Commission's report, 
and also to address alleged violations of international law.''
  Mr. Speaker, the government of Sri Lanka needs to take concrete 
action that brings accountability and reconciliation and puts forth an 
implementation plan if the people of Sri Lanka are to move forward.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me and co-sponsor House 
Resolution 177 commending the international community in pressuring the 
government of Sri Lanka to acknowledge their crimes against humanity 
and to move forward with a reconciliation process.

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