31 US Representatives Continue to Pressure Secretary Clinton for Independent International Investigation into Sri Lankan War Atrocities

Published On Thursday, January 6, 2011

On December 14th, 2010, 31 members of Congress sent a follow-up letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to call for an international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed toward the end of Sri Lanka’s 25 year civil war. The Tamil American Peace Initiative (TAPI) continues to support such an important probe that would ensure an unbiased and transparent review of all atrocities committed during the conflict. TAPI commends the work of the letter’s sponsor, Representative Danny Davis (D-IL), and applauds his continued commitment to an international investigation.

The House letter initiated by Rep. Davis urged the US, as the rotating President of the United Nations Security Council for the month of December 2010, to use this opportunity, "to formalize a credible and effective process for achieving accountability for crimes committed at the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka.”

“We are incredibly thankful for the continued Congressional support, highlighting the need to investigate and address these accusations of human rights violations and war crimes,” said TAPI spokesperson Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham. “It is our hope that the Obama Administration will listen to such substantial support from Congress for an independent international investigation.”

TAPI believes this letter continues the needed momentum first initiated by an August 9th letter to Secretary Clinton authored by Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Rep. Jim McGovern that was supported by 58 members of Congress and the most recent letter sent on December 9th, 2010, cosigned by 17 US Senators.