Sri Lanka''s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission tabled its report in the national Parliament December 17, 2011. UNSG Ban Ki-moon welcomed the public release of the report, according to information released by his spokesperson last night. There is concern though as to whether the Commission has been constituted with independent and impartial persons and to what extent the Report is motivated by a desire to stunt calls for accountability rather then promote the rule of law or justice. In the recent past, Sri Lanka’s current Government leadership has criticized for failing to follow through on its obligations under international humanitarian law and to deliver accountability for alleged violations during the concluding weeks of the decades long war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. End of War Killings & Other War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity: Sri Lankan Government forces declared victory over the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009 after a conflict that had raged on and off for nearly three decades and killed thousands of people. The conflict ended with large numbers of Sri Lankans living as internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially in the country''s north. A previous “UN mandated Report” by an independent UN panel described summary executions and other human rights abuses. See Film Report: - “Executions –Sri Lanka Crimes” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/executions-sri-lanka-crimes/27150 It recommended that the Government respond to the allegations by initiating an effective accountability process starting with genuine investigations. Read: “UN Report on Abuses at End of Tamil Conflict” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/un-report-on-sri-lanka-abuses-at-end-of-tamil-conflict-what-next-by-ambassador-mo/27382 Resisting Calls for Accountability: The spokesperson said Mr. Ban hopes the Government will forward with its accountability commitments in good faith as an essential step towards reconciliation and lasting peace in the island country. Earlier this year Mr. Ban forwarded the “UN mandated Report” by the UN panel of experts on accountability issues during the civil war to the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). (Read: - “Sri Lanka War Crimes Report to UN Human Rights Council” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/sri-lanka-war-crimes-report-to-un-human-rights-council-by-ambassador-mo/35124). The Sri Lanka Civil war has also left many refugees and displaced persons. Many children remain unaccounted for – perhaps lost in the chaos of conflict and not necessarily killed. See Film Report – “Sri Lanka Missing Children” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/sri-lanka-missing-children/28957 In view of the obstructionism that the current Sri Lankan Government has in recent past exhibited to calls for accountability, and its prosecution of the Sri Lankan military chief, General Sarakh Fonseka, (Photo Above), in charge of the end of war offensive against the LTTE, a commitment to the rule of law, accountability or even democracy remains in doubt in minds of many independent observers, General Fonseka has been prosecuted for alleged offenses related to national security and secrets. He has been tagged a traitor by Sri Lanka’s top ruling elite. However, his greatest crime appears to fist have challenged for election as Sri Lanka’s president and then to have revealed evidence of massacre and perhaps grave violations of international humanitarian law at the end of the conflict. The work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission cannot but be also viewed in this unfavorable context as to impartiality and commitment to objective accountability. By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Bosnia TV” and/or “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - Follow us at DiplomaticallyX “WarCrimesJustice” Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice