Posted on 11/05/2007 8:39:20 PM PST by Lorianne
Sri Lanka has promised to look into allegations that 108 of its UN peacekeepers in Haiti paid for sex, in some cases with underage girls. The men are being sent home after being accused of sexual misconduct and abuse.
Officials say the law will take its course once the soldiers arrive back in Sri Lanka, but warn that little tangible evidence has been produced.
In the past, UN peacekeepers have been involved in a series of sex scandals, including this year in Ivory Coast.
'Zero tolerance'
Sri Lanka has sent four senior officers, including a female brigadier, to Haiti to investigate.
The United Nations and the Sri Lankan government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred.
Michelle Montas UN spokesman
Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Dr Palitha Kohona, said the allegations against the soldiers were a blight on what he described as the country's stunningly good record in United Nations peacekeeping.
He added though that little tangible evidence had been provided by the United Nations, which might make it difficult to bring them before a court.
The UN mission in Haiti has requested an immediate investigation by the organisation's internal watchdog.
The UN has a "zero tolerance" policy on peacekeepers visiting prostitutes, regardless of local laws.
Spokeswoman Michele Montas said: "The United Nations and the Sri Lankan government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred.
"The [soldiers] are back under national jurisdiction. So far Sri Lanka has said... that they are going to be prosecuted in Sri Lanka."
Earlier this year more than 700 peacekeepers in Ivory Coast were suspended and in recent years, peacekeepers in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also been accused of sexual exploitation.
Member states are supplying about 100,000 troops to peacekeeping operations worldwide.
The 950-strong peacekeeping operation in Haiti is the first to which Sri Lanka has sent a full contingent of troops, although some officers have joined earlier missions
Must have been a bunch of teachers on sabatical.
How can these people (Celonese) afford to send a 950 person peace keeping contingent to Haiti when they have been mired in a 20 or 30 year Race/Religious Civil War with the Tamil?
Sorry about the misspell. Should be Ceylonese not Celonese.
IMHO - Seems like UN peacekeepers start a sex industry wherever they’re stationed. I bet this is an idea that could be backed up by a good researcher.
Well since the UN has “probed” the Sri Lankans, I guess its only fair that they return the favor.
;-)
This happens any time you post a large group of soldiers to an area where they have no ties to the community and few if any opportunities for social contacts. It’s called human nature, the instinct for procreation, and you can’t legislate it out of existence.
People are so stupid. What did they think would happen?
BTW, it’s generally not necessary to “start a sex industry”. They exist, in one form or another, in every society on earth.
yep
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