Posted on 09/02/2009 5:26:35 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The United States voiced grave concern on Wednesday about video footage that a Sri Lankan group says shows government soldiers summarily executing Tamil rebels in violation of international law.
"These reports are very disturbing, they are of grave concern," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters. "We'd like more information as we formulate our own national response."
Rice was reacting to video footage aired last week on British television which, according to a Sri Lankan advocacy group, shows government forces executing unarmed, naked, bound and blindfolded Tamils during the army's final assault to smash Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this year.
The Sri Lankan government has dismissed the video as fake.
Rice, who holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council during the month of September, said it was not yet clear whether the council would take up the issue.
"I'm not aware of a council member proposing that this be discussed on the council agenda but obviously these reports are very fresh and that could change," she said.
Previous attempts to formally raise the issue of Sri Lanka's conduct during the final months of its 25-year war against the Tamil Tiger rebels met resistance from Russia and China, who opposed official council discussion of an issue they said was an internal matter for the Sri Lankan government.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I got this from Wiki:
The Tigers, who during the height of their power possessed a well-developed militia cadre, were notorious for recruiting child soldiers, for carrying out civilian massacres, suicide bombings and various other high profile attacks, including the assassinations of several high-ranking Sri Lankan and Indian politicians like Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993, and former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
What part of what the Tamil Tigers done... deserves consideration?
America has not been overly involved in the conflict in Sri Lanka. But we are deeply involved in what happens in Pakistan. Anything that affects the stability of nuclear Pakistan is news worthy. So if we start condemning what Sri Lanka did, or the UN starts condemning what Sri Lanka did then it may affect some of the policies of the Pakistani government.
Sounds like they know what to do to resolve their problem and don’t feel a need to be “Politically Correct” in the process.
It is called the (Final Solution) and not a (Solution for Feel Good Wimps) which would NEVER resolve anything!
When Iran does it to their citizens there is no “grave concern” by the administration.
I’m all for winning wars. But at what point has the United States lined up bound prisoners and executed them? Is this something we tolerate in our allies?
I think the phrase “Final Solution” means something very specific to most people. I don’t know that I would throw it around lightly.
“But at what point has the United States lined up bound prisoners and executed them?”
SS in WWII at the camps, Japanese once in awhile. Not an official positon.
I don’t really care about the administrations position on much. I just wonder what affect this could have on other countries.
In short, they don't know what the heck they are doing... and yet felt perfectly comfortable armchair quarterbacking President Bush during the campaign last year...
Were they wearing uniforms? Nope. Were they involved in war crimes? Almost certainly. Will I lose a second of sleep over this? No.
During WW2, we (unofficially) summarily executed plenty of SS and IJA. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
“What part of what the Tamil Tigers done... deserves consideration?”
Considering they are Muslim, we should consider killing off all of their co-religionists.
Every war we've ever fought.
Then maybe the question is, were the acts referred to in the article decisions by field commanders or policy?
They deliberately targeted civilians and thus were not eligible for Geneva Convention protection. The Sri Lankin Government acted in a moral, ethical, legal, and just manner by executing them on the spot.
If you bothered to ever actually read the Geneva Conventions you would know this.
L
The exactly in what terms did you mean?
Executing those Tiger scumbags was the both rational AND moral. One doesn't allow rabid dogs to roam among innocent people after all.
I believe in absolutes. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Either we condone the execution of prisoners without trial or we don't. The most vile people we have ever fought, the Nazis and the Japanese imperialists of WWII received trials after the war was over. Did anyone doubt that Himmler was guilty? No. But was he given a fair chance to explain himself? Yes. There will be another rebellion in Sri Lanka in a generation or two. The problem has not been solved. A temporary lull has been purchased with blood.
Ideally, the Tamils should be integrated into Sri Lankan society and become equal citizens. But there is too much hate. To many crimes. No mercy. Either you have to treat your enemy as humans, or kill all of them. God ordered the Jews to wipe out entire peoples. I wouldn't feel comfortable claiming that authority. But until one side or the other learns to be merciful in victory the cycle will continue.
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