Protest at UN office in Lanka against rights probe panel

Activists led by a Cabinet minister protested at the UN office against a world body panel set up to probe allegations of human rights abuses during the LTTE war.

Hundreds of Sri Lankan activists led by a Cabinet minister today protested at the UN office here against a world body panel set up to probe allegations of human rights abuses during the LTTE war,a day after detained ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka asked the government to face it with courage.

Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa,shouting slogans along with other protesters,demanded withdrawal of the advisory panel by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

He said his party,the National Freedom Front NFF,fears that the appointment of the panel could be a precursor for the establishment of an international war tribunal to investigate the alleged offences.

The NFF is a constituent of the ruling United People8217;s Freedom Alliance UPFA coalition headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The operation against the LTTE,which was defeated in May last year,was initiated purely on the people8217;s demand under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to release innocent Tamil civilians in the North and East,Weerawansa said.

He said if the UN tries to have a postmortem to find the facts in favour of the LTTE,then people should stand up against the world body decision as well.

Weerawansa also criticised Fonseka8217;s alleged inclination to give evidence before the panel.

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Fonseka,an opposition MP from DNA,told Parliament yesterday that the war against LTTE was carried out in line with international conventions and covenants.

The former General,who led the security forces in eliminating the LTTE,said that as the then Army Commander he was prepared to uphold the reputation of the military.

He said he was not afraid of any experts8217; panel appointed by the UN chief to advise him on allegations of human rights violations during the war,8221;as the then Army Commander I can candidly say the war was waged in line with international covenants and conventions. I fully support the military in this case.8221;

He said Sri Lanka should not be afraid to face any such panel,the Daily Mirror reported.

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On the alleged illegal arms deal during his tenure as the army chief,Fonseka said his son-in-law Danuna Tillakaratne,who headed the firm that was awarded the contract during the last phase of the LTTE war,would surrender to court on conditions.

8220;It would only be if and when the rule of law is upheld here and the government stops hounding members of his family,8221; the newspaper quoted Fonseka,who is facing a court-martial on the issue,as saying.

Fonseka,who is also being court-martialled on charges that he indulged in politics while in uniform,said this in response to remarks by Weerawansa,who asked the retired General to persuade his son-in-law to surrender to the court.

Fonseka also said no father-in-law was under obligation to hand over his son-in-law to courts,the newspaper said.