Talk to Al Jazeera - Rauff Hakeem: Sri Lanka's quest for justice

Three years ago the war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers in Northern Sri Lanka, fighting to separate themselves from the rest of the country, reached its final stages. At this point war crimes may have been committed, according to a United Nations advisory committee created by Ban Ki Moon. In the spring of 2009 around 330,000 civilians were trapped into an ever decreasing area -- they were trying to flee the fighting but were kept hostage by the Tamil Tigers. The army advancing into the Northern region of Vanni used widespread shelling causing large numbers of civilian deaths. Government forces were firing at a United Nations hub, food distribution lines and near Red Cross ships that were coming to pick up civilians. They systematically shelled hospitals on the frontlines, too. At the same time the Tamil Tigers were forcing civilians to dig trenches, blurring the distinction between fighters and civilians, and refusing civilians permission to leave. All this according to the UN team. Although the larger country of Sri Lanka is now preoccupied with other issues - tourism is up, and so is cost of living - the question of justice is largely left unresolved and may threaten the peace long-term. Unsatisfied by the government's lack of action, a UN Human Rights Council resolution was adopted earlier this year, demanding the government fulfill its obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes seriously and impartially once and for all. The government of Sri Lanka lobbied fiercely against the UN resolution and says it was pushed by Western powers in a hypocritical move. Colombo says it is carrying out its own reconciliation programme in a way that best serves its own people. We decided to sit down with Rauff Hakeem, the country's justice minister, to find how that work is progressing.

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[ikickasteroids]

It is easy to condemn the West but difficult to face the fact that third world countries are simply unstable out of their own accord and that refusals by them to change based on the primary statement is again, out of THEIR own accord.

[hari prasath]

Islam is the religion which incubates terrorists, promises 72 virgins for suicide bombers, calls for the execution of apostates & stoning of men and women for committing adultery. IT IS THE WORST RELIGION AND BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR MANKIND.

[tigernov6]

Where did you learn that rubbish about Islam saying to kill non-believers?

[tigernov6]

The word Islam is derived from the Arabic words 'salam' and 'silm' meaning 'peace' and 'submission of will to God' respectively.

Here is the reference from the Quran that says not to abuse other religions:

"And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah , lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do." (Quran Chapter 6 : verse 108)

[psarat62]

This is for TIGERNOV6 ,The person who made that video clearly explains the koranic verses .I cross checked with a copy of a koran .they exactly match. so how do u simply say it was a false video? and what made u remove the comment saying that it was a false video? I'd like a logical explanation on those verses explained in that video if possible and not a trouble for u.