Sri Lanka 'war crimes' soldiers ordered to 'finish the job' - Channel 4 News

Exclusive: New Sri Lanka 'war crimes' evidence
http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-soldiers-ordered-to-finish-...
Exclusive: two Sri Lankans who witnessed the violent final showdown of the country's 26-year civil war claim a top military commander and Sri Lanka's defence secretary ordered war crimes


One of these eyewitnesses, an army officer, accuses Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa - the president's brother - of ordering Brigadier Shavendra Silva to execute Tamil rebel leaders, whose safe surrender had been guaranteed by the president.

The other new witness, who was also operating with Brigadier Shavendra Silva's 58 Division on the front line during the final assault, claims the Brigadier was ordered by the defence secretary "to finish the job by whatever means necessary."

'Licence to kill'

He said this was interpreted by the soldiers as a licence to kill. He described how he had watched as Sri Lankan forces shot dead unarmed Tamil women and children. It is the first time this allegation has been made.

The war was won by Sri Lankan government soldiers two years ago. The rebel leadership was virtually wiped out.

They shot people at random. Stabbed people. Raped them. Cut out their tongues, cut women's breasts off. I saw people soaked in blood. - 'Fernando'

As the army closed in, around 130,000 Tamil civilians had been trapped on an ever-shrinking shard of land on the north-east of the island alongside the besieged rebel fighters, who are accused of using them as human shields.

The Sri Lankan president said no civilians were killed by the army during the final assault. But the United Nations now believes that up 40,000 civilians were killed during the last few weeks of the conflict. Others estimate the toll to be higher.

Most are thought to have died as a result of gun and mortar fire allegedly directed on them deliberately by government forces.

After repeated requests for an interview with Shavendra Silva - now retired and promoted to the rank of major-general - Channel 4 News went to confront him with these allegations in New York, where he serves as Sri Lanka's deputy ambassador to the UN.

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[northpolejunction]

channel4, stop this nonsence please. how much you have taken from PRO-LTTEs to make such fake videos and dubbed interviews. can you provide us a authentication certificate of your videos and these interviews. try to grow up channel4. you are just a shame on british media.

[smartsanjeewa]

Channel 4, Why don't you see thousands of people in Iraq, Afghanistan are expecting the justice. don't play bulshits, we are independent. Shavendra, Gota and our all war heroes haven't done anything wrong we are a civilized nation before you even think of writing letters. we know that you all are the tale of LTTE

[wimalph]

I request from Tamil brothers, please do not attack to any srilankan in srilanka or abroad.we every body need help for your problems .you can attack to goverment politician.and TNA MPS must boycott parliament for independent election commission and police commission .if not you never win by election. Ca USA.

[ramanankmr]

@northpolejunction Stop playing the LTTE and terror cards and just tell the truth the world. Do not try to protect mass murderers.

[ramanankmr]

@smartsanjeewa the word smart is certainly only in your id but not in your comments. Only those who are guilty try to justify their wrong doing by pointing their fingers at others they may have committed similar crimes. You must be joking about being civilized! When did this happen? Your country was certainly not civilized when 1000s of sinhalese youths were murdered in 70s, 1000s tamils during 83 riots, setting fire on Jaffna Library and certainly when raping young girls in Haiti.

[walsumo]

what is this nonsenses channel 4.Don't you feel like shame for lying.you are a responsible media organization in UK, are you blind you idiots.ask from you're relation or a nabour who is visited to sri lanka. do you like to hear falls bloddy lies about your country .

We, the sri lankans are civilized when you are wiping your white ass by a wild leaf in the jungle .so please don't try to make any bulshit. people in the world dont believe these craps anyway. use your heads idiots

[rachithad]

Fernando Wobbles his head a lot!! sinhala People dont wobble their heads

[indeewaraya]

Poor channel4 now do personnel attacks,

I feel like they are now lost

[MrLankanlion]

IF U DONT LIKE PRESS FREEDOM, LEAVE UK. UK RANKED IN 19TH PLACE UNLIKE SRI LANKA IN 158 AS PER REPORTERS WITHOUT FREEDOM RATING. SO LEAVE THE COUNTRY N COME BACK TO UR OWN IF U DONT LIKE THEIR WAY OF LIVING N THEIR RESPECT FOR MEDIA FREEDOM.

[periyasamyks]

the truth needs to be shared very loudly.... Channel 4 is doing a good job. Whether it is Srilanka, or Iraq or Afghan the truth must come out.

[wimalph]

Please Stop this.Sri Lanka North Tamil people Has given good answer at LG elections.now they need new houses,school,hospital,water,N­ew income.you direcly help to them. do not give money to sl goverment.if you can find and tell to the world where is the goverment stealing money has diposit in abroad bank.

[damhere]

channel 4... I only have 2 words for u..... "FUCK YOU"