Internal UN document details plan for “domestic probe” in Sri Lanka

An internal UN document, obtained by Channel 4 News, outlines a purely domestic process for accountability and redress for the gross violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.
The document says the establishment of the mechanism would be overseen by the Sri Lankan government and its foreign ministry, while UN involvement would be limited to support and technical assistance.
The Northern Provincial Council is mentioned as one of the key implementing partners of the project, alongside the Sri Lankan government, however Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran described the document as a “betrayal” of the hopes pinned on the UN process by the war victims and that the plan undermined calls for an international court.
The chief minister said the NPC was not consulted in the process and was minded to reject it. He also accused a UN official of attempting to "strong-arm" him to agree to the plan.
Mr Wigneswaran further said the plan was "dubious and dangerous" and unilaterally conceived by the UN and the government.
In response to Channel 4 News, the UN said it "supports accountability mechanisms that meet international standards".

"Whether that should be a domestic or international process or comprise elements of both... will need to be determined," a statement said.

"The UN will await the High Commissioner's reports and recommondations to make a determination. The UN also believes that there should be genuine and inclusive consultations on a national basis, including the northern province."
Tamils, the victims of the grave violations at the hand of government sources, have repeatedly rejected any domestic process to establish accountability and consistently called for an international prosecution mechanism of those responsible for mass atrocities.
A report released by an NGO earlier today highlighted ongoing abuses of Tamils by Sri Lankan security forces.