Sri Lanka has called upon US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to retract her remarks that during the 26-year-long war in Sri Lanka rape was used as a tactic of war.
Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama made the request during a meeting with the new US Ambassador Patricia Butenis.
Foreign Ministry sources said last night that Mr. Bogollagama conveyed the Government’s serious concern over Ms. Clinton’s remarks. President Rajapaksa had directed that the Foreign Minister summon the US ambassador to be told of the Government’s displeasure.
President Rajapaksa who declared open an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army said yesterday that false allegations including those of rape were being brought against security forces. He said the troops were the best disciplined in the world. “When they point one finger at human rights violations here, they must know three fingers are pointed at them,” he added.
Ms Clinton speaking on the adoption of a United Nations Security Council Resolution to Combat Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict said: "Now, reading the headlines, one might think that the use of rape as a tactic of war only happens occasionally, or in a few places, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Sudan. That would be bad enough, but the reality is much worse.
We’ve seen rape used as a tactic of war before in Bosnia, Burma, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. In too many countries and in too many cases, the perpetrators of this violence are not punished, and so this impunity encourages further attacks".
The US Embassy’s blog had the following account posted yesterday:"During the 26-year long war in Sri Lanka, there were allegations of rape and sexual violence, just as in other conflicts.
Secretary Clinton’s statement was to raise awareness of such brutality, not to implicate specific perpetrators. She made no reference to the Sri Lankan Army or to the LTTE" |
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