General Shavendra Silva Appointed Commander Of Sri Lankan Army Despite Accusations Of War Crimes

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed General Shavendra Silva as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army on Monday, despite accusations that he has in the past committed war crimes and human rights abuses. The announcement came on Monday and was instantly met with international opposition. The accusations surround Silva’s actions as leader of the 58th division of the Sri Lankan army during the country’s civil war. Silva denies the accusations.

One of the most notable individuals to express concern over Silva’s appointment is Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In a statement released by Al Jazeera, Bachelet said she is “deeply troubled by the appointment of Lieutenant-General Silva as Commander of the Sri Lankan army, despite the serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war.” This sentiment is also shared by officials in the United States. According to the Washington Post, a senior U.S. State Department official said the appointment “undermines Sri Lanka’s international reputation and its commitment to promote justice and accountability.”

The accusations pertain to instances of human rights abuses throughout the Sri Lankan civil war. During the nearly 26-year war, the Sri Lankan government fought against the insurgent group commonly known as the Tamil Tigers. The group’s goal was to create an independent Tamil state in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. According to Al Jazeera, a 2015 United Nations report by UNHCR accused the Sri Lankan forces of unlawful killings, sexual and gender-based violence, torture and attacks on humanitarian facilities. Furthermore, Silva’s 58th division was accused of shelling a hospital and a United Nations hub in the city of Putumattalan. The Hindu reports that Silva was also implicated in an incident in which a group of surrendering Tamil Tigers were executed after they had already been assured safety.

In 2015, the Sri Lankan government told the United Nations Human Rights Council that it would investigate the accusations, but still no investigations have been made or initiated (The Independent). It is incredibly concerning that the government has made no efforts to investigate these horrible accusations. It demonstrates a complete lack of concern for the severity of this issue. A statement, reported by the Washington Post, by the foreign ministry on Tuesday said that “foreign entities trying to influence the decisions and internal administrative processes of public service promotions in Sri Lanka is unwarranted and unacceptable.”

The appointment of Silva to such a high position within the military and government sets a troubling international precedent. Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka researcher Thyagi Ruwanpathirana was quoted in The Independent saying, “President Sirisena’s appointment of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as Sri Lanka’s Army Commander makes a mockery of accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the armed conflict.” By neglecting to take action in this situation, the Sri Lankan government makes a statement to the international community that protecting the human rights of their citizens is not a top priority.

One fear is that the lack of accountability on behalf of the Sri Lankan government could potentially permeate the governments of other countries around the world. Al Jazeera quoted Yasmin Sooka, the executive director of The International Truth and Justice Program, saying that “after so much bloodshed Sri Lankans need to hold their leaders accountable in order to stop the repeated cycles of violence.” This pertains not only to Sri Lankans, but to the international community as a whole. It is so important to call attention to instances like this. Getting foreign governments and NGOs to speak out against the actions of the Sri Lankan government is the first step in hopefully making a change and preventing the spread of this sentiment. The hope is that mounting pressure and international condemnation will influence the decisions of Sri Lankan officials to potentially reverse the appointment, move forward with investigating the accusations, and commit to protecting the rights of their people moving forward. It is paramount to protect human rights and respect the international laws of war. Maintaining these standards upholds a respect for human life, a principal that is necessary for creating a more peaceful global community.

Tess Brennan

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