UN asks Sri Lanka to repatriate commander in Mali over human rights record
- Request for Kalana Amunupure to leave West Africa came after media report claiming a commander committed war crimes in country’s 26-year civil war
The United Nations asked the government of Sri Lanka on Friday to immediately repatriate the commander of its 200-strong contingent assigned to the UN peacekeeping force in Mali following a review of his human rights background.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the request for Lieutenant Colonel Kalana Amunupure to leave the troubled West African nation was made “based on recently received information”. He gave no details.
A report in The Guardian newspaper in July quoted a confidential report that claimed a Sri Lankan commander in Mali – who was not named – is alleged to have committed war crimes during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels that ended in 2009.
It said the report was produced by the South-Africa based International Truth and Justice Project, and also cited other Sri Lankans taking part in UN peacekeeping operations.
Sri Lanka’s UN mission said the ambassador was not available to comment on the UN decision.