MP Gajendrakumar Calls for UN-Led Investigation into Chemmani Mass Grave

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has called for the United Nations to take responsibility for the investigation into the Chemmani mass grave, arguing that an internal investigation by the Sri Lankan state cannot deliver justice.

Speaking at a large public rally held on Sunday opposing a domestic investigation and demanding UN involvement in the Chemmani mass grave investigation, Ponnambalam said a former Sri Lankan Army corporal convicted in the 1999 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy murder case had testified that the remains of up to 600 people had been buried in the Chemmani area.

According to Ponnambalam, the corporal, who had been serving in the Chemmani area, provided the testimony because he did not trust the Sri Lankan government and believed that senior military officers implicated in the alleged killings would not protect him.

He said the testimony made at the time had gained renewed significance following the discovery of human remains during ongoing excavations at Chemmani.

Ponnambalam also claimed that attempts had initially been made to dismiss the discovery of human remains by pointing to the presence of a cemetery in the area. However, he said evidence presented by a member of his party, Kripakaran, led to the matter being brought before the courts with the assistance of lawyers Kandeeban and Sugash, after police in Jaffna allegedly refused to accept a complaint. This eventually resulted in judicial approval for excavation work, he said.

He described Chemmani as potential evidence of what he alleged was a systematic campaign of genocide against Tamils during the conflict, as the number of remains being recovered approaches 600.

Ponnambalam further criticised the international community, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, for failing to take stronger action over allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Referring to a previous report by former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, he said the international community should take seriously the argument that a state accused of wrongdoing should not be solely responsible for investigating allegations against itself.

He warned that allowing the Sri Lankan state to control the investigation could create a risk of evidence being destroyed or compromised.

“An internal investigation will not deliver justice. The United Nations must take responsibility for the Chemmani mass grave investigation,” Ponnambalam said, reiterating the demand made by Tamil groups for an international investigation.