A rights group documenting alleged abuses in Sri Lanka has filed a criminal complaint with Singapore’s attorney general, seeking the arrest of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his role in the South Asian nation’s decades-long civil war Has been.
According to a copy of the complaint seen by Reuters, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said Rajapaksa had seriously violated the Geneva Conventions during the civil war in 2009, when he was the country’s defense chief.
South Africa-based ITJP argued that the alleged misconduct on grounds of universal jurisdiction was subject to prosecution in Singapore, where he fled after months of unrest over his country’s economic crisis.
Rajapaksa submitted his resignation in Singapore on 13 July, a day after fleeing. Anti-government protesters stormed the offices and official residences of the president and prime minister.
One of the lawyers, Alexandra Lily Kather, “the criminal complaint that has been filed is based on verifiable information on both offenses, but also on evidence that the person is actually being linked, who is now Singapore.” is in.” The man who drafted the complaint told Reuters by telephone from Berlin.
“Singapore really has a unique opportunity to speak the truth to power, with its own law and its own policy, with this grievance.”
Rajapaksa could not be reached for comment through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore. He has previously vehemently denied allegations of being responsible for rights abuses during the war.
Responding to questions from Reuters, a spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Chambers said it had received a letter from ITJP on 23 July.
“We are not able to comment further on the matter,” the spokesperson said.
The country’s foreign ministry said Rajapaksa entered the Southeast Asian city-state on a private visit and had neither sought nor granted asylum.
Professor Shubhankar Dam of the University of Portsmouth School of Law in Britain, who teaches in Singapore, said that although its courts were capable of trying alleged war crimes, genocide and torture, it has repeatedly stated that such Jurisdiction should only be enforced. as a last resort.
“Although neutrality is not officially included in Singapore’s foreign policy, it has long developed into a form of equity,” Dam said.
“Any decision to prosecute a former foreign head of state must be balanced against the objectives of his foreign policy.”
Sri Lanka ended a 25-year civil war in 2009 between the ethnic Tamil minority and separatist rebels from government forces. Rights groups accused both sides of abuse during the war.
ITJP assisted in two civil lawsuits against Rajapaksa, one of which took place in a California parking lot in 2019. Rajapaksa was an American citizen at the time.
Both cases were withdrawn after Rajapaksa was granted diplomatic immunity when he became president later that year.