The UN�s human rights chief warned Sri Lanka not to take too long in probingwar crimes allegations, saying failure to carry out a credible inquiry couldlead to international action.
�There is now a high level of expectations expressed by member states that SriLanka should seriously inquire into these allegations� of prisoner executionsand assaults, said Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
�But this should not be an open-ended process,� she stressed, noting that aprevious Sri Lankan internal inquiry �failed to complete its task, neverpublished its report and never led to a single prosecution.�
�If that should be the case again, there is an intention for the internationalcommunity to take further action. I certainly believe that the Human RightsCouncil should actively consider this matter,� said Pillay.
Pressure has mounted on Colombo since Britain�s Channel 4 broadcast adocumentary that showed what it said were prisoner executions and bodies offemale Tamil fighters who appeared to have been sexually assaulted.
A recent UN report accused government forces of war crimes, alleging that theyexecuted rebel leaders who had surrendered.
An estimated 100,000 people were killed in the nearly four-decade-long Tamilseparatist conflict, which began in 1972.
Pillay�s remarks echoed that of the United States, which on Tuesday urged SriLanka to move quickly to address allegations of war crimes.
Colombo has questioned the authenticity of the Channel 4 footage but said thata local panel, known as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, wouldtake action if the allegations are proven, AFP reports.
