*COLOMBO: *A general accused of war crimes by the UN was on Mondayappointed Sri Lanka army chief by the nation’s president despiteinternational concerns about his human rights record.
Major General Shavendra Silva, 55, was elevated to the army’ssecond-highest position of chief of staff in January before his latestpromotion by President Maithripala Sirisena to commander of the Sri Lankanarmy.
“The president … has appointed Major General Shavendra Silva as the 23rdcommander of the army …after promoting him to the rank of LieutenantGeneral,” the army said in a statement.
The 55-year-old, who commanded an army division in the civil war, has beenaccused by the United Nations of war crimes during the final stages of theTamil separatist conflict.
Sri Lanka’s armed forces crushed the separatist rebels in 2009 in ano-holds barred offensive that ended a 37-year war which killed 100,000people.
There were mass atrocities against civilians in Sri Lanka’s predominantlyTamil north towards the end of the conflict, with rights groups saying some40,000 ethnic Tamils were killed by government forces.
The UN, in a report into the allegations, named Silva as playing a majorrole in orchestrating war crimes.
The International Truth and Justice Project, which has pursued war-eraofficials accused of crimes, said Silva’s appointment was “immenselydamaging to the country”.
“After so much bloodshed Sri Lankans need to hold their leaders accountablein order to stop the repeated cycles of violence,” the head of the SouthAfrica-based rights group Yasmin Sooka said in a statement.
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“Silva’s promotion, however, sends a message of total impunity.”
She said they had compiled a 137-page dossier on Silva showing there was“more than enough evidence” to charge him with war crimes and crimesagainst humanity.
Diplomatic sources in Colombo told *AFP*they had indicated to thegovernment that promoting Silva could reflect badly on its pledges toinvestigate wartime atrocities.
A number of Sri Lankan army generals have been denied visas to travel toWestern nations over their alleged role in attacks against civilians.
Sri Lanka’s successive governments have resisted calls for an independentinvestigation into the conduct of troops during the final months of theconflict.
Sirisena came to power in January 2015 promising justice for war victimsbut his administration has been accused of dithering since then. -APP/AFP
