By Eight international human rights groups have called on UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron to recuse himself from imminent decisions on whether to apply Magnitsky sanctions to alleged Sri Lankan war criminals.
The groups allege that Cameron’s recent employment in promoting investment for the controversial Port City project in Sri Lanka, which is being built by a Chinese state firm, creates a conflict of interest.
“David Cameron must recuse himself from this decision,” said one of the group’s spokespersons. “His recent employment in promoting investment for this controversial project raises serious questions about his independence and impartiality.”
The groups also called on the UK government to prioritize sanctions for individuals alleged to have been complicit in conflict-related sexual violence, following the UK’s announcement at the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative summit last November.
“The UK has a moral obligation to act against perpetrators of torture and sexual violence,” said another of the groups’ spokespersons. “We urge the UK government to take decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.”
The ITJP, one of the groups that submitted a sanctions submission for retired Sri Lankan army General Jagath Jayasuriya, has accused him of heading the notorious detention site known as Joseph Camp, where hundreds of people have been tortured and raped over the years.
“Many of those Tamil torture and rape victims now have asylum in the UK,” said the ITJP’s Executive Director Yasmin Sooka. “Given the UK’s declaration at the PSVI initiative last year to end sexual violence and to hold those responsible accountable, the failure to act against perpetrators of torture and sexual violence is deeply disappointing.”
The groups are calling on the UK government to make public its intentions concerning designations as soon as possible.
