German diplomat’s house searched, complaint to UN

UNITED NATIONS -- The German government has complained to the United Nations against a break-in and an illegal search of an apartment belonging to one of its diplomats based in Colombo.

In a letter to the UN, which regularly monitors the protection, security and safety of diplomatic personnel overseas, the Germans say that on the night of April 29-30 this year, "the military and security forces of Sri Lanka intruded into the protected apartment of a German diplomat in his absence and searched it."

The letter is part of a report to the 192-member General Assembly inwhich the UN catalogues a long list of infractions and violations of diplomatic immunity worldwide. Among the violations are police brutality against Russian diplomats in Argentina and attempts to break into the premises of Russian overseas agencies.

The complaint against Sri Lanka does not provide any details as to why the security forces broke into the German diplomat's apartment.

As a guardian of diplomatic and consular missions overseas, the UN is expected to seek a response from the Sri Lankan government on the circumstances that led to the violation of diplomatic immunity.

Foreign Ministry spokesman M. Hussain yesterday told The Sunday Times they were unaware of the complaint.

Germany has officially frozen any new aid for projects in Sri Lanka in a bid to put pressure on the government and the LTTE to get back to peace talks.