Lankan officer's deployment on UN Peace Keeping Mission to Lebanon deferred over HR violations

The deployment of a Sri Lankan army officer as part of a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission to Lebanon has been deferred following complaints by Sri Lanka Tamil diaspora groups of alleged human rights violations while he was serving in Kilinochchi in 2009.

At a news conference yesterday at the UN headquarters in New York, the spokesman for the world body said; (excerpts)

We were asked last week about a Sri Lankan officer who was scheduled to deploy to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL.  I can confirm that the officer’s deployment is on hold pending a review of the matter.  A decision regarding deployment of this officer will be made once the review is complete.   

We are in communication with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka regarding the officer’s background and Sri Lanka is cooperating fully with our inquiries.

The United Nations takes reports of potential human rights violations very seriously.  As a matter of policy, we are committed to ensuring that all personnel serving with the UN meet the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rights.