VOA标准英语2009年-UN Calls for War Crimes Investigation in S

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
25 October 2009

The Office of the High Commissioner¹ for Human Rights is calling for an independent, international investigation² of possible war crimes committed during the last few months of the war in Sri Lanka. The UN agency says there should be a full inquiry³ into what did or did not happen during the final stages of the country's long-lasting civil war. 

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says too many questions related to the last stages of the war between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels remain unanswered.

UN Human Rights Spokesman Rupert Colville says something like the Gaza Fact-Finding Mission is warranted, given the wide spread concerns about the conduct of the war between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.

"It seems that more clarity is likely to emerge about who did what to whom and whether or not war crimes, crimes against humanity and other very serious human rights abuses were committed by one or both sides," say Colville.

Tens of thousands of people were killed during Sri Lanka's 25 year-long civil war. An estimated 6500 people were reportedly killed and 14,000 wounded during the last few months of the war earlier this year.

 
Former Judge Richard Goldstone, left, Head of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights South African Nava Pillay in Geneva, Switzerland (File)
In May, the UN Human Rights Council held a special session on the situation in Sri Lanka. The Council blamed war atrocities⁴ on the Tamil Tiger rebels and exonerated⁵ the government of similar crimes. It rejected demands for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the war.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who disagreed with this decision, is once again calling for an investigation.

On a related issue, spokesman Rupert Colville says the situation of one-quarter of a million displaced Tamils living in internment⁶ camps continues to be of great concern.

"Sri Lanka committed itself to opening up, and dealing⁷ properly with the displaced and other victims of the war, as well as dealing with some of the underlying⁸ problems relating to discrimination against the Tamil minority.  So we hope the government takes serious actions to fulfill⁹ those commitments in the very near future," he said.

Colville calls this is an almost unimaginable situation for children and other civilians¹⁰ to have to live through for even one day, let alone months on end.

He says the UN Human Rights Office urges the Sri Lankan government to release the Tamils from their restrictive situation in the camps, so they can return to their homes to lead a more normal life.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 exonerated   

v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption. 警方的报告免除了对刘易斯贪污的所有指控。
• An investigation exonerated the school from any blame. 一项调查证明该学校没有任何过失。 来自辞典例句

6 internment   

n.拘留

参考例句：

• Certainly the recent attacks against the internment camps are evidence enough. 很明显，最近营地遭受到的攻击就是一个足好的证明。 来自互联网
• The chapters on the internment are Both readaBle and well researched. 这些关于拘留的章节不仅具可读性而且研究得很透彻。 来自互联网

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

9 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

10 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。