'Sri Lanka recalls war crimes accused diplomat'

PTI | Zee News
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Sri Lanka on Wednesday recalled its deputy ambassador to Germany and Switzerland, Jaghat Dias, a former general that rights groups have accused of war crimes, Swiss media said.

The Sankt-Galler Zeitung newspaper and ATS news agency said the information was provided by diplomatic sources, but the missions in Berlin and Geneva did not comment.

Two rights groups last month filed a criminal complaint with Swiss authorities against Dias for alleged war crimes.

The Swiss attorney general's office confirmed it received the complaint filed by the Society for Threatened Peoples and TRIAL (Track Impunity Always) and was examining the case.

The two groups claimed that "there are numerous indications that war crimes were committed" by the 57th division commanded by Dias in the Sri Lankan army's final offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.

"In particular, during this time, the troops of Jagath Dias carried out massive bombings of civilians and hospitals," they said.

Dias is the deputy ambassador at Sri Lanka's embassy in Berlin, which also handles diplomatic dealings with Switzerland and the Vatican.

© Zee News