By Bharatha Mallawarachi
Protesters at the UN building in the Sri Lankan capital forced UN workers to stay in their office Tuesday to demand the world body end its investigation of rights abuses alleged during the country's civil war.
Hundreds of national flag-waving men marched to the UN compound in Colombo, led by Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Buddhist monks. They initially tried to break into the building by breaching the barriers and security walls but settled for a sit-in blocking both exits of the compound.
They also spray-painted the security camera at the gate in an apparent bid not to be identified.
"We warn the UN to withdraw the (investigating) panel if they want to get the employees out," Weerawansa told the protesters.
The number of employees within the UN offices was not known.
"Our armed forces have beaten terrorism in an exemplary manner. The panel is intended at taking our soldiers and political leaders before international courts," Weerawansa said.
"We will not let that happen."
He asked expatriate Sri Lankans to hold similar protests in countries where they live.
Government troops crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels last year, ending their 25-year campaign for an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils. Human rights groups have accused government forces and Tamil rebels of deliberately targeting civilians.
UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon last month appointed a three-member panel to advise him on allegations of human rights abuses.
According to the UN, more than 7,000 civilians were killed in the last five months of the fighting alone.
Sri Lanka has denied targeting civilians and has appointed its own "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission" to investigate any alleged abuses. It has rejected the UN initiative as a breach of the country's sovereignty.
AP