Japan’s new administration should publicly press the Sri Lankan government to end the illegal detention of approximately 250,000 Tamil civilians, five Japanese and international human rights organizations said in a joint letter to Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, made public today.

A US State Department report on possible violations of the laws of war in Sri Lanka made public on October 22, 2009 shows the need for an independent international investigation.

The Sri Lankan government’s recent statements that it aims to return only 100,000 of the original 273,000 displaced civilians confined to camps by the end of 2009 breaks a promise to camp residents and the international community.

The Sri Lankan government should immediately release the 250,000 displaced Tamil civilians still held in detention camps.

Governments in countries with caste systems should respond to the call from a top UN official to end this form of discrimination.

World leaders in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh should call on the Sri Lankan government to immediately release more than 260,000 displaced persons illegally confined in detention camps.

A disturbing video recently provided to the media showing the apparent summary execution of prisoners by Sri Lankan soldiers underscores the need for an international commission of inquiry into possible war crimes committed by both sides during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo government's repression, detention and evasion in the wake of Sri Lanka's civil war highlight the need for an international inquiry into its last days.