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Army to appeal against order to withdraw officer from Mali
21 Oct, 2018
The Army is to recall a military officer stationed in Mali following a UN demand but will later appeal against the order, The Sunday Morning newspaper reported today.
Following a review of the human rights background of the commander of the Sri Lankan contingent deployed to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has requested Sri Lanka to immediately repatriate him to Sri Lanka.
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that this would be done at their cost, as per normal procedures.
Lieutenant Colonel Kalana Amunupure commands the Sri Lankan contingent in Mali with Major Hasantha Hennadi as his second-in-command.
Army Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu told The Sunday Morning the Army would recall Lieutenant Colonel Kalana Amunupure as a mark of respect to the order issued by the UN.
However, he insisted that the allegations against Lieutenant Colonel Kalana Amunupure were baseless and that the Army would file an appeal with the UN.
?We will file the appeal to clear his name as he had served with the UN previously as well. We hope to clear his name and send him back to Mali,? Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said.
Lieutenant Colonel Kalana Amunupure was accused of being involved in human rights abuses during the war in Sri Lanka.
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