INHUMAN COUNTRIES: RUSSIA,CHINA,PAKISTAN,INDIA,EGYPT,MALAYSIA,KSA,SA,Qatar,Jordan,Philippines,Indonesia,Ghana,Nicaragua,Cuba! Not support UN-probe!!!

UNHRC divided on Sri Lanka



Allies call session ill-timed while EU-led countries demand for independent probe on HR violations


Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasingha and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Dayan Jayatillake are seen here having a discussion during the special session on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday. AFP


By Poornima Weerasekara

Members of the UN Human Rights Council remained divided on the need for a human rights probe on Sri Lanka, an idea pushed by EU-led countries, while friendly nations called the special UNHRC session ill-timed and unwarranted for.

“We have serious reservations of the objectives and the usefulness of this session. Some members by forcing a special session have regrettably attempted to politicize the work of the UNHRC,” the Indian Ambassador to the UNHRC in Geneva said.

“It would have been sufficient to discuss the Sri Lankan issue at the regular meeting of the UNHRC, which is a week away,” he added.

Two other strong allies, China and Russia also voiced reservations about the need for a special session to discuss the Human Rights situation in Sri Lanka.They commended Sri Lanka on its victory in the war against terrorism with the Russian envoy saying that “the end of conflict was a victory not only of the people of Sri Lanka but also of the international community as a whole.”

Cuba that spoke on behalf of the non-aligned countries, which constituted the largest group amongst the UNHRC member nations provided the strongest critique of the UN special session.

They decried “efforts by certain colonial powers to singularize and stigmatize a small developing country.” It also berated the EU-led countries for their “lack of inclusively, double standards, pressure tactics employed in certain capitals to get signatures and the lack of transparency.”

They urged the council to adopt the resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka without “followed a path of confrontation that divided the council closing the path for alternatives.”

Pakistan voiced support for Sri Lanka on behalf of the Organization for Islamic Countries while Egypt expressed the solidarity of the African Group.

Qatar, Jordan, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Ghana Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and South Africa made statements supporting the draft resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka.

However, UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay in a statement called for an international investigation into attacks on civilians during the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka.

"There are strong reasons to believe that both sides have grossly disregarded the fundamental principle of the inviolability of civilians," Pillay said.

"An independent and credible international investigation into recent events should be dispatched to ascertain the occurrence, nature and scale of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as specific responsibilities," she added.

The Czech envoy outlining the main concerns in the resolution tabled by the EU led countries said that it condemned the LTTE’s use of civilians as human shields, but added that “the government’s disregard for civilian lives and the use of heavy weapons whilst civilians were trapped in a small zone without any means of escaping is unacceptable.”

“We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation after the conflict,” he said highlighting that concerns were raised about issues of enforced disappearances, detention and abductions, along with the lack of freedom of expression.

The UK, France and Germany who supported the stance called for “an independent inquiry into all violations of humanitarian laws where appropriate.”

Italy, Slovenia, Mexico, Brazil and Chili also urged for greater transparency and accountability in dealing with human rights violations in Sri Lanka to combat the culture of impunity prevalent in the country.

Lanka confident of favourable outcome

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasingha yesterday said that he was confident that the resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, requesting member countries to focus on aiding post-conflict rehabilitation, would be adopted by the UN Human Rights Council. “We have already obtained 32 signatures, from 17 countries who are members of the UN HRC, and 15 non members. We are confidant that the resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka will be adopted as it is implementable. The Human Rights Council is seeking a constructive outcome and not seeking a rhetorical position,” he said.

The minister also pointed out that the UN Human Rights Chief in her statement has not acknowledged the successes achieved by Sri Lanka by eliminating the most extreme kind of terrorism and resolving “the biggest hostage situation that the world has seen.”

On the issue of providing access to UN and other aid workers to conflict zones Minister Samarasingha said that “there is no question of giving access to conflict zones when the conflict has ended.”

Responding to demands for uninhibited access to IDP camps for humanitarian organizations Mr. Samarasingha said that “there is no question about giving access. We have given access to our partners and will continue to do so.”

“Over 250,000 people have been rescued by our forces and are being looked after. There is a reference about starvation and malnutrition in the camps which is the furthest from the truth,” he said adding that the government has given access to 52 humanitarian agencies “to work side by side with government officials in complementing the aid efforts of the government.”

“We will continue to offer access within a national framework. Our objective is to resettle all our citizens within the shortest possible time,” he added.

He stressed that the government was focusing on the task of de-mining, infrastructure facilitation and providing basic services needed as precursors to resettlement.

“It is not a question of taking shortcuts and succumbing to pressures from various corners. We are sick and tired of these pressures,” he said, adding that livelihood support programmes for the long-term benefit of refugees would also be put in place.

“The government has never subscribed to the concept of a military solution as a final solution. The only durable and sustainable solution is a political solution that addresses the socio-economic and political aspirations of our people with a home grown solution,” he added reiterating the government’s commitment towards finding an inclusive political solution.

“The international community must focus on Sri Lanka’s multi-pronged strategy for post-conflict revival this is what we must now engage and not the naming and shaming,” he said.

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