UNHRC meet shows Sri Lanka-West gap
By P K Balachandran | ENS - COLOMBO
03rd November 2012 10:34 AM
The review of the rights situation in Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Thursday showed the existence of a wide gulf between Sri Lanka and its Western critics.
While the Western countries tried to pin Lanka down on specific instances of human rights abuse, the Lankan representative either skirted them or denied the allegations, and dwelt on the overall improvement in the situation, especially infrastructural development in the war-affected Northern and Eastern provinces.
The US reportedly asked about investigations into the assassination of five students in Trincomalee (January 2006); execution of 17 aid workers in Muthur (August 2006); assassination of editor Lasantha Wickrematunge (January 2009); and the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda (January 2010). The US wanted to know what measures were taken to protect witnesses.
Other concerns were the tracing of the missing and the abducted; reluctance to hold elections to the Northern provincial council; and moves to impeach the country’s Chief Justice.
Canada pointed out that not all Tamil war refugees had been able to go back to their villages. It wanted to know why the government was unwilling to bring about a Right to Information Act and devolve power to the provinces as per the constitution. UK wanted to know what progress had been made by the Lankan Army’s Court of Inquiry into instances of “war crimes.”
Colombo, on the other hand, skirted such specific issues and dwelt on the brighter overall scenario. It said that all refugees had been sent back to their homes. Of the 12,000 LTTE cadre who surrendered, only 782 were still undergoing rehabilitation and 262 were facing legal proceedings. Of the 7,940 who disappeared in 2010, 6653 had been traced. The corresponding figures for 2011 were 7,296 and 5,185.
As regards the Army Court of Inquiry into war crimes, Colombo said that the court had met 30 times since January and was probing 50 cases. Cases of sexual violence were investigated, but held that claims of army involvement were unfounded. A witness protection bill was under consideration by the cabinet, it added.
Lanka said that it had committed US$ 2.8 billion for reconstruction of North and East; built 124,184 houses; and cleared 98 pc of area earmarked for de-mining.
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Comments(17)
west will always want to pin down upcoming countries, to remain in power. Especially Sri Lanka (including other developing nations) will never give up or give in....... The drama will go and on and on. It is time, (thankfully it has already started) that we as victims of western hypocrisy join hands and stand as one against the west. Asia is booming !!!!!!
Posted by George at 11/03/2012 16:47 Reply to this Report abuse
George, do you think that these so called Asian booming economies can sustain without the West not because of West is fully developed but for Civilization and Democracy? If the west severs its ties with the Asia today, HR records go unchecked and within a few days to an year, you will see how many countries will turn into dictatorial regimes.
Posted by Clooney at 11/03/2012 17:25 Reply to this Report abuse
What do you think Cloony that the west had been doing all these years,in Iraq Afganistan,Vietnam,& atom bombing of Japan etc..perhaps they have the worst human rights record,while harping on human rights to other smaller countries they break it,these countries are hypocrits any way there time is over.
Posted by TISSA at 11/04/2012 01:51 Reply to this Report abuse
hanks George, you said it right. We must understand our likeness and vulnerability and join hands to stand up as one community
Posted by Roha at 11/03/2012 21:21 Reply to this Report abuse
Srin Lanka is concerned about human rights or the culture of impunity to the perpetrators of such crimes as it firmly believes that China, Russia, Pakistan, Cuba and other countries that disregard human rights will protect it at UN SC and UN HRC. Thousands have missed but not a single abductor and thousands were extra judicially killed not a single culprit has been brought to book. The army that killed more than 40,000 and raped hundreds of women are entrusted to investigate those crimes, how can a wolf be in charge of the protection of lambs? Global Politics politics determine the human rights of persecuted people.
Posted by Ismail at 11/03/2012 17:24 Reply to this Report abuse
40,000 corpses, a lot to discard easily in few days as the final assault did not last that long. Are you suggestion they were canibalised. No bomb has gone off killing innocent civillians since 2009. There are abductions and dissapearences in other parts of the world. There are more of the due to Drug Cartels in the world. I am sure most of these guys and gals are drugged to pin down some poor nations and people.
Posted by Dalit at 11/03/2012 18:11 Reply to this Report abuse
What is India (Baratha) doing, while the Wets trying to pin down Ceylon (Sri lanka)? Is it planing to raise another terrorist outfit in the island nation? Or is it just using its influnce in the West to pin down Sri Lanka? Or is it influencing the West to directly interfere like it did with the so called Indian Peace Keeping Force?
Posted by Dalit at 11/03/2012 18:04 Reply to this Report abuse
sri lankan papers and ministers are saying that they were commended by several countries for improving human rights and making progress on reconciliation. which countries are they?. the most likely countries are red china, pakistan and russia. in fact samarasinghe stood silent when he was given a lecture on human rights and reconciliation by the american envoy. these ignorant sinhala people think that they are smart and they can manipulate and manoeuvre the international community. however, what these ignorant people don't know is that everyone else can outsmart them and make them look like right old idiots. this is what exactly happened in geneva. an international investigation on killing of 40,000 tamil people have to be investigated. rape of tamil women soldiers have to be investigated. rape of tamil women corpses have to be investigated. refusal of food, water and medicines to tamil people have to be investigated. shelling by sri lankan army on no fire zones have to be investig
Posted by Rama at 11/03/2012 18:30 Reply to this Report abuse
Fragments of imagination of a defeated mind. Where is the proof to substantiate such frivolous claims and cleverly made up documentaries? Quite hillarious indeed!!
Posted by Kalu at 11/04/2012 00:07 Reply to this Report abuse
This is to my friend Rama I'm sure that you are in the west . Enjoying your life you talk about the ignorant Sinhalese people.And Tamil's can outsmart them and make them look like right old idiots. Yes we might not be smart like you but we are happy . When the war was over many come back to srilanka.the Tamils who said to the west that they will be killed when go back to srilanka And you were the first one to visit srilanka if you hate your country so mach why do your Tamil people keep asking for the North. I have a Lot's of Tamil friends. But they are not ignorant like you. I have visit sri lanka from the south to north everyone are so happy now better then when the LTTE was there You Killed your won people .And one more thing your Tamils who when around collating money for the LTTE they are now having 3 or 4 house and cars and enjoying the life you chit your won people. And you no who I am it's sad to call you a friend.
Posted by John C at 11/04/2012 00:25 Reply to this Report abuse
The vast majority of Sri lankans believe that there is plot in the west to destabilize Sri lanka and they also feel that the UN is a western puppet.. They also feel that India is not an ally which can be trusted in a crisis Regardless of whether these are truths are not, they form a solid perception in the hearts of Sri Lankans ,most of who are pretty happy with the reigning peace and normalcy in the country (the most unhappy event in recent times being the cricket final loss). The more the west pushes down on SL, the more resilient sri lankans will become and support the strong Rajapakse government. is that what the west want?
Posted by resplendant at 11/03/2012 19:27 Reply to this Report abuse