Cannot send country to hell for regime’s sins: Ranil
By Uditha Jayasinghe -Tuesday 19th March 2013As the Mattala festivities unfolded, Opposition coalition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe attempted to bring the spotlight back to the impending UNHRC vote and reiterated his call for an open dialogue with the Government to protect the country’s international image.
Flanked by his fellow members of the Vipakshaye Virodhaya, Wickremesinghe insisted that the “country cannot be sent to hell for the sins of the Government”. Calling for the country to be decoupled from the Rajapaksa regime, he pointed out that the country was on the brink of being internationally shamed once again when the UNHRC vote takes place this Friday.
He also stressed that if the resolution was passed, the country could be opened to investigations by UN rapporteurs and urged the Government to work with the Vipakshaye Virodhaya as well as Tamil and Muslim parties to put together a timeline and implementation framework for crucial points outlined in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report.
“It was the Government that appointed the LLRC under the advisement of President Rajapaksa. They came out with these recommendations that were subsequently accepted by the international community. Therefore, why are they so reluctant to implement them?” he questioned.
Wickremesinghe charged that the Government had not sought the views of the Opposition when formulating the Action Plan for the implementation of the LLRC and therefore the whole process lacked credibility. He emphasised that it was still not too late for all parties to meet before 31 May to hammer out the specifications for the timeline and implementation mechanism before the UNHRC acted.
“Even after the first resolution was passed, the Government was given one year by the international community, but it failed to implement the LLRC satisfactorily. Now there are pro-LTTE groups in Europe that are lobbying for various boycotts. Some are trying to discourage tourists, others are saying not to consume Ceylon Tea, and still others are attempting to stop consumption of Lankan-produced apparel. If this situation is not addressed Sri Lanka’s economy could be seriously affected,” he added.
Responding to a remark by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who had dismissed calls for talks and instead expressed confidence in mass street demonstrations to keep the international community at bay, Wickremesinghe noted that “there is no one else for the Government to blame. They might as well have protest marches in front of a mirror if they want to honestly target those responsible for bringing the country to such a desperate point.”
He went on to say: “If the regime does not help the country, then we are forced to tell the world that this is the fault of the Government and not the country.”
All other leaders of the Vipakshaye Virodhaya also spoke subsequently, with many of them condemning the attacks on Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu and urging the Government to act by addressing internal human rights issues.
“It was the Government that appointed the LLRC under the advisement of President Rajapaksa. They came out with these recommendations that were subsequently accepted by the international community. Therefore, why are they so reluctant to implement them?” he questioned.
Wickremesinghe charged that the Government had not sought the views of the Opposition when formulating the Action Plan for the implementation of the LLRC and therefore the whole process lacked credibility. He emphasised that it was still not too late for all parties to meet before 31 May to hammer out the specifications for the timeline and implementation mechanism before the UNHRC acted.
“Even after the first resolution was passed, the Government was given one year by the international community, but it failed to implement the LLRC satisfactorily. Now there are pro-LTTE groups in Europe that are lobbying for various boycotts. Some are trying to discourage tourists, others are saying not to consume Ceylon Tea, and still others are attempting to stop consumption of Lankan-produced apparel. If this situation is not addressed Sri Lanka’s economy could be seriously affected,” he added.
Responding to a remark by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who had dismissed calls for talks and instead expressed confidence in mass street demonstrations to keep the international community at bay, Wickremesinghe noted that “there is no one else for the Government to blame. They might as well have protest marches in front of a mirror if they want to honestly target those responsible for bringing the country to such a desperate point.”
He went on to say: “If the regime does not help the country, then we are forced to tell the world that this is the fault of the Government and not the country.”
All other leaders of the Vipakshaye Virodhaya also spoke subsequently, with many of them condemning the attacks on Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu and urging the Government to act by addressing internal human rights issues.
GoSL rejects joint resolution, stage set for Geneva vote
Move intended to expose hypocrites
By Shamindra Ferdinando-March 17, 2013, 9:39 pm
Sri Lanka’s refusal to move a joint resolution on accountability issues, at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, has set the stage for a vote on the second US motion, targeting the country, since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. The vote will take place on March 21.The first US resolution was passed in March last year with 24 voting for and 15 against with eight abstaining. The UNHRC comprises 47 countries and is divided into five regional groups – African States (13 seats), Asian States (13 seats), Latin American and Caribbean States (8 seats), Western European and other States (7 seats), Eastern European States (6 seats). Members serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
The US explored the possibility of having Sri Lanka’s consent to present the resolution, co-sponsored by those who had voted in support of the first resolution, at its 19th sessions last year.
Government sources told The Island that a vote would expose those who had sided with the US for their benefit as well as countries influenced by the LTTE rump. Sources claimed that the US had been seeking to move the resolution with Sri Lanka’s consensus as many countries wanted to avoid a high profile vote. Responding to a query, a senior official said that many governments had indicated to the US their reluctance to throw their weight behind a country specific resolution targeting Sri Lanka.In fact, the US had been always opposed to country specific resolutions, sources said. India’s position on country specific resolution, too, had been the same sources said.
Well informed sources said that the number of governments likely to abstain at the forthcoming vote was expected to exceed the eight registered last year. Asked whether the government was concerned about India voting for the US resolution, like it did at the last time in Geneva (19th sessions), sources said that India, too, had come under heavy fire by the UNHRC at the 19th sessions. South African national Ms Margaret Sekkaggya, the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression lambasted India at the 19th sessions demanding far reaching constitutional changes.
Sekkaggya’s statement drew an angry response from India at the same sessions.
British media outfit Channel 4 News propagating lies against Sri Lanka, had produced controversial documentary titled ‘Kashmir’s torture trail’ targeting India, sources recalled, adding that an adjournment debate in the House of Commons targeted both India and Sri Lanka over accountability issues. Those engaged in protests in India calling for Indian Central government to back the US resolution should realize the attack on Sri Lanka could boomerang on them, sources said.
Sources said that Sri Lanka would request a friendly country to call for a vote. The following is the full group UNHRC members:
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