Sri Lanka slams int'l community on "inconsistent" policies ahead of fresh resolution
Feb 13,2014
COLOMBO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Under censure for its human rights record, Sri Lanka's government hit back at the international community on Thursday, blaming it for "inconsistent" policies.
Sri Lanka will be facing a third resolution in as many years on its human rights record that includes war crimes allegations at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) next month.
The tropical island off the southern coast of India ended a three-decade war with the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) in 2009 but has since been dogged by criticism on accountability, reconciliation, political power devolution and adherence to human rights.
Government Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella reiterated the government's stance that it has implemented a significant number of reconciliation measures and rejected international criticism that credible investigations have not taken place regarding allegations of civilian deaths during the last phase of the war.
"The resolution is a serious concern for the government. Reconciliation is something that is important for the people and we are very aware of it and have done an incredible amount of work so far but we feel that the international community keeps changing the specifications of what it wants us to achieve," he said.
Rambukwella emphasized the government sensed a "hidden agenda" in the international community's continued interest in Sri Lanka but pledged to work to "win every country over."
The United States will table the resolution and is already in talks with countries to obtain support for the proposal. In 2012 and 2013 Sri Lanka failed to defeat the resolution but has taken a more proactive role in this round by sending envoys to drum up support from Africa, the Middle East and Far East nations.
In fact Rambukwella noted that in the coming weeks special envoys will be sent to Japan and South Korea as well as the Middle East to further bolster Sri Lanka's support base.
The country's External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris wrapped up a tour to China this week where he was assured of assistance.
The island is expected to send a strong team to defend itself in Geneva next month and Prof. Peiris is already tabled to make the main speech on behalf of the government.
