Lanka face threats from Pettris report

National Patriotic Movement blamed the internal report submitted by the UN senior officer Charles Pettri against SriLanka would help international community and United Nation to make pressures against SriLanka.

[ Saturday, 17 November 2012, 02:13.43 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Addressing media briefing in Colombo secretary of the movement Wasantha Bandara went on to say during the last stage of war United Nation fail to save the lives of people in SriLanka.

United Nation as collected evidences on war crime allegations and human rights violations reported in the country.

This situation would lead to create more pressures against the country, he said.

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UN will use internal review of activities in Sri Lanka to do better, vows senior official

Addressing a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Susana Malcorra, reiterated that determination, adding that this is a moment for “strong introspection” for the world body.

“We are absolutely guided by his decision to look into the recommendations and make sure that we thoroughly review them and implement them to strengthen the system at large,” she stated.

“The report highlights areas of improvement for the system to work and deliver better,” she added, noting that the Organization is in the process of putting together a group of senior advisors to review the report’s recommendations and figure out how to move forward.

The eight-month study by the Internal Review Panel, headed by Charles Petrie – who joined Ms. Malcorra at the news briefing – came in the wake of recommendations made by another body, the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts, which he set up in 2010 to advise him on measures to advance accountability after the war’s conclusion.

The Panel of Experts’ report raised a number of issues, including those regarding the UN response to the situation facing civilians in the north of Sri Lanka in the last months of the war. It recommended “a comprehensive review of action by the United Nations system during the war in Sri Lanka and the aftermath, regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates” – which, in turn, led to the internal UN review.

“It is a very difficult report to read,” Mr. Petrie told reporters, referring to the review’s findings, while adding that the fact that the UN itself was championing the report bode well for the world body.

The report called the Secretary-General’s decision to commission an internal review a “courageous” step, and said that the findings and recommendations provide an “urgent and compelling platform for action.”

“The UN’s failure to adequately respond to events like those that occurred in Sri Lanka should not happen again. When confronted by similar situations, the UN must be able to meet a much higher standard in fulfilling its protection and humanitarian responsibilities,” said the report.

Ms. Malcorra added that the report is “clear proof” of Mr. Ban’s commitment to the principles of accountability and transparency, and that while it is “painful” to realize one’s shortcomings, the UN owes it to itself, and more importantly to those it serves, to find ways to improve and work better in the future.