Govt. has agreed to the US-led resolution: JVP  SUNDAY, 10 MARCH 2013
The Government appears to have agreed to the United States-sponsored resolution to be presented at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions and had sent a delegation to the US to discuss ways of implementing its recommendations, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today.
JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the subservient manner in which the Government was handling this year’s resolution on Sri Lanka clearly showed its mindset. He recalled that there were several government-sponsored street protests when such a resolution was presented at the UNHCR sessions last year but so far there had been no such protests this year even though this resolution was more strongly worded. (YP) |
No negotiations on US resolution: Aryasinha
March 9, 2013, 7:44 pm
Sri Lanka will not negotiate with the US on the text of the forthcoming US resolution before the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha on Friday told the US Ambassador for Human Rights, Eileen Donahoe.
"I conveyed to Ambassador Donahoe, that GOSL rejects entirely the premise on which this resolution is based, and as has been its consistent position, does not intend negotiating with the US on the text," Aryasinha said intervening at a meeting called by the US to discuss its draft resolution on "Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka."
This meeting was chaired by Donahoe and many member and observer states of UNHRC participated in the discussion. A number of NGOs were also present at the event.
"GOSL does not recognize resolution 19/2 and maintains its consistent position that, through resolutions of this nature, what is being perpetuated is a politicized process in a manner which is unfair, biased, unjust, and contrary to the principles of cooperation, genuine dialogue and the founding principles of universality, impartiality non selectivity, that should guide all member states in facilitating the method of engagement and the mandate of the Council," Aryasinha said.
He said that he was participating the Friday’s meeting as he did not wish to dismiss the interest taken in Sri Lanka by member and observer states, representatives of international organizations and civil society, irrespective of whether such interest is justified or not.
"GOSL always has, and continues to remain engaged with all parties seeking a respectful and constructive dialogue on how to move the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka forward. We hope this spirit of engagement will be reciprocated, and that member and observer states of the HRC will view developments in Sri Lanka with an open mind," he said.
