Lack of progress would mean another resolution in March - Hague
- Tuesday, 19 November 2013
British Foreign Secretary
William Hague has said that the lack of progress shown by the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration in addressing concerns raised b y the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the resolutions adopted would result in another resolution being passed against the Sri Lankan government at the Council’s session next March.
Britain will receive a seat in the UNHRC as a full voting member next year when the second resolution adopted by the Council on Sri Lanka will be taken up for review in March 2014.
Hague in an interview with the local media has said, “There was a resolution last year, of course, in the Human Rights Council. Given the lack of progress on this issue, members of the Human Rights Council will, I’m sure, want to return to another resolution. But, this is November, that is March. In meetings here, we have been urging our Sri Lankan counterparts to recognise that and we look to them to take action on this before March.”
He as observed that it is possible for the government in Sri Lanka to establish (an inquiry), to start and show the world it is addressing the concerns.
“That would make a big difference, of course. And the Prime Minister is referring to March because the UN High Commissioner has referred to March. It is the meeting of the Human Rights Council in March. A very strong motion was passed in the last session about Sri Lanka and member states—of which we will now be one, we have been elected again as a full voting member of the Human Rights Council—we will be pursuing this issue,” Hague has added.
Speaking about the push for freedom of the press, the British Foreign Secretary has said the UK is concerned about press freedom.
“The Prime Minister was very concerned to see, when he visited a newspaper in the North, its printing presses have been smashed not so many months ago. Also, some of our visiting journalists have had some serious difficulties, including from Channel 4, and we have had to take that up with the Sri Lankan Government during the visit. So that is of concern. Again, we say to our host here, yes, progress has been made on defeating terror, which is important for all countries, on demining, on infrastructure, on elections being held. But to secure this for the long-term, human rights, media freedoms, need to be respected; genuine measures of reconciliation need to be implemented. So, yes, we are concerned about press freedom,” Hague has noted.
- Tuesday, 19 November 2013
British Foreign Secretary “The Prime Minister was very concerned to see, when he visited a newspaper in the North, its printing presses have been smashed not so many months ago. Also, some of our visiting journalists have had some serious difficulties, including from Channel 4, and we have had to take that up with the Sri Lankan Government during the visit. So that is of concern. Again, we say to our host here, yes, progress has been made on defeating terror, which is important for all countries, on demining, on infrastructure, on elections being held. But to secure this for the long-term, human rights, media freedoms, need to be respected; genuine measures of reconciliation need to be implemented. So, yes, we are concerned about press freedom,” Hague has noted.
