International call for accountability in Sri Lanka 'is not going to go away' - Canada

Photograph Tamil Guardian

26 March 2014
The international community's call for accountability and justice in Sri Lanka is "not going to go away" warned Canada's Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai, at a press conference inside the UN Human Rights Council, hours before the Council is set to vote on a third resolution on Sri Lanka. 

Asked by the Tamil Guardian on how Canada would respond if the Sri Lankan government failed to cooperate with an investigation by the Office of the UN High Commissioner, Mr. Obhrai said, 

"It is very important that they address these issues, it is not going to go away, as much as they try, it is not going to go away."

"Therefore it is best that Sri Lanka addresses this issue, and Canada has already stated it is willing to help Sri Lanka to address the issue."

Reiterating Canada's support for the resolution being tabled at the Council, Mr. Obhrai told journalists that the main objectives were to ensure a credible investigation into human rights violations during the war and on-going human rights violations. 

"We want to make sure this issue is absolutely dealt with, and not thrown under the carpet, and this can only be done through the Human Rights Council adopting this resolution."

Asked how the Canadian government would respond if the Sri Lankan government rejected this resolution, as they had rejected the two previous ones, Mr. Obhrai warned, 

"The international community is very much concerned, which is why we are telling the government of Sri Lanka to address this issue. It is not going to go away."

"It has rejected it in the past, and it hasn't gone away."

Asked if he thought the Sri Lankan government would grant access to international experts and Special Rapporteurs, Mr. Obhrai said, 

"It is our desire. We hope they will."