UNHRC Draft Resolution: Tight Grip With A Soft Approach And Why The UNP Is Absolutely Correct In Its Statement
Dr. Laksiri Fernando
The West has employed overtly a soft approach towards Sri Lanka, or rather the Rajapaksa regime, nevertheless tightening its grip firmly around its neck where the barren diplomatic efforts to shake off that grip will take the country towards an abysmal future both nationally and internationally. It is not merely or mainly the sterile nature of the diplomatic efforts that is reprehensible, but its duplicity and dishonesty. Accountability is not only a requirement of international law or relations, but also a national imperative of any democratic system of government.
In Sri Lanka, accountability is required for reconciliation with the Tamil community. It is required to prevent a possible re-emergence of an outfit like the LTTE, by punishing the perpetrators on both dies. It is required to halt impunity, create disciplined security forces and to break the cycles of violence that has been gripping the country for many decades. It is also an imperative of the rule of law.
The above does not mean that some ‘perpetrators’ cannot be pardoned if they genuinely confess and repent. But that has to be done in a systematic manner and the government also should be responsible for the chain of command during the last stages of the war where the lives of thousands of civilians were involved. Even according to the most conservative estimates, the magnitude of the death toll of civilians requires a full and impartial investigation. This is where the international participation and/or monitoring are necessary. The regime is no longer reliable.
