“UN Investigation Is Not ‘Against’ Sri Lanka, It’s 

Against Perpetrators” TNA Tells Parliament

June 17, 2014 

“The forthcoming investigation by the United Nations is not ‘against’ Sri Lanka. It is against perpetrators of gross violations of humanitarian and human rights law. It is against the culture of impunity that has victimised the whole country. It is against the disappearances of youth in the North as much as it is against past disappearances of youth in the South; it is against the crimes of Weliveriya, Mullivaikkal, and most recentlyDharga Town. It is against the crimes of the LTTE and it is against the crimes of the regime. For these reasons, the TNA unequivocally welcomes this investigation into both sides. Just as we look forward to the investigation as an opportunity for the Tamil people to introspect on the crimes committed in our own name, we call on the government to use the investigation as an opportunity to dramatically break with the past and usher in a new era of justice, reconciliation and harmony amongst all Sri Lanka’s peoples.” says the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, R. Sampanthan.

Rajavayothi Sampanthan – The Leader TNA

Speaking on the Parliamentary Motion on Non-Cooperation with OHCHR Investigation in Parliament today ( 17th June 2014) R. Sampanthan MP said; ”The Motion before us is illustrative of the frivolity that has characterised the government’s attitude to reconciliation and accountability. The Motion refers to a resolution by the ‘Human Rights Commission’, although the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights was replaced by the Human Rights Council more than eight years ago. Further, the Motion refers to the Council resolution as one that is ‘against Sri Lanka’. The resolution affirmed the Council’s ‘commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka’. How then can the government claim that this resolution is “against” the country? On that point, I wish to raise the question as to whether, by the government’s own logic, His Excellency the President was acting ‘against the country’ when he issued a Joint Statement with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 26 May 2009 where it is stated that: ‘The Secretary-General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law’ and where the President made an undertaking that: ‘the Government will take measures to address those grievances.’”

“The internationalisation of the question of accountability and justice in respect of violations committed by both sides during the war was entirely on account of a considered decision made by the government and the President in May 2009. That decision was a correct one, and the governance of the country would have been significantly smoother if the government had only made good on its own assurances to the Secretary General. But that was not to be. The government reneged on its promise to the Secretary General, which led to him appointing a Panel of Experts to advice him on implementing his agreement with the Sri Lankan government.” he said.

Read the speech here