'Indo-SL Ties Cordial Despite UNHRC Resolution Stand'

 MAR 21, 2012Sri Lanka's ties with India remains cordial as they have been at all times, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said here today, as he pointed to "domestic political compulsions" for New Delhi's change of stance on a US-sponsored resolution on alleged rights abuses.

Rajapaksa, the powerful younger brother of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was responding to India's change of stance regarding the resolution sponsored by the US to censure Colombo for alleged human rights violations at the ongoing UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva.

Rajapaksa, who steered the government's victorious military campaign against the LTTE, said Sri Lanka had noted the change of Indian stance from opposing country specific resolutions to a stance of supporting the US move.

"We have to understand the domestic political compulsions for the Indian government," he said referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in Lok Sabha that India was "inclined" to support the resolution.

The Congress-led UPA government is under huge pressure from its ally, the DMK, which has warned that it could withdraw its ministers from the cabinet if India either abstained or supported Sri Lanka during the vote on the US-sponsored resolution.

The resolution, which could be considered as early as Wednesday afternoon, has been dismissed by Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa said a visit to Tamil Nadu by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton last year was a precursor to the American resolution against Sri Lanka.

He denied the accusations that government troops had deliberately targeted Tamil civilians in the no fire zones (NFZ) during the final stages of the ethnic conflict with the LTTE.

Western countries and international human rights groups have accused the Sri Lankan military of large-scale human rights violations during the war against the LTTE which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.

International rights groups have alleged that up to 40,000 civilians died in the final months of Sri Lanka's military campaign to crush the Tamil Tigers, who waged a bloody decades-long campaign for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.

"We did not create our own NFZs. We declared areas where civilians concentrated as NFZs. Because we knew that the LTTE would not allow civilians whom they used as human shields to arrive into areas defined by us as NFZs," Rajapaksa said.

He said the government had provided humanitarian assistance based on the information provided by the World Food Programme and other NGOs.

Hence, adequate supplies of food and medicine were readily despatched to areas then under LTTE control. On the danger of LTTE regrouping in the future, Rajapaksa said he was aware of the possibility.

He claimed around 4,000 LTTE cadres or those with links to the organization were still at large.

He warned that the pro-LTTE diaspora in the West would seek to establish links with them in order to re-group.

"Although the war has ended the threat from the LTTE has not completely died," the defence secretary stressed.

Rajapaksa's comments came on the eve of the UNHRC resolution tomorrow in Geneva.

It aims to bind Sri Lanka to commit to expeditious implementation of its own reconciliation commission recommendations, including urging Colombo to probe alleged rights violations during its ethnic war.

According to UN estimates, some 100,000 people were killed during the ethnic conflict.

UN rights council to debate Sri Lanka conflict

 GENEVA — Sri Lanka comes under the spotlight this week when the UN Human Rights Council considers a US resolution urging Colombo to probe alleged violations during its war with Tamil separatists.

Rights groups say up to 40,000 civilians died in the final months of Colombo's military campaign to crush the Tamil Tigers, who waged a bloody decades-long campaign for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.

The US resolution, which could be considered as early as Wednesday afternoon, has been dismissed by Sri Lanka, while activists have accused Colombo-backed elements of "intimidation" against them in Geneva.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a non-government organisation activist told AFP that while attending the council's meetings, they were photographed by people who appeared to be with the Sri Lanka delegation.

"It was done in a very obvious manner and we felt uncomfortable," said the activist, adding that the team "contemplated leaving the session".

The group brought a complaint to the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council, and later decided to stay as a probe was launched into the matter.

A UN rights spokesman confirmed the complaints and investigation.

"There was a complaint by a number of NGOs that their photographs had been taken," said the spokesman, Rolando Gomez. "We have investigated these incidents, but I can't give more details."

The Sri Lanka mission was not immediately available for comment.

Its chief government whip in parliament, Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, had earlier called the US resolution "ill-timed, ill-conceived and borne out of ignorance".

The US resolution urges Sri Lanka to ensure "justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation" and says Colombo's own probe, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, did not adequately address concerns.

International rights activists said the US resolution was tabled because Sri Lanka has "done too little" to deal with claims of violations during the final months of its conflict with the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

"If adopted, the resolution sends a strong signal to Sri Lanka that it needs to move from cosmetic actions to real steps to hold those responsible for abuses on both sides to account," said Human Rights Watch Geneva director Julie De Rivero.

"By calling for Sri Lanka to urgently present a plan of concrete steps to address accountability, and asking the High Commissioner to assist and report on this process, the HRC will finally provide the many victims of Sri Lanka's long civil war hope of obtaining justice," she added.

The UN estimates some 100,000 people died during Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict between 1972 and 2009.

India, a traditional Sri Lanka ally, signaled Monday that it was "inclined" to back the US resolution.

Lanka faces uphill task amidst last minute diplomatic drama

sundaytimes  WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 2012 

By Ameen Izzadeen in Geneva
With less than 24 hours to go for the crucial vote on the United States-backed resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka faces an Alpine task amidst reports that the goal now appears to be not a victory but how small should the margin of defeat be.

Many Asian, African and Latin American diplomats at the corridors of the Palais de Nations in Geneva hinted politely that although they were in spirit with Sri Lanka, pressure on their governments from the United States, the sole superpower, was so heavy that they were unable to make a final decision.
A few days ago, a victory for Sri Lanka was a 5-50 chance. But with less than a day to go for the vote, the diplomatic gains over the past few weeks appear to be fast eroding.
The body language of the Sri Lankan delegation fluctuates between never-say-die and optimism.

Sri Lanka is assured of the votes of Pakistan, the Maldives, Russia, China, Bangladesh and Cuba. But the pendulum has swung away from Sri Lanka after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday announced that New Delhi was inclined to vote for the resolution in a statement. However, the ambiguous statement still offers a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka.READ MORE...

Eight are held over killing of charity worker Khuram Shaikh in Sri Lanka

Chris Jones  March 21, 2012
Khuram Shaikh, who was killed in Sri Lanka A prominent politician is one of eight people being held by police in Sri Lanka after a Rochdale charity worker was killed there on Christmas day. Sampath Chandra Vidanapathirana, chairman of Tangalle village council, has been held in police custody since 32-year-old Khuram Shaikh was murdered in the coastal resort. Mr Shaikh, from Milnrow, was killed in the popular tourist destination of Tangalle in Sri Lanka as he tried to act as a peacemaker during a dispute outside a hotel. He was there on holiday after taking time off from his job as a prosthetic limb expert with the Red Cross in the Middle East. Post-mortem examination reports revealed he died after he was shot and attacked with a sharp weapon. Police in Sri Lanka are still investigating the incident but his brother Nasir said they have told him charges are likely to be brought against the suspects within the next few weeks. He is now pressing for Sri Lankan authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. He said he was concerned that authorities could brush-aside the case because of the suspect's political status in Sri Lanka. He said: "As a family, we are still in deep shock over such atrocity committed by a group of individuals using their power and status in such a callous way with no remorse to human life. "Khuram was a bright loving person with an infectious smile, working in prosthetics for the International Red Cross, he will be sadly missed by many work colleagues, family and friends. "We hope the Sri Lankan judicial system provides justice and harsh convictions are administered, although I have little faith due to the sensitivity of the case in a political remit and their national interest in tourism." To try and ensure he gets justice for his brother, Nasir met with Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt earlier this month asking the government to put pressure on his Sri Lankan counterpart to ensure the suspects receive a proper trial. Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who also attended the meeting with the minister, said he was confident the government was pushing the case with Sri Lanka. He said: "The death of Khuram was a terrible tragedy and we’re doing everything we can to help bring those who murdered him to justice. His brother Nasser has done an excellent job in working with the relevant authorities, both in the UK and Sri Lanka, to pursue justice." A Facebook group, 'Justice for Khuram Shaikh', has also been set up.
Read more at: http://menmedia.co.uk/rochdaleobserver/news/s/1488923_eight-are-held-over-killing-of-charity-worker-khuram-shaikh-in-sri-lanka?rss=yes 

Can India afford to take sides on Sri Lanka resolution?

Pursuing ‘genuine’ reconciliation: India to Lanka

 Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 
New Delhi: Ahead of the discussion on US- sponsored resolution in the UN against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes, New Delhi has emphasised to Colombo the importance of a "genuine" reconciliation process to address grievances of the Tamil community through various constructive measures. 

"The issue of human rights allegations against Sri Lanka is yet to come up for formal discussion at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. 

Government has however, emphasised to the Sri Lankan government the importance..., to heal the wounds of the conflict and to foster a process of lasting peace and reconciliation...," Minister of State for External Affairs Praneet Kaur said. 

Replying to a written question in Lok Sabha, she said government has also called upon Sri Lanka to ensure that an independent and credible mechanism is put in place to investigate in a time-bound manner allegations of human rights violations brought out by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) set up by their government. 

India has already expressed its inclination to vote in favour of the resolution. 

PTI 

Diaspora Tamil groups smelling long awaited victory in Geneva

By Paul Newman   Geneva21 Mar 2012

Posted 21 Mar 2012 Vol 3 Issue 11 Geneva is known for its sheer beauty and considered an expensive city to live in. The city is currently hosting a car show and the 19th UN Human Rights Council. Here, the Jumbo Sri Lankan contingent is trying its best to defeat the US sponsored resolution, which might be the first blow to Sri Lanka, if it is passed at the UNHRC. Sri Lanka has deputed people, many of whom seem to speak excellent English – with little substance though. They have sent Tamil bureaucrats to make the world believe that Tamils are happy in Sri Lanka. The UNHRC is likely to deliver the first blow to the Sri Lankan racist regime that has so far got away with gross human rights violations and a Tamil genocide On the other hand at the council there are Human Rights NGOs who are coming out with facts and figures which cannot be refuted. Sinhalese human rights activists like Sunila Abeyasekara and Nimalka Fernando who are here have been specifically targeted by the Sri Lankan delegation with a vicious campaign against them. Read More

Only seven out of 47 attend GL’s banquet

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Only seven members out of the 47 members in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have attended a dinner organized by External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in Geneva, sources from the Sri Lankan embassy in Geneva said. Invitations had been sent out to all 47 members of the Council.

The dinner was organized by Peiris on Monday night.

Sri Lankans Split Over U.N. Resolution

     

March 21, 2012 

Gemuno Amarasinghe/Associated Press

Supporters of the Sri Lankan government outside the British embassy in Colombo, during a demonstration denouncing a proposed U.N. resolution,  Tuesday.

The U.S.’s push for an independent probe into human rights abuses by government forces during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war has led to almost daily street protests in Colombo against Washington’s policy toward the country.

Backers of President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka say the protests are spontaneous and show anger at the U.S. for meddling in their country’s affairs.

Even those who oppose Mr. Rajapaksa acknowledge a wide swath of Sri Lankan society opposes U.S. policy toward the government, which in 2009 defeated the Tamil Tigers in a bloody end to the three-decade conflict. But they also claim Mr. Rajapaksa is manufacturing the protests, paying demonstrators and urging state employees onto the streets.

Full Story>>>

GL asks for Chinese support against the US

Wednesday, 21 March 2012 

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has asked the Chinese External Affairs Minister to help get the support of the African nations to defeat a US backed resolution calling on the government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to be taken up at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva.

A senior official from the External Affairs Ministry said that Peiris had made such a request.

The officials said the reason for the US to bring the resolution on Sri Lanka and India’s decision to support the move is due to Sri Lanka’s close ties with China. He noted that the reason for the US to intervene in the Maldives issues was because a Maldivian island had been given to the Chinese.

The officials explained that while successive government has practiced the non-aligned policy at various levels, but the country has become a victim of the battle between super powers since the Rajapaksa administration has built very close links with the Chinese.

He added that the decision to appoint the Secretary of the Communist Party, Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera as the Acting External Affairs Minister could pose a problem to the countries that are opposed to Communism.

However, soon after Indian Premier Manmohan Singh announced in parliament that the Indian government was going to support the resolution, Minister Peiris has told several officials who were around him that it was Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who had pushed India to make such a decision.

Peiris has explained that Samarasinghe’s statement to the media in Geneva a few weeks back that the Indians would support Sri Lanka had irked the South Indian politicians who had exerted immense pressure on the Central government to vote in support of the resolution.

US resolution likely to be deferred – Ranil

 

March 20, 2012, 9:29 pm 

by Zacki Jabbar

 The government was negotiating with the US on the resolution at the UNHRC calling for accountability and reconciliation issues in Sri Lanka and it might not be put to vote this week, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the UNP parliamentary group meeting in Colombo, according to party sources.

Wickremesinghe said that the resolution was to be deferred on the strict condition that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime undertook to speedily implement the LLRCs recommendations which inter alia call for the re-establishment of the independent police, election, public and judicial service commissions required to enforce the rule of law and safeguard human rights.

The government by rejecting all overtures by the UN, had placed the country and its people in the present predicament, Wickremesinghe said, adding that it was good to hear of a change in attitude even at this late stage.

Lakshman Kiriella MP said that the preamble to the US Resolution did not refer just to the last stages of the war and the killing of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakarn’s teenage son but to abductions and killings committed nearly three years after the LTTE was defeated.

The US Resolution was based on the Rajapaksa regimes assurance to the last UNHRC session that the LLRC recommendations would be implemented and the rule of law implemented, Kiriella said. It should not make the Opposition a scapegoat for its arrogance and stupidity, he told the UNPgroup.

A security head in the President’s detail caught while trying to smuggle gems

 

The security head who traveled with the President recently on a state visit to Pakistan had been caught by Pakistani Customs officials when he had tried to illegally smuggle several gem stones to the country.

The official from the Sri Lankan High Commission had immediately intervened and prevented the authorities from arresting the security head.

Although the External Affairs Ministry has informed the President about the incident action has not been taken with regard to the security officer.

The security head has continuously been accused of enlisting the services beautiful young girls to the Presidential Security Division (PSD) and providing them to satisfy various needs of some high ranking government officials.

First lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa it is learnt also dislikes this security head due to this reason.

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: The Time for Accountability Has Come

 20/03/2012

Sri Lanka's civil war was one of the most bloody internal conflicts in history. Fought between the Sri Lankan state and the separatist militia known as the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" (LTTE), the internecine struggle is estimated have led to 100,000 deaths since its outbreak in 1983.

In early 2009, as the war neared its conclusion, hell on earth was very likely unleashed on civilians assembled in the confines of a so-called "no fire zone" on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka in a region known as the Vanni, according to human rights groups and a report produced by a United Nationspanel last year.

It is estimated that up to 40,000 civilians, predominantly from Sri Lanka's ethnic minority Tamil community were killed by "widespread shelling and the denial of humanitarian assistance", among other alleged acts of criminal, egregious cruelty committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces. The LTTE, whose leadership were mostly killed or captured by the Sri Lankan army at the end of the war, are also believed to have engaged in atrocities that would amount to serious war crimes.Read Post 

‘Back Sri Lanka and lose our votes’

 

Protesters warn the Najib administration that if it voted against the UN resolution to probe the war crimes in Sri Lanka, they will vote against BN.

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 50 people staged a protest outside the Sogo shopping complex here and warned the Najib administration that they will not vote for Barisan Nasional if it did not vote in favour of the United Nations probing the war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The protesters were from the Malaysian Tamil Progressive Team (Matsap) and several other NGOs.

“Vote for Sri Lanka and you will lose our vote. Our sentiments should be respected,” said Matsap chairman A Kalaimugilan during the protest.

He also justified the call for supporting the UN resolution that would be tabled on Friday on the ground that majority of the 1.8 million Indians here are ethnic Tamilians.

Another group led by Malaysian Indian Transformation Action Team (MITRA) handed over a memorandum to the High Commission of India, urging New Delhi to also support the UN resolution.

UN must investigate
Meanwhile, a group of non-governmental organisations today submitted a joint memorandum to the United Nations office here, urging the world body to investigate the war crimes of the Sri Lanka government during its offensive against the country’s Tamils.

The group led by Suaram president K Arumugam and Teluk Intan member of parliament M Manogaran handed over the memorandum to the UN representative Devendra Patel.

Also present were Charles Santiago, the Klang MP,  Micheal  Jeyakumar(Sungai Siput), M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), A Sivanesan (Sungkai, Perak state assemblyman), M Ravi (Port Dickson Negeri Sembilan state assemblyman), town councillors and leaders from Pakatan Rakyat.

Speaking to reporters, Arumugam said the UN Panel of Experts (PoE) report on the issue stated that war crimes were indeed committed by the Sri Lankan military killing tens of thousands of Tamils during its offensive against the LTTE, which has now been disbanded.

“UN as an international body has an obligation to investigate the findings of the reports,” he said.

Kalaimugilan added that currently Asian countries, including Malaysia, were having sentiments to vote against the resolution simply because Sri Lanka was an Asian nation.

He warned the government of another Indian uprising akin to the Hindraf rally in 2007 if the sentiments of the Malaysian Tamils were not taken into consideration.

“Don’t make us rise again like we did in 2007,” he said.

Kalaimugilan also chastised the Najib administration for supporting a resolution in favour of Sri Lanka in 2009 shortly after Sri Lanka won the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“If (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) was concerned about the Tamils, why would he support (Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda) Rajapakse then?” he asked.

In a related development, MIC, MCA, Gerakan and PPP sent a joint memorandum to the Foreign Ministry calling for the Malaysian delegation to vote for the UN resolution.

A question Sri Lanka’s leaders keep dodging: Where are the disappeared?

*groundview journalism For citizens 

Photo courtesy Avaaz

I’d been in Sri Lanka just three weeks when I first heard of someone disappearing. It was May 2009 and I got an anonymous email telling me that Stephen Sunthararaj, a human rights worker from northern Sri Lanka, had been abducted at gunpoint and taken away in a white van in the heart of Colombo. He had previously been detained by the police – on suspicion of what, it is not clear – then released for lack of incriminating evidence just before his abduction. I tried to contact one or two ministers, I think, but didn’t get through and my work once more turned to the war then still raging in the north. I bitterly regretted not following up the case. Months later I met a Westerner who had known Stephen Sunthararaj. At the mention of him at dinner, he wept.Continue reading »

Four Iranian ships registered under the Sri Lankan flag

 Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Four Iranian commercial ships have been registered under Sri Lanka following a request made by the Iranian government. These ships have been registered under the Sri Lankan flag in order to transport Iranian goods to other countries following the sanctions that are to come into effect.

It is the minister in charge of the ports portfolio, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has directed the commercial ships bureau, which is under the purview of the Highways and Port Ministry that registers ships under the Sri Lankan flag.

Meanwhile, sources from the Ports Ministry said that the Presidential Secretariat has made arrangements to register six more Iranian ships under the Sri Lankan flag in the ext few days.

Professionals call govt to respect accountability

 20 March, 2012

A plea for freedom

A group of professionals said in Colombo that the call for an independent monitoring of the human rights record of Sri Lanka is not only welcome but also justified.

“In this modern age the President of Sri Lanka can’t rule the country as if a kingdom “ said prominent writer Gamini Viyangoda.

He said that governments need to be accountable to the international community if they want to be part of it “If the Rajapaksa government doesn’t want to have its matters discussed at the UN it should first resign from the UN,” said Viyangoda

A number of Journalist organizations criticised the state media for naming those who favour investigations into human right abuses as traitors.

“The state media is carrying out a campaign of hate against human right activists,” said Sunil Jayasekara, Convener of the Free Media Movement.

The Journalist organizations also pointed out that many attacks on journalist have been suppressed without proper investigations.

The government has a responsibility of safeguarding the lives of rights activists who have been the target of the hate speech by state media said the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Assosiation, Lasantha Ruhunage.

Resolution of the Sri Lanka conflict

At the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva a US-led resolution is being debated, which seeks to help resolve the outstanding issues of accountability and reconciliation resulting from the end of Sri Lanka's long and bloody civil conflict in 2009. This resolution is not only vital to the prospects of peace and stability but is also a litmus test of the international community's resolve to protect international law and reaffirm respect for human rights.

The conflict in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009 following a major offensive by government forces against the Liberation Tigers. A panel of experts report on Sri Lanka, mandated by the UN secretary general, says tens of thousands of civilians died in the final months of the war and the panel found credible allegations to indicate that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed by both sides.

Establishment of military, rather than independent, courts of inquiry to investigate some army and navy actions suggests true accountability will not be forthcoming from within Sri Lanka. In November 2011 the UN Committee Against Torture published a damning report on Sri Lanka, revealing the extent of allegations of human rights violations and torture by state actors. The militarisation of the Tamil majority areas in the north of the island, and the curtailment of their economic, political and social rights, continues to increase tensions between already polarised communities and undermines prospects for peace.

The US resolution calls for implementation of the constructive recommendations on reconciliation made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission; asks the government to present a plan to implement the recommendations and investigate the alleged violations at the end of the conflict; and offers international support and technical assistance to Sri Lanka to help address these issues. This resolution, if implemented, would be an important first step in ensuring long-lasting peace. We, and all council members, must support it.
Douglas Alexander MP, David Miliband MP, Jack Straw MP, Margaret Beckett MP

Posted by Thavam