 The Sri Lanka delegation in Geneva strongly refuted the assertion by Amnesty International that the LLRC was not mandated for accountability. |
Responding to Amnesty International on their recently released report critiquing the LLRC, the former Attorney General and Senior Advisor to the Cabinet of Ministers Mohan Pieris noted that any critique and "pre-judgement of the process before its completion is superfluous and unacceptable". He elaborated on the "broad mandate" accorded to the LLRC, structured on the concept of restorative justice. The former AG made these observations at a side event titled "Sri Lanka - Humanitarian Operation: A Factual Analysis", organized on the margins of the HRC in Geneva by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva on September 12. Briefing the attendees on the termination of emergency regulations promulgated under the Public Security Ordinance in 2005, Mohan Pieris noted that the said regulations were implemented in the past to deal with an extraordinary situation related to the need to protect the country and its people from terrorist forces. He further observed that the emergency regulations have presently been terminated in their entirety given the incremental process of normalisation in the country. He said that as early as May 2010, the Sri Lanka Government reduced the scope of the Emergency Regulations in keeping with improvements in the ground situation. Several developing countries endorsed the above position. They noted that Sri Lanka's domestic reconciliation process should be supported by the international community and no action including pre-judgement of the process, should be undertaken by any party or parties prior to completion of the LLRC's mandate. They also commended Sri Lanka for the humanitarian operation conducted to protect civilians from terrorism, and remarked upon the significant progress in resettlement and rehabilitation achieved in the aftermath of the conflict. Government Agent /Jaffna Ms. Imelda Sukumar in responding to queries on the situation in Jaffna elaborated on the resettlement of people including in the former High Security Zones, progress with regard to demining and restoration of livelihoods of the people including in the fisheries sector. She also referred to the rapid return to normalcy of the Jaffna district. Speaking at the occasion Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said: "Sri Lanka should be given the time and space required to complete the LLRC process, and the international community must take due cognizance of significant progress achieved by Sri Lanka in rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs, economic development of the North and the East, demining activities and in the reconciliation process". observed Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, who led the Sri Lanka delegation to The Sri Lanka delegation at the side event provided a succinct analysis of the post-conflict developments in the country, and briefed participants on progress in the legislative front such as the termination of emergency regulations and the adoption of the National Action Plan for Human Rights by the Cabinet of Ministers. The film "Lies Agreed Upon" refuting the allegations leveled against the Sri Lanka Government in the Channel 4 film entitled "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" and highlighting its inaccuracies and inconsistencies was also shown. The President of the Maldives H.E. Mohamed Nasheed speaking at the event urged the support of the international community for the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. He noted that all Sri Lankans were affected by the conflict, and strongly welcomed the efforts made by the Sri Lanka Government towards speedy resettlement and rehabilitation of communities and towards development of the conflict-effected areas following the onset of peace. Following the broadcast of the "Lies Agreed Upon" video, participants acknowledged that events can be presented in different ways and may not necessarily be true. A cross section of member countries of the Human Rights Council, INGOs and civil society organizations participated in the side event. They appreciated the opportunity provided for a very frank exchange of views on developments in Sri Lanka, and expressed the hope that further briefings may be provided via similar events organized on the sidelines of the forthcoming sessions of the HRC. The participants were given copies of information material on Sri Lanka including copies of the "Lies Agreed Upon" DVD, the publications entitled "Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 - May 2009" and "Sri Lanka: The Emerging Wonder of Asia" published by the Ministries of Defence and Economic Development respectively, as well as material produced by the Ministry of External Affairs, at the Forum. They were also directed to the relevant websites with regard to information available in the public domain on the LLRC process, and other legislative enactments. The other members of the Sri Lanka delegation comprised Minister of Irrigation & Water Resources Management, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Environment, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative /Ambassador to the UN Tamara Kunanayakam, Senior Advisor to the Cabinet of Ministers Mohan Pieris, Secretary/Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security for the Northern Province Mr. S.B. Divaratna, Government Agent/Jaffna Ms. Imelda Sukumar, and Addl. Government Analyst W.D.G.D. Gunatilleke. |
Responding to Amnesty International on their recently released report critiquing the LLRC
Sri Lanka dismisses reports of recalling Jagath Dias
Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry has dismissed a Swiss news Agency report that said the Deputy Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and Vatican, former Major General Jagath Dias has been recalled due to alleged war crimes charges.
The Ministry has said the diplomat will return to the country at the end of this month when his two-year term lapses.
The Ministry has explained that former military personnel are stationed at diplomatic posts strictly for a two-year term and they are required to return to the country unless the President renews the term.
The Swiss News agency reported that diplomatic sources had confirmed that Major General Dias had been recalled to Sri Lanka. However the diplomatic missions in Berlin and Geneva had not confirmed the report.
The Ministry has said the diplomat will return to the country at the end of this month when his two-year term lapses.
The Ministry has explained that former military personnel are stationed at diplomatic posts strictly for a two-year term and they are required to return to the country unless the President renews the term.
The Swiss News agency reported that diplomatic sources had confirmed that Major General Dias had been recalled to Sri Lanka. However the diplomatic missions in Berlin and Geneva had not confirmed the report.
Notre Dame Madhu Réconcilition au Sri Lanka
Tous les ans une neuvaine y est célébrée autour du 15 août.
Les chrétiens persécutés se cachaient dans une grande forêt, mais les bêtes sauvage surtout les éléphants et les serpents tuaient beaucoup de gens. Pour célébrer le 15 août, les gens se réunirent et construisent une sortes de cabane. Pendant tout ce temps les animaux n'attraquérent personne c'était un miracle. Alors les gens prirent de la terre et cette eau, encore miracle. Mais le plus grand miracle c'est que tous les chrétiens, les musulmans et les hindous prient ensemble à cet endroit et la messe est dite dans les trois.
Les chrétiens persécutés se cachaient dans une grande forêt, mais les bêtes sauvage surtout les éléphants et les serpents tuaient beaucoup de gens. Pour célébrer le 15 août, les gens se réunirent et construisent une sortes de cabane. Pendant tout ce temps les animaux n'attraquérent personne c'était un miracle. Alors les gens prirent de la terre et cette eau, encore miracle. Mais le plus grand miracle c'est que tous les chrétiens, les musulmans et les hindous prient ensemble à cet endroit et la messe est dite dans les trois.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe said Military forces fail to take action against the grease devil in North and East.
Leader made this announcement when addressing the parliament today.
Other parliamentarians point out that Opposition leader inform the parliament on the activities of the grease devils in the North and East on August 23rd, and this was the second time where leader speaks about the same issue.
By informing the parliament they hoped that the government would take necessary steps this regard but government fail to do so due to these problems of the grease devils rose day today and tense situation raised in the Jaffna district.
Several incidents took place on the August 30th at Kondavil area as also in the same day night another incident of grease devil occurs in the Thirunalvelli area in Jaffna district.
Due to these incident people in the Jaffna district are force to lead fearful life in their home town.
At present more than 50,000 Forces are been deployed in the Jaffna district and they are providing 24 hours security services to the shops in the Jaffna town.
20-30 areas are been identified as the high security zones.
In such situation Army is has enough facilities and the power to catch the grease devils acting in the province. But government is not interested to take action against the secrete man and the grease devils because government knows the purpose of these activities.
Ranil Wickramasinghe questioned the Prime Minister on the activities of the government against the grease devils and Secrete man I the Northern Province.
Mr.Wicramasinghe also said lands which come under the high security zones should be hand over to the respective land owners because its need to evacuate the high security zones in the Jaffna district due to the cancellation of the state of emergency from the country.
Opposition leader urge the government to appoint special committee which include the members of the Tamil political parties to solve this problem.
West’s criticism of Lankan human rights record concerned India
In what might prove to be a political embarrassment for Congress in Tamil Nadu, a Wikileaks cable has revealed that India viewed Western criticism of Sri Lanka’s human rights record with concern as it felt shunning the island nation would drive it towards China. An Indian official in the external affairs ministry told US diplomats that the West - by shunning a victorious Sri Lanka (after its defeat of the LTTE) over human rights issues - “pushed Sri Lanka into China’s arms”, and opened the region to the influence of both China and Iran.
In the January, 2010, interaction, joint secretary T S Tirumurthi said the elections in Sri Lanka should be welcomed and they would mark a new phase in resolving the Tamil question democratically. India was confident that if the vote is closely divided it would motivate the victor to consider the views of the other camp.
“The pattern of Chinese assistance to the needy northern areas of Sri Lanka would not uphold democratic ideals and human rights. Indian security, defence, and ethnicity-related interests are directly affected by Sri Lankan actions. In this regard, India welcomed U S engagement and saw the U S abstention on the IMF vote as a signal of a pragmatic approach,” the cable says of the Indian position.
While Indian did not perceive the Chinese role as ill-intentioned, nor wish to counter it, Tirumurthi highlighted that India last December extended a $425 million line of credit to Sri Lanka that had however got no attention.
A Sri Lankan first secretary in the embassy at New Delhi told US diplomats that “that some of the rail projects were funded in part by the Chinese, so it would be “very embarrassing” if the Indians did not complete their section.”
The cable also stated that Tirumurthi’s comment that India was not trying to counter Chinese influence in Sri Lanka should be taken with a grain of salt. “Our contact at the Sri Lankan High Commission hit the bull’s eye with his comment that India might be embarrassed if they could not match Chinese contributions to reconstruction.”
