http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100625_01
UN snoopers will not be given visa to enter SL - Govt
The three-member Panel of Experts, appointed to advice UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, on accountability issues relating to Sri Lanka's war on terrorism, will not be issued visas to visit Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris said yesterday (June 24).
Briefing the media at his Ministry, Prof. Peiris said that the three-members (Marzuki Darushan, Steven R. Ratner and Ms Yasmin Sooka) will not be welcome in this country as there is no need for such an Advisory Panel since the Sri Lanka government has already appointed a Reconciliation Commission.
Minister Peiris said that Sri Lanka has not requested for any resources from the UN. He said that a solution lies locally and the panel should not have been appointed in the first instance.
He said that he had informed UN Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, who was in Sri Lanka recently that the appointment of a panel will only complicate matters and repercussions will be unfortunate.
Professor Peiris said that he himself held discussions on this matter with the UN Secretary-General, and also Attorney-General Mohan Pieris in New York. The UN Secretary-General was informed that the Sri Lanka government will not accept the Advisory Panel and gave reasons for the decision. Pascoe too was told that the Sri Lanka government rejected the Advisory Panel completely.
On the problems regarding the GSP Plus issue, raised by the European Commission (EC), in a letter dated June 17, by Foreign Minister Catherine Asheton, laying down 15 conditions for the Sri Lanka government to fulfill to have the GSP Plus facility extended by six months, Professor Peiris said that the Cabinet decided on Wednesday (June 23) that the conditions were clearly inconsistent with Sri Lanka's sovereignty and that the government has no intention of replying to the EC letter as requested.
"The government's view is that the conditions imposed by the EC under the guise of what is essentially a trade agreement, amounts to an intervention, the range and depth of which inevitably erodes in every significant respect, the authority of the government to decide upon and to deal with a series of domestic issues," he said.
Prof. Peiris said that Sri Lanka appreciates the benefits received when the GSP Plus concession was in operation, but is not prepared to accept aid under conditions that will betray the freedom of Sri Lanka and its people. "The government is confident that the people will face and overcome equally successfully the challenges of ensuring economic progress and development," he said.
The 15 conditions laid down by the EC are:-
(1) 17th Amendment to be implemented immediately.
(2) The 2005 Emergency Regulations to be repealed.
(3) Prevention of Terrorism Act to be abolished.
(4) Repeal section 8 and 9 of Public Security Act
(5) Amend the Code of Criminal Procedure for a suspect to see a lawyer immediately following his arrest.
(6) Permit individuals to submit complaints to the UN Human Rights Committee and to the UN Committee against Torture.
(7) Steps to implement outstanding opinions of the UN Human Rights Committee in individual cases.
(8) Reduction of the number of derogations to the ICCPR.
(9) Extension of invitations for UN special procedures officials to visit Sri Lanka.
(10) Responses pending before the UN working group on enforced disappearances.
(11) Publication of the final report of the 2008 Commission of Inquiry.
(12) Making available the names of former LTTE combatants currently held in detention as well as all others held under the emergency regulations and to release them or bring them to trial.
(13) Granting access to all places of detention to independent humanitarian organisations, such as the ICRC.
(14) Adoption of the National Human Rights Action Plan by Parliament and immediate implementation.
(15) Ensure Journalists exercise professional duties without harassment.
Courtesy : The Island
No comments:
Post a Comment