http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201203/20120318sri%20_lanka_in_principled_persuasive_stand_at_unhcr.htmSunday, March 18, 2012 - 5.51
GMT
Sri Lanka in principled, persuasive
stand at UNHRC – Minister Samarasinghe
“Channel 4 rehash will be countered with incontrovertible
facts”

Sri Lanka is taking a principled stand in the UNHRC that the Draft Resolution
by the US on Sri Lanka is misplaced, unwarranted and unnecessary given what we
have already done to implement the recommendations of the LLRC.
Ours is a persuasive argument based on a principled position; the Channel 4
documentary and other related moves will only help those who despise seeing
stability, peace and harmony returning to Sri Lanka.
So that Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, the President’s Special Envoy on Human
Rights who heads the Sri Lankan delegation to the 19th sessions of the UNRC
currently on in Geneva.
In an wide ranging interview with the Sunday Observer today (March 18)
Minister Samarasinghe said the presence in Geneva and his support to the US led
resolution, “just shows that these persons were predisposed towards taking
anti-Sri Lanka positions and their current conduct shows that they are players
contributing to a larger agenda.”
On the new release of a Channel 4 video which is being currently flaunted by
governments, NGOs and anti-Sri Lanka Human Rights groups, he said: “We feel
there is nothing very different in the content of the video from the anti-Sri
Lanka propaganda and sentiments that have been continuously emanating from
quarters who do not have Sri Lanka’s best interests at heart. Channel 4 is just
one outlet that has been used by these elements to spread misinformation. What
is important is the timing of the release of the video.”
The fact that it has been released to coincide with the current Sessions of
the UNHRC demonstrates it is part of a larger, orchestrated effort to garner
support for a resolution on Sri Lanka at present before the Council We will
respond to it in the very near future in a clear and comprehensive manner. We
are confident this will offset any impact that the promoters of this video hoped
that it would have. Don’t forget that most of the speculations in the video are
mere repeats of allegations made in previous Channel 4 videos and these
allegations are being gone into by military Courts of Inquiry. We believe that
the truth will eventually be established once those investigations and inquiries
are concluded, the Minister added.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: We heard Mr. Darusman is in Geneva canvassing support for US backed
resolution, how ethical is this? And isn’t it against UN norms? (Note- the three
members of the panel issued an op-ed article criticizing SL’s record recently to
Western media while the sessions were on).
A: It just shows that these persons were predisposed towards taking
anti-Sri Lanka positions and their current conduct shows that they are players
contributing to a larger agenda. There is nothing surprising about this.
The Secretary-General is able to advise himself on any issue that is within
his purview. The conduct of these Advisory Panelists indicates that they were
not and are not objective, independent nor are they impartial. This
buttresses Sri Lanka’s position and conclusions about their Report. This is why
it is important to place reliance on a credible, transparent and objective
assessment carried out by a domestic process. We Sri Lankans – more than anyone
else - have a greater interest in achieving genuine reconciliation and this is
why we need time and space to realize our goals.
Q: What sort of support do you anticipate if the vote is taken and how
do you think the member states will react? We have outlined the astounding
progress we have made in consolidating peace, renewing lives and livelihoods,
restoring social and physical infrastructure, restoring institutions and
administrative agencies, improving service provision and delivery – just about
everything that we could do to restore normality to conflict affected areas.
Misdirected initiatives such as this resolution could only impede the rapidity
of this process.
We are doing our best – in fact, better than our best – for all the people of
Sri Lanka and we expect that all right thinking people will acknowledge this.
For full the interview go to: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/03/18/pol03.asp