Various forces exerting strong pressure:

UNHRC highly politicised, the general perception

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the general perception is that the UNHRC is today a highly politicised body due to various forces exerting strong pressure.

The forces in the UNHRC are politically divided, but if they wish to punish an emerging Third World country, they get together.

Therefore, we don't see the UNHRC as an independent organisation which takes into consideration the true facts and circumstances in arriving at decisions, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Powerful countries have openly violated the UN Charter, human rights and the territorial integrity of other nations, but got away without being hauled before the UNHRC. This shows that the UNHRC discriminates only against Third World developing countries, he said.

The Minister said when there is a vote at the UNHRC, the whole European Community votes as a blok despite the difference of opinion in those countries. But they have no say. The UNHRC is structured in this manner and it shows how they vote. Hence, we can't accept the UNHRC verdict because it is mostly based on political affiliations.

If one were to look at the grave human rights violations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other developed countries it would be seen that they are ignored and the UNHRC doesn't dare to bring any resolutions against such countries.

This is because they are influenced by these powerful countries, the Minister said.