Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has welcomed the release of an internal UN report on the organisations action in Sri Lanka during the final phase of the armed conflict, noting that Sri Lanka has continued to fail its victims. The statement , released on Thursday, said, “This report details a litany of human rights violations endured by the Sri Lankan people. “Sadly, the Sri Lankan government continues to fail victims and survivors alike. The measures it has taken to date simply do not go far enough, as this report clearly lays out. “The Prime Minister and I take every opportunity...
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Palitha Kohona has rejected claims that UN staff were intimidated and refused visas in Sri Lanka, during the final phase of the conflict, in an interview to the BBC earlier this week. Speaking on the eve of a UN internal report being released, Kohona dismissed all notion that UN staff were intimidated, stating, “ That’s absolute nonsense .... To say that Sri Lanka was intimidating the United Nations, a very small country, and the United Nations being what it is, I think that’s absolute rubbish .” When questioned on the subject of UN officials being refused visas, K ohona responded, " I think that you are talking nonsense again . Sri Lanka was... There were hundreds of UN staff in Sri Lanka at the time. They were given visas to come into the country I don’t think any UN staff member who applied for a visa at the time was refused admission . " "Q: Do you know that for a fact? " "As I said, I do not THINK that they were refused admission. " "Q: Do you believe the decisions taken at the time of the Sri Lankan conflict by the Sri Lankan Government were the right ones? Today, do you believe that is the case?" "Absolutely... The decisions made at the time were the best decisions for all the people in the country." In fact, Kohona himself commented on the expulsion of Chief of Communications for UNICEF in Sri Lanka James Elder from the country in September 2009, after his visa was refused. See our pos t and Kohon a 's comments here .
The Tamil National Alliance said it demands an international investigation into the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government, after the UN accepted it failed to protect Tamils. Spokesperson MA Sumanthiran told AFP on Thursday that the TNA wanted immediate action. "Now that the UN has come with this report we want action." "There should be an international inquiry. The government as the main accused party cannot be involved in the investigation." "We would like to see reparations, restitution and justice for the people who suffered," he added. "No one can say that these allegations should...
Tamils in South Africa have condemned the appointment of Sri Lanka's Major General's Shavendra Silva's appointment as the Deputy Ambassador to South Africa. In a joint statement released on 9th Novemeber, the South African Tamil Federation (SATF), Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice (SGJP), and other groups, highlighted Silva's leadership of the 58th Division of the Sri Lankan Army and said his appointment was “ an insult and an assault on our democratic foundation and principles … It is further a serious indictment on all peace loving South Africans if this appointment is not rescinded...
What's Sri Lanka’s response to the forthcoming UN internal review , which is to state that under intense pressure from Sri Lankan authorities, the UN concealed its knowledge that “a large majority” of civilian deaths in the closing months of war in 2009 were caused by government shelling? Denial, of course. See AFP’s report here . This is what Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who is also Sri Lanka’s envoy to the UN Human Rights Council, told reporters Wednesday: “ Maybe this (leaked) report is a fabrication. ” He added that Colombo had a good rapport with humanitarian agencies, including UN...
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has slammed the state of Australian offshore asylum camps. Refugees arriving in Australia are now processed in camps in Nauru, where several detainees have conducted hunger strikes in protest at the conditions. Speaking to ABC Radio, Navi Pillay said the hunger strikes were an "indication of the unbearable conditions under which they're being held". She said she was “alarmed” about the strikes, adding that "it would be a blight on Australia's good human rights record if it doesn't respect the rights of asylum seekers". "I fear that this...
The UN's Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, condemned the increasing reports of intimidation and attacks on judges and judicial officers in Sri Lanka. In a news release, Knaul said : “I urge the Sri Lanka Government to take immediate and adequate measures to ensure the physical and mental integrity of members of the judiciary and to allow them to perform their professional duties without any restrictions, improper influences, pressures, threats or interferences, in line with the country’s international human rights obligations,” “ The irremovability of judges is one of the main pillars guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and only in exceptional circumstances may this principle be transgressed ,”
Commenting on the Internal Review Panel on the UN's conduct in Sri Lanka in 2009, Human Rights Watch's UN director, Philippe Bolopion, said on Wednesday: “The UN internal review identifies the tragic mistakes that led the UN to fail in its most basic obligations to civilians in Sri Lanka,” “ The UN’s attempt to appease the Sri Lankan government while it was committing mass atrocities against its own population proved to be a deadly mistake ,” “The UN system can’t rewrite history and respond as it should have, but it at least owes Sri Lankan victims meaningful efforts to achieve justice.” “...
J. Stafford is a member of TAG's advocacy team (Tamils Against Genocide) Nov 1-14. The UPR on: the Significance of Context, of Terror and lest we forget, the Tamil Question On Thursday 1 November, Sri Lanka stood to account before the Human Rights Council. Procedures, protocols reassuringly followed, the Sri Lankan delegation exuding calm professionalism, consummate politicians with seemingly measured, reasonable responses. They interjected occasionally, as is fitting, seen to be engaging with the recommendations. The lines they were following carefully articulated in their national report. And then, of course, on the 5th November, 100 of the recommendations were rejected - a record. But all this was anticipated. The chair at the side event on the 31 October, Nimalka Fernando - President of International Movement Against all Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) made the point that the contents of the National Report were directly contrary to the knowledge and experiences of the side event panel . The Sri Lankan state approach was predictable. As Alan Keenan from ICG observed, that the Government chose to impeach the chief justice on the very day of the UPR speaks volumes to the state’s arrogance and level of contempt for international institutions. (See video of UPR here ) But it is a contempt masterly deployed, and, most disappointingly, one that garners support from diverse quarters. Sri Lanka attends the UPR and in so doing, in submitting to the procedures, the reports, the recommendations, the whole show, is able to firmly reinforce its message and self-representation. As a state it enjoys legitimacy at the UN. It is one among other states, part of a club.
Two men, both aged 33, were held in custody on Monday night in connection with the murder of French TCC leader Nadarajah Mathinthiran. The two suspects, both described as of ‘Sri Lankan’ nationality, were arrested on Sunday morning in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and La Chapelle. A source close to the case is reported to have said that searches of the suspects’ homes did not provide evidence for their involvement in the killing. Both suspects deny their involvement in the murder of Mathinthiran alias Parithi who was shot in the back with three 9mm bullets as he left TCC’s Paris office. According...