19:09 CET
Using its right of reply as a member state of the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka rejected concerns raised by an array of NGOs during the Council's General Debate today on the past and on-going violations of human rights, as well as genocide.
Drawing particular attention to the NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan, who made two addresses to the Council today, the Sri Lankan representative to the Council said,
"I note that Ms. Sasitharan in referring in her statements to the council to quote unquote Tamil Eelam, has failed to adhere to agreed language of the United Nations, and is in violation of the constitution of she has pledged to uphold."In a written statement issued yesterday, Sri Lanka's Permanent Mission in Geneva accused Ms. Sasitharan of demonstrating "affinity with the cause of the LTTE".
The Sri Lankan government's repeated statements focusing on Ms. Sasitharan have led to concern amongst activists and NGOs in Geneva over her safety on her return to the island, amidst a spate of recent arrests of activists by the military.
Extracts of the Sri Lankan representative's address are transcribed below:
"Investigations have revealed that K.P. Selvanayagam, alias 'Gopi', who had been overseas and returned to Sri Lanka, was actively involved in reviving the LTTE through regrouping LTTE cadre and recruiting unemployed local youth. The intention of these operatives has been to recover arms caches hidden by the LTTE. The Terrorism Investigation Division had recovered an arms cache, including mortar, RPG type live..."
"Pursuant to this recovery and a lead obtained about the whereabouts of Gopi, a team of police officers proceeded to the residence of Balendran Jeyakumari in Kilinochchi. During the search operation, Gopi had fired at the police, injuring a sub-inspector and escaped."
"At this residence, the landlady, Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vipoosika were present. Since suspect Gopi while being armed escaped, a search was carried out on the said residence. A Menelab, 3 type mine detector was recovered. Therefore Ms. Jeyakumari was placed under arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting Gopi in his activities."
"As Balendran Jeyakumari had been unable to provide an appropriate care giver to keep her 13 year old daughter she was taken along with the mother and produced before the Kilinochchi magistrate. Based on the magistrate's order Vipoosika had been placed under the care of probation and child care services. The afore mentioned arrest was made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The ICRC has access to all detainees being held at Boosa."
"Therefore it is regrettable that an elected member of the Northern Provincial Council Ananthy Sasitharan has chosen to misrepresent this case in this ** body, and depict it as an arrest made of a child who had participated in the protest. It is also regrettable that Ms. Sasitharan, despite being a member of a provincial administration has chosen to make statements in the Council using time allocated to NGOs."
"I note that Ms. Sasitharan in referring in her statements to the council to quote unquote Tamil Eelam, has failed to adhere to agreed language of the United Nations, and is in violation of the constitution of she has pledged to uphold."
"The detention on 16th March of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were in connection of the afore said investigations into attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives. Investigations have revealed that Mr. Fernando and Father Praveen had been in Kilinochchi engaging with persons connected to Gopi. Their questioning is continuing at present to ascertain the whereabouts of Gopi and related operatives."
"The above actions taken by the law enforcement authorities of Sri Lanka are well within the existing legal framework and following due process. This development also underscores the need to be vigilant on the activities of the remnants of the terrorist group considering its bearing on national security."