It is a matter of 'great satisfaction'-GL

22 March 2012 04:37 pm - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris thanking the countries that voted against the US resolution said it is a matter of “great satisfaction” that 15 countries voted with Sri Lanka, despite the intensity of pressure, in a variety of forms, exerted on them all.

“We convey to them our warm thanks and deep appreciation,” Prof. Peiris said in a statement after the vote was taken.

He further said: “We also thank sincerely the 8 countries which, by abstaining, declined to support the Resolution.

With 15 countries voting with Sri Lanka, and 8 countries abstaining, the final result was that 23 countries, out of a total of 47 members of the Human Rights Council, did not support the Resolution, while 24 supported it. The margin was as narrow as this.

The most distressing feature of this experience is the obvious reality that voting at the Human Rights Council is now determined not by the merits of a particular issue but by strategic alliances and domestic political issues in other countries which have nothing to do with the subject matter of a Resolution or the best interests of the country to which the Resolution relates. This is a cynical negation of the purposes for which the Human Rights Council was established.

Many countries which voted with Sri Lanka were acutely conscious of the danger of setting a precedent which enables ad hoc intervention by powerful countries in the internal affairs of other nations. This is a highly selective and arbitrary process not governed by objective norms or criteria of any kind. The implications of this were not lost on many countries.

As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, our policy in respect of all matters will continue to be guided by the vital interests and wellbeing of the people of our country. It hardly requires emphasis that this cannot yield place to any other consideration.

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Comments - 16

kadalya Thursday, 22 March 2012 04:51 PM

When a boat sinks and turn over, you say the boat upside down is better. it is because of those jokers that Sri Lanka is in this mess.

Dinithi Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:02 PM

Yes satisfying but your efforts with India has not been enough. But then again it is so difficult to predict the actions of a back stabber like India.

lanka Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:40 PM

The best thing happened due to this US resolution is Sri Lanka got UNITED like never before.Now 90% of Sri Lankans are with President .That is a GREAT achivement.
Jaya Weva !!!!

limatc Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:16 PM

great , good point GL , now mark the countries who voted in favour of the resolution , wait for our turn , slowly cut them off the rope , do not show it point blank , avoid slowly , let them die their own death

AMG Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:26 PM

Our absolute pleasure for those 23 greatest friends!

Dayan Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:22 PM

Just implement a real framework to re-introduce Independent commissions such as Judiciary, Public, Police and Bribery, Enhance democracy with CHECK and BALANCE mechanism and all these issues will be solved

gajan Thursday, 22 March 2012 05:57 PM

WELL SAID SIR !!!!

countries who voted for the resolution obviously had a gun to their heads

sanjiv Thursday, 22 March 2012 06:18 PM

Good for u !!!

raja Thursday, 22 March 2012 06:13 PM

But, the abstained 8 Countries which mean neutral 8 countries favour goes to US super powers.Getting altogether (15+8) 23 votes. Is it true?

Guru Thursday, 22 March 2012 06:19 PM

At least now SL should learn the lesson. Lies and corruption can't win.

Sanjay Friday, 23 March 2012 01:46 AM

Something on similar lines were uttered by the government when we lost the Commonwealth Games bid.

Puran Friday, 23 March 2012 01:50 AM

What satisfaction or comfort GLP find when all pressure and demonstartions funded by GOSL in Gneveva itself persuaded just a few countries and might China who had no choice were unable to defeat this resolution .
The outcome as far as GOSL is concerned will not change.

das Friday, 23 March 2012 02:00 AM

Do you really think anyone would die without us? Sorry to to tell you but we are an unimportant country which no one needs.

das Friday, 23 March 2012 01:47 AM

You think those protest were genuine and not staged??

miruna Friday, 23 March 2012 06:06 AM

24 voted for resolution. 8 did not wanted opposed it. So ( 24 +8) 32. countries were favor to the resolution.

Buddhadasa Saturday, 24 March 2012 07:04 AM

Are we sooooooooooooooooo bankrupt that we are happy to have lost with only 15 countries voting for us?? Also please read all comments of these 15 countries. They are NOT giving a clean sheet to the government. They clearly say that Sri Lanka should implement the LLRC recommendations even though they voted in support of Sri Lanka.
GL - Please do not fool the people. We lost - not only in the votes, but we lost our dignity as we are fighting to say that extra judicial killings should go on.

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It is a matter of 'great satisfaction'-GL

Comments - 16

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