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SL protests against screening of Ch-4 film

25 February 2013 06:45 pm - 58     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has protested against allowing a Channel-4 documentary titled ‘No fire Zone: The killing fields of Sri Lanka’ to be screened on the sideline of the human rights meeting in Geneva.

Sri Lankan ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha In a letter addressed to Ambassador Remigiusz Achilles Henczel, President of the Human Rights Council, stated that the documentary “contains a narrative that is "discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.”

He also stated that “the global body could be violating its own rules if the film is screened Friday in Geneva at a meeting hosted by rights groups.”

The documentary is to be screened at the Palais de Nations in Geneva on 1st March 2013.

Aryasinha also said “Sri Lanka views this film, as well as the timing of its broadcast as part of a cynical, concerted and orchestrated campaign that is strategically driven, and clearly motivated by collateral political considerations”.

Noting that this is the screening of the third part of a much disputed film series by Channel 4, whose narrative remains discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated, he said such actions would clearly undermine the status of Member States, the work of the Council and leaves it vulnerable to politicization.  It noted that ECOSOC Resolution No. 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 that stipulates the consultative relationship between the United Nations and NGOs provides at Paragraph 57(a) for the suspension and withdrawal of consultative status of NGOs, inter alia, specifically where such an organization either directly or through its affiliates or representatives acting on its behalf, clearly abuses its status by engaging in a pattern of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN including unsubstantiated or politically motivated acts against Member States of the UN incompatible with those purposes and principles.

Ambassador Aryasinha who recalled the founding principles of the Human Rights Council of ensuring impartiality and fair play upon which the Council was established and that governs the methods of work of the Council,  observed that it is the paramount duty of the Human Rights Council to ensure that NGOs are not facilitated in perpetrating unsubstantiated and politically motivated acts against countries in the Council, in any manner.

He further observed, that at a time when Sri Lanka is vigorously pursuing a process of reconciliation following three decades of conflict inflicted by LTTE terrorism, it is disturbing to note the efforts on the part of entities based overseas with links to rump elements of the LTTE, as well as certain NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation, in facilitating such programmes containing unsubstantiated material that is morphed and diabolical. This approach not only provides members and observers of the Council with an extremely distorted and unbalanced view of Sri Lanka, but also serves to adversely impact the ongoing comprehensive reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.  It also serves to strengthen the rump elements of the LTTE seeking refuge in the West, who use the propaganda value derived from the screening of such films, as a tool to intensify their fundraising and recruitment activities, thereby undermining the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the failure of the Council to deal with such a situation would be perceived as a process that is encouraged by the Council which contravenes the governing principles of the UN Charter and the work of the Council within its stipulated mandate. Ambassador Aryasinha added that the use of one’s premises and the conduct of activities in such premises is a liability to be taken upon by the authority having control over such premises, and that clearly, any explanation that the use of premises once handed over to an organization that seeks to engage in such unwarranted activity cannot be a basis to relieve an institution from its responsibility over such activity. It said such conduct based on administrative convenience is unacceptable.

Ambassador Aryasinha requested the President of the Council to circulate its communication as an official document of the 22ndsession of the Human Rights Council in all official languages, and also to keep the OHCHR Secretariat informed.

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  Comments - 58

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  • ChickenParippu Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:20 AM

    CH4 wanted some cheap popularity?

    Silva de Mervin Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:34 AM

    Nicky,

    Those who sold it also collected their packet too?

    Why don't you mention that too?

    kumar Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:40 AM

    In that case why don't you do the same thing? You can bribe those media and can use them for your propaganda if they are really corrupted as you mention.

    kumar Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:43 AM

    Yes but they don't keep confidential if someone is offering huge amount of money.

    Ariapala Yohan Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:53 AM

    Can hear your heartbeat.

    Banana Tuesday, 26 February 2013 07:04 AM

    Really wonder why Channel 4 and the UNHRC did not make films when the LTTE was massacring all hues of Sri Lankans putting the Nazis to shame?

    Just Another Citizen Tuesday, 26 February 2013 08:00 AM

    Everything has a price. Same way images of US Personnel in Guantanamo Bay got out into the open.

    No Drog Tuesday, 26 February 2013 08:40 AM

    at u r house?

    Naviman Tuesday, 26 February 2013 08:53 AM

    Counteract this by at least distributing emotional photographs of mass killings of women,children,religious figures and worshippers done by LTTE killer squads.

    ravivararo Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:10 AM

    wonderful comment.

    Monkey Joe Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:05 AM

    WHY THE PROTEST, ANYTHING TO HIDE ?

    jena Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:06 AM

    you mean including the innocent people who got killed and affected in vanni ?

    ravivararo Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:12 AM

    It is ghora roopa. screaming..................

    No Drog Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:12 AM

    ok idiot

    ChickenParippu Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:19 AM

    during the last stages of the war everyone was united - slowly but surely greed and corruption has distanced us and now we are not in a position to stand up against the allegations.

    edward Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:32 AM

    This is not a solution for problems , MR has to step down sake of all sri lankan to avoid more consequences from the world ,

    ChickenParippu Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:21 AM

    because Harry Potter and the deathly hallows was not screened at the UNHCR - when a fantasy film is screened at an organisation like UN it really makes you worried about being a member of it.

    ChickenParippu Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:27 AM

    it is rumored that Spielberg's Adventures of Tintin along with Batman 3 is also to be screened alongside this movie "on the sideline of the human rights meeting in Geneva."

    ChickenParippu Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:28 AM

    i think its more of a revenge, since CH4 were unceremoniously kicked out of the country in 2008 or 2009.

    Burul Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:31 AM

    Freedom of speech does not cover false and deceptive propaganda. You are a bloody idiot.

    Grace Tuesday, 26 February 2013 01:24 PM

    Sammy! Temptation of filthy lucre.

    idiottamil Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:05 PM

    yeah right, just like they got it in 19 may 2009.. :))))

    YOUANDME Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:09 PM

    WHY DO YOU FEAR!

    WORLD SHOULD KNOW SRILANKA:S REAL FACE. THIS IS A BLOODY BANANA REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA

    YOUANDME Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:12 PM

    100% right

    Reader Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:34 PM

    These photos were in The Independent on 11th March 2012.

    Kuma Tuesday, 26 February 2013 03:58 PM

    It seems like all the evidences of horror acts during the war are no longer at Bay and they are out with the International Police forces(IPF).Actions do speak louder than mere words and denials!

    ilyasfazly Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:51 PM

    channel 4. pl prove that the tapes you have are authentical. remember the resolutions are to be proved, not substantiated, so this could be subjudice!

    gobi Tuesday, 26 February 2013 07:50 PM

    times reaches nearer to realise what we did on 19th may 2009 was wrong. whole Sri Lanka will collapse soon. keep faith on China to safe you all

    unchikun Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:24 AM

    Hey, has this joker forgotten that there is freedom of speech in the western world.

    David Monday, 25 February 2013 07:40 PM

    This HRC sessions really became comedy festivals than a diplomatic session where people from here and there can show movies.

    Maybe we Sri Lankans show "Rambo" and accuse US for killing people.

    DeSelva Monday, 25 February 2013 08:18 PM

    ha ha Sri Lanka screened Lies Agreed Upon last year amid protests

    Sumathy S Monday, 25 February 2013 08:25 PM

    Enough attention now given to everyone to watch carefully.
    Dont behave like in the building complex at Sri Jayawardenapura. (!)

    Sana Monday, 25 February 2013 08:26 PM

    Sympathizers? Why still no comments? SLEEPING?

    daya weerasinghe Monday, 25 February 2013 09:19 PM

    Way to go Rajapaksa....after 65 years of independence this is what become of the bannana republick......"Killing Fields of Sri Lanka" !

    Sonali De Silva Monday, 25 February 2013 09:16 PM

    What are going to do anyway. Impose sanctions on us? Remember 95% of all things are made in China. So what are they going to sanction?

    Sudar Monday, 25 February 2013 09:41 PM

    Too late.

    HK Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:00 AM

    First of all be one Srilankan then you can win any of in the world !

    bernardwijeyasingha Monday, 25 February 2013 10:54 PM

    Too many people protesting on too many subjects and no one is getting anywhere. Tamil Nadu protests, the UN protests and now Sri Lanka is protesting and to date little has come out of it.

    Saskia Monday, 25 February 2013 11:08 PM

    Channel 4, u have done a good job. Keep it up!
    War crimes should be published in international arena and the true face of SL should be shown to the world.

    rosebud Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:00 AM

    It's nearly four years since the LTTE war ended. Where were these pictures hiding and why have they surfaced now? via DM Android App

    Arf Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:30 AM

    Patriotism is to know what your country should be, not defending what it is

    Sareek Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:59 AM

    Wiswaroopam for srilanka

    shantha Tuesday, 26 February 2013 01:33 AM

    Why so worried when you say film is fake?

    rumi Monday, 25 February 2013 07:08 PM

    where is BODA BALA SENA? they do not have guts to fight against Europeans.

    mack Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:00 AM

    it was screened a year back were u sleeping? via DM Android App

    sooriya Tuesday, 26 February 2013 02:30 AM

    gosl said all those video and pictures are fake.so why you worrying about?

    pramiya Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:00 AM

    if MR is not willing to listen to any one including our own Mahanayaka's why should any one listen to us via DM Android App

    mail_guy Tuesday, 26 February 2013 03:08 AM

    If SL didn't do anything then why would they worry? As always they are going to deny this film but truth always wins. Tamils will get their rights pretty soon.

    Manamendra Tuesday, 26 February 2013 03:28 AM

    It is the right of the rights group to host it. Why don't you all play a diplomatic game and win it rather than using the "cry baby" approach. I never thought Sri Lanka's diplomatic condition is this bad.

    sach Tuesday, 26 February 2013 03:48 AM

    It is wrong to show an uncorroborated piece of video in a session. t

    nicky karunarathna Tuesday, 26 February 2013 04:11 AM

    Let those idiots show anything as they wish. They have already collected their packet from those barbarain ruthless blood thirsty LTTE to prostitute thier media channel. So cares!

    Just Another Citizen Tuesday, 26 February 2013 04:31 AM

    Its generally the guilty who always create a uproar...

    neil john Tuesday, 26 February 2013 04:34 AM

    Let us get /talk about rights of Sri Lankans. Not tamils, Sinhaleses, Muslims.

    Sammy Tuesday, 26 February 2013 04:43 AM

    My curiosity is, if the photos had been taken in an army bunker, it would have been done so only by specific army personnel, for their files and would have been kept highly confidential. If this was so, then how did channel 4 get hold of them?

    tjeyar Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:00 AM

    The countries against GOSL they are developing their countries by ltte money.How s it. via DM Android App

    Jan Chandra Tuesday, 26 February 2013 05:44 AM

    What about screening of thousands of children kille by the LTTEE at least one from a mother's womb. I do not think Mack was sleeping then.

    OMG Tuesday, 26 February 2013 06:15 AM

    No use making noise.

    They will call it "freedom of expression" like the recent screening of "Viswaroopam".


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