Govt. perturbed over UN review team

Tuesday, 14 August 2012 06:39

India, Spain and Benin have been assigned by United Nations Human Rights Chief Navaneetham Pillay to assess the human rights situation in Sri Lanka at the November Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The government is reportedly perturbed over Ms. Pillay’s decision because these countries were among those which voted in favour of the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka in March this year.

The resolution called for the implementation of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and urged the Sri Lankan government to address accountability issues during the last stages of the war.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is expected to submit its report to Ms. Pillay during its sessions in March next year with regard to the progress made by Sri Lanka in addressing matters mentioned in the resolution.

Sri Lanka’s HR situation will be assessed at the 14th UPR to be held between October 22 and November 25. The UPR is a mechanism set up by the United Nations to review human rights practices in member countries once every four years. It is a voluntary process, and therefore, decisions taken are not referred for action by any UN body.

The External Affairs Minister, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and NGOs have submitted three separate reports to be considered at the UPR.
Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission Chief Pratiba Mahanama said Sri Lanka had made headway in promoting human rights and addressing humanitarian issues. He said 52 aspects were highlighted at the previous UPR on Sri Lanka and 25 of them were accepted by Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission.

“The presidential secretary said most of the LLRC recommendations had been addressed. There is time till March, next year to look into other areas where there is concern,” he told Daily Mirror and added that the appointment of these three countries including India to assess the country’s human rights record during the UPR was a matter of concern since they voted against Sri Lanka.

When asked for a comment on the UPR, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said no decision had been made on the composition of the government’s delegation to participate in the UPR. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments

-68+67 # Nodrog 2012-08-14 09:45

Thats a bit low down and typical of Navi Pillay to select countries that voted against us to do the review. Needless to say the verdict is a foregone conclusion.

-58+87 # Vasanthie 2012-08-14 10:45

How could anyone expect to select the country who voted agaist the resolution, I believe Ms Pillai has done the right thing. She is a very popular Chief

-78+56 # Thor 2012-08-14 11:29

Pillya has always been biased towards Sri lanka because she also is a tamil. This is a blatant abuse of her position. We welcome a fair and impartial assessment but this decision stinks to high heaven

-43+43 # Em 2012-08-14 11:33

It is clear that the war which was faught is between Tamil & Sinhalese

-30+73 # Just Another Citizen 2012-08-14 12:32

Yes we don't have human rights violations in Sri Lanka. The rape, murders, abductions etc is all part of the new tourist attractions.

-11+44 # jacoob 2012-08-14 14:16

Thore,
So, you meant to say that all the tamils are against srilanka.. then something is not right herer

-75+51 # rasika 2012-08-14 10:29

Navi Pillay won't be in office for too long . she does not have the capacity to hold an office of this nature as she is too biased

-29+68 # Dilip 2012-08-14 10:33

No one can advice her whom to select or who to drop. She has the power to select any one she wanted. She is the Chief of UN Human Rights not just a spoke person.

-37+110 # A CANADIAN 2012-08-14 10:55

I totally agree with Mrs. Pillai..it is time Srilanka wake up , when dealing with public ....I am a Sinhalese ..however I am not talking about the war..but other aspect of life for citizens of Srilanka..and how they were treated in the past and the precent especially TOP POLITICIANS in Srilanka,, as well as Police. From top to the bottom , everyone is a crook. no ethics, values or religion..,,including some Buddhist Monks.It is a doggy dog world. Mrs. Pillai should do this every 6 months.,, as Srilanka is extremely corrupted country.

-34+82 # Saskia 2012-08-14 11:07

Well said. I didn't expect this from a Sinhalese. Thanks for speaking the truth.

-19+65 # mendis 2012-08-14 12:40

We have a chance if more and more people in Sri Lanka could speak like A CANADIAN

-13+38 # Kadiya 2012-08-14 14:25

Saskia,
It looks like you have a very bias view about Sinhalese due to the polarization caused by the stupid war. We Sinhalese are very similar to Tamils with a very similar culture and belief system and sharing the same land.

-43+19 # Nodrog 2012-08-14 16:39

A Canadian is definitely not Sinhalese. Another instance of a tamil faking his identity.

-9+32 # lankan 2012-08-14 18:48

you never learn...

-16+78 # alex 2012-08-14 11:03

then what did you expect , China, Libya, Iran to be in the team

-36+20 # Nimal 2012-08-14 13:27

No, but the selection could have been better balanced. At least one country that voted against the resolution could have been included. Justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done.

-2+3 # Tomsamusa 2012-08-15 09:21

Too bad that Syria missed the chance to jointhe "team".

-26+56 # Roger 2012-08-14 11:26

Well Done Dr. Pillay people who are concern of the minorities and overall well being of SL your doing the right thing and honorable people salute you mam

-17+46 # Dushy Ranetunge 2012-08-14 12:30

How about Iran, Burma and Uganda......the dream team of the Hambanthota weerayas? There is a King in town as well at present.......

-18+46 # RAJU 2012-08-14 12:35

WELLDONE, GOOD MOVE AND A PERFECT SELECTION. VICTIMS NED JUSTICE

-45+19 # l. pereira 2012-08-14 12:37

The likes of Pillay and other UN officials (who travel first class and are accomodated in 5 star hotels) should get their and priorites right and attend to the basic needs of millions of starving people in the African continent and other parts of Asia
including INDIA . For example thousands of Tamil Nadu citizens have to use open fields besides the road and rail net work as toilets. Need I say more.

-11+34 # alex 2012-08-14 15:20

Hey I.Pereira matters raised by you are the subject matter of the individual governments not that of the UN HUman Rights Chief

-17+10 # Ranil 2012-08-14 18:36

This may not be an UN issue but it is a human rights issue isn't it???? I dont understand why Pillay cannot get more food aid for the starving in Africa!!!

-11+43 # shan 2012-08-14 12:54

It is a foolish comment saying Navi Pillai is a Tamil and reject her Decisions.Then justify that the Tamil have the same logic of rejecting Sinhalese leaders Decisions. No matter a person is belong to a particular race, or religion and how he/she discharge his/her duties/responsibilitie s must consider.Every body should mind that Navi Pillai is World Human Right commissioner and she have the duty to uphold that irrespectively who is committing the violation of human Right.Violators Never accept that they violate.

-14+42 # ravi 2012-08-14 13:03

thanks mam good move..

-8+31 # Saman 2012-08-14 13:07

Anyone who still loves the country will be relieved that attention at the UN has not waned yet and they are still interested in holding this gov.'s feet to the fire. If not for the international community, Sri Lanka would be already be in another period of her dark-days, just like the times of those cruel monsters the Mahavansa doesn't talk much about.

-31+8 # prasanna 2012-08-14 13:12

what about USA, UK & FRANCE.

-5+41 # Lanka Muslim, UK 2012-08-14 13:20

Why take on Ms. Pillai as an individual. She acts in her official position and carries out the policies of the UN on human rights issue according to accepted conventions. Now that Sri Lanka is bound to implement the resolution there is no point in blaming Pillai. It is being seen that the GOSL is gradually implementing some of the LLRC recommendations just to satisfy the UNHRC and the West while falsely telling the people in the country that it will no submit to the will of the international community. This is the usual method of duplicity that the GOSL adopts and puts the whole country into a mess.

-22+11 # Romanis 2012-08-14 18:38

What Pillya utters is not strictly human rights when she is not a bias person. She is like Channel 4 people who cast mud on Sri Lanka.

-8+42 # aj 2012-08-14 13:21

Need international investigation. this one bring justice and reconciliation.

-7+31 # DD 2012-08-14 13:22

What bothers me is that as a government, Sri Lanka seems to have little or no PR amongst the international community while the Tamil diaspora are extremely influential. Including a member of parliament in the United Kingdom.
Where are the experienced people alike Jayantha Dhanapala and Lakshman Marasinghe?
GL is useless, kick him out!

-41+8 # Hansana 2012-08-14 13:35

All most all the writers with fake Singhalese names above are Coolies in the West who are cloning credit cards in Canada,UK and elsewhere.They have bought fake stories to claim asylum in those countries too. Sri Lankan officials know hoe to handle UN issue.Indians are promoting separation of Sri Lanka and they cannot be our Judges which is conflict of interests.They held TESO recently as well. Govt must take these issues.

-47+9 # Lubbo 2012-08-14 13:40

Many comments from lankans against Sri lanka. What a pity. My opinion is if you are not happy here please leave. Tamil Nadu is crying crocodile tears for you, you can go there! Leave us to sort our problem ourselves.

-9+30 # Mishra 2012-08-14 15:07

This is the root cause of the issue; You always expect everyone to have the opinion that you have. Please learnt to respect others opinion, even if you do not accept it. Then every one can live peacefully in this island.

-33+14 # Nodrog 2012-08-14 16:44

Is this another 'grievance' of the tamils....can't keep track because there are so many. All other communities are living in peace other than tamils.

-5+24 # Fusion 2012-08-14 14:27

Ideally, she could have chosen 1 each that voted in-favor, against and abstained. But, remember the selection could have been worse. Spain was one of the few EU countries that rejected the Darusman report. India can go either way and probably Benin. GoSL should either work with the UNHRC or simply withdraw outright like Israel did and stop being cry babies.

-6+34 # lankalion 2012-08-14 14:40

The whole purpose of the exercise is to review whether the Sri Lankan government's actions have been in line with the resolution. As such, only those who supported the resolution should be assigned to review whether Sri Lanka has met its conditions. The countries that voted against the resolution clearly didn't want to be associated or be part of that team. What's the point of having people, or in this case, countries, who didn't want to participate in its content be part of a team to review whether Sri Lanka has abided by it? Ms Pillay's decision is right and I see no fault in her method of selection. Justice has both been done and has seen to be done.

-24+9 # Bawa 2012-08-14 16:48

Finally every one working for money!

-0+4 # MirakRajBanda 2012-08-15 09:29

Government vigorously lobbying to gain the vote on favour on coming Human Rights session in Geneva. Opening embassies in African and Latin American countries under disguise of bilateral trade and boost economy; entertain leaders from corrupt regimes to gain a 'aye' vote all on the vast expense of tax payers money. In this process, LLRC and 13+ are conveniently forgotten or ignored.
It's totally a false strategy of the government on move forward to build a healthy multiculti society in Sri Lanka,

-7+2 # Cham 2012-08-15 10:39

Good thing this woman only has another two years to go. Who knows what havoc she will do if it was four more years.

-0+3 # Lanka Liar 2012-08-15 15:52

She will make Sri Lanka into a country from an evil enclave

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