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Another diplomatic row between the US and SL

23 February 2012 09:51 pm - 34     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In what appeared to be another diplomatic row between the United States and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s permanent mission in Geneva has written  to member states against the US propaganda that Sri Lanka had closely worked with the US in drafting the resolution against the country at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Geneva Mrs. Tamara Kunanayagam has informed the 47 member countries in writing that the Mission of the United States to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva had sought support from other countries to pass this resolution against Sri Lanka. 

Mrs. Kunanayagam said in writing to the member states that the US tried to create the impression in that letter that the United States  had been in close contact with the government of Sri Lanka  and the country’s mission in Geneva to work collaboratively on issues of accountability and the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

“It has been brought to our attention that an e-mail dated February 21, purporting to have originated from the Mission of the United States to the United Nations and other International Organisations at Geneva, signed by one Miriam Shahrzard Schive has been sent to Member States of the Human Rights Council and Diplomatic Missions in Geneva. It seeks support for a resolution on Sri Lanka supposedly sponsored by the United States, which is to be presented to the Human Rights Council Sessions in March,” she said in her letter to the heads of missions of member states.

She said, “Sri Lanka categorically states that at no time has the Government or its Mission in Geneva, ever worked with representatives of the United States on any Resolution whatsoever. It is inaccurate and misleading to seek to create such an impression that Sri Lanka was consulted, has cooperated or in any other manner been part of such a process. Indeed, Sri Lanka has started on the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC, among other initiatives to secure peace, prosperity and reconciliation for our people, in the aftermath of the thirty year conflict against separatist terrorism. We have consistently maintained that it is unnecessary, unhelpful and counterproductive to bring any resolution concerning this matter barely two months after the publication of the LLRC Report and more particularly in the context of implementation of its recommendations.

It is unfortunate that such an unethical distortion of the true position has been resorted to by interested parties who can only be pursuing some parallel agenda, seeking to achieve some collateral gain, given Sri Lanka’s commitment to engage constructively with its partners, its forthrightness in discussing issues pertaining to post conflict recovery and the realisation of positive developments within its territory pertaining to reconciliation and development. By (Kelum Bandara reporting from Geneva)


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  Comments - 34

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  • das Friday, 24 February 2012 07:08 AM

    well she's a fully qualified political stooge, at least

    Zscore Friday, 24 February 2012 04:51 AM

    What has the US to gain by spreading such rumours? I doubt that the US is that jobless. We make such a big fuss against the west and yet go crawling on our knees to get loans from them and then make a big noise as to how successfull we were.

    Nodrog Friday, 24 February 2012 04:46 AM

    Did you see any rebuttal from the US about this....that should answer your question.

    Thatha Friday, 24 February 2012 04:57 AM

    Who is spreading false rumours? US Government? The have well knowledgeable, educated and active members. They dont have thugs and underworld.

    TMA Friday, 24 February 2012 05:36 AM

    The govt. does it again. all our govt. has 2 do is start a cat fight with USA. Our ppl will 4get all the hardships & cheer the govt.

    mnsmart Friday, 24 February 2012 05:37 AM

    Be careful in dealing with them , if we are too harsh, they will bring democracy to our country similar to Iraq & Afghanistan....

    rd Friday, 24 February 2012 05:29 AM

    we are with mahinda !

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 24 February 2012 05:55 AM

    Depends on which angle you look at this. If you mean criminality and support for the same or honest and humanitarian. Which Sri Lankan are you?

    Prasad Friday, 24 February 2012 06:30 AM

    Real war started. Be careful & give full support to Government to over come this problem as a one Nation

    Wimalage Friday, 24 February 2012 04:47 AM

    ......CYMA cut welaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    anura Friday, 24 February 2012 08:04 AM

    all countries shd. unite against USA. They want to dominate the world and create problems in all the countries. list of countries they have messed up and washed their hands is too long to mention here. This is the result of breaking the former Soviet Union. Idiots they are.

    Janaka Friday, 24 February 2012 08:10 AM

    Why would Sri Lanka "work with" the US on a resolution against Sri Lanka? This kind of misinformation campaign by the US is truly pathetic on their part. Are they that desperate to “get at” Sri Lanka?

    Shelton Fernando Friday, 24 February 2012 08:12 AM

    Against a third class country

    White Flags Friday, 24 February 2012 08:13 AM

    They are frustrated losers sitting in Colombo only thinking about how to secure there power. These people could not care less if the country disintegrated tomorrow if such a result gave them a shot at grabbing power, fattening their pockets and settling their political scores. They after all backed the LTTE against our own armed forces.

    Zscore Friday, 24 February 2012 09:46 AM

    You clearly need a lesson in history, specially on soviet union..

    Saskia Friday, 24 February 2012 09:59 AM

    I think US is doing a good job otherwise, countries would kill their own citizens without any fear for trail like in Syria.

    Mankad Friday, 24 February 2012 03:32 AM

    paying for freely moving beyond the line by local party. CYMA cut venna wage yanne. Need official warnings ?!

    TomsamUSA Thursday, 23 February 2012 11:25 PM

    The paid slave doing her job to justify her existence and more!!!

    wonderboy Thursday, 23 February 2012 11:49 PM

    This is like calling 'no ball' before the match starts.

    faqi Friday, 24 February 2012 12:17 AM

    The United States is the worlds biggest abuser of human rights. They hide behind the war on terror and commit untold abuse. The least said the best. No country in the world has more innocent blood on their hands than the criminal USA.

    Nodrog Friday, 24 February 2012 12:16 AM

    Will be interesting to see if the UN has the guts to take action against the US for spreading false rumours.

    C.K. Lankaputhra Friday, 24 February 2012 01:26 AM

    Third class propaganda by third class representatives appointed to UN

    AMT Friday, 24 February 2012 03:24 AM

    Yes, he fought the the war with UN charter in one hand, and it was zero civilian casualties.

    Dinesh Friday, 24 February 2012 03:16 AM

    @ Lankaputhra and TomsamUSA guess you tow don't know how highly qualified Ms Karunanayakam is.

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 24 February 2012 03:28 AM

    Then what class does people who commit war criminality and refuse to investigate and punish perpetrators belong?

    gajan99 Thursday, 23 February 2012 10:20 PM

    Who cares? Our president is a hero.

    asd Friday, 24 February 2012 03:39 AM

    TOM SAM WHO PAYS U.THIS IS OUR COUNTRY SEE HOW A TAMIL LADY FIGHTS FOR COUNTRY.HI HI YOUT EELAM.FEEL SORRY

    Dinesh Friday, 24 February 2012 03:46 AM

    Guess TomsamUSA and Lankaputhra doesn't know how higlhy qualified Ms Karunanayakam is. We are previliged to have a such qualified representative in Geneva. Highly competent and very good langauage she posseses unlike some diplomats.

    Renuka De Silva Friday, 24 February 2012 03:53 AM

    This Lady Ambassador must learn the elements of diplomacy. Never antagonize another counntry that is of use to you by shooting off your thoughts in writing to member nations and accusing the U.S of being a liar. We have already lost any goodwill we had with nations that were sympathetic to our cause.. More egg on our faces after the Shavendra Silva Humiliation.

    Asoka Jayawardane Friday, 24 February 2012 04:13 AM

    Sri Lanka should remind to the UNHRC and member states, why, 1972 Kurt Waldheim appointed as a Secretary General to the UN even he had hidden complicity of Nazi war crimes. This international controversy covered by USA and finally he was appointed as a Secretary General Post twice. Is USA fooling the member states of world? Sri Lanka should bring a War Crime resolution against USA and show to the world real culprit in this world

    wonderboy Friday, 24 February 2012 04:04 AM

    Are U sure they are spreading false rumours?

    resplendant Friday, 24 February 2012 04:30 AM

    Gee by looking at these comments it looks like people in this thread wants the resolution to go through and sanctions to happen to poor sri lanka ! Wow Are you guys really sri lankans?

    Bimba Friday, 24 February 2012 04:25 AM

    Yes at certain critical stages


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