SL asks US to be objective

1 February 2014 03:55 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Government yesterday expressed its dismay at what it termed as ‘the third consecutive attempt’ by the US to bring a resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris met Ms. Nisha Desai Biswal the visiting US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs in Colombo. He told her that the public perception in Sri Lanka was that the US had not sufficiently recognized the country’s post-war achievements.

The minister said in that sense the US had not been objective and that the allegations against the Government on human rights issues had been accepted as ‘established facts’.

Referring to the US embassy tweet from St. Anthony’s Playground in Jaffna that hundreds of civilians had been killed there he said it was a classic example of taking the allegations for granted, without proper examination.

The minister said this ‘highly selective treatment of Sri Lanka’ would not only affect the relationship between the two countries but also inflict further harm on the reconciliation process. He said the US action would polarize the society further instead of bringing it together.

“This is unfair by Sri Lanka. They pursue action on Sri Lanka because it is a soft target without any consequences,” he said.
The US has communicated that it will move a resolution on Sri Lanka. It has not been drafted yet. Ms. Biswal who arrived in the country, will travel to the North today for talks with Northern Provincial Council members including Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.

At yesterday’s meeting, Ms. Biswal said the US was consistent in its position that it wanted to see the Sri Lankan process continue. She referred to what she called “growing frustration” in the international community because of the fear that Sri Lanka would lose the golden opportunity provided by the end of the conflict to move forward.

She also stressed that the US wanted to have a positive relationship with Sri Lanka and build upon the existing cooperation in many fields.
“But there is “growing concern” that the country is not moving past the wounds of war which might fester and give rise to renewed conflict and that no one in the international community wants that to happen,” Ms. Biswal said.

Emphasizing that the US had no agenda against Sri Lanka, she said the US was compelled to take up certain issues due to the values upon which it has been founded. She said the US has called for a Sri Lankan process to address the issues.

“However, there is concern that the space provided is not being adequately used by Sri Lanka,”
The minister, responded saying that the Sri Lankan people, more than others, would not want a resurgence of the conflict, as they would suffer the most in such a situation. That concern is uppermost in Sri Lanka’s mind and what Sri Lanka did to end the conflict needed political courage.(KB)

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Comments - 24

kumar dassenaieke Saturday, 01 February 2014 02:03 PM

totally agreed,well said.

zorro Monday, 03 February 2014 10:45 AM

yes gamini, you are right! we have very genuine politicians in SL! they carry our welth to their bank accounts out of sri lanka and we applaude!

Gamini Sunday, 02 February 2014 02:40 PM

Tamils for Obama has given billions to Obama and Hillery. These people are very corrupt politicians

Asiri Sunday, 02 February 2014 02:37 PM

Thats true. we dont need provincial councils. lets break up the northern province to three

Asiri Sunday, 02 February 2014 02:36 PM

Tamils for Obama has gib=ven billions to Obama and Hillery. Hillary need money for her campign. these people are worse than our politicians

DJ Sunday, 02 February 2014 01:09 AM

NPC would love to follow Tamil Nadu assembly to the extent that resolutions become jokes.

Naman Saturday, 01 February 2014 05:45 PM

The money misappropriated should be taken back to the national coffers. Their properties nationalised.

Jayasingha Saturday, 01 February 2014 05:23 PM

But most Tamils are residing and employed outside the NPC and they have no issues.

Punny Pellow Saturday, 01 February 2014 04:05 PM

The US obviously has a definite objective. GL's objective appears to change every time he says something.

Asiri Saturday, 01 February 2014 04:05 PM

Provincial councils is the biggest culprit. Lets divide the northern council three entities.

mike Saturday, 01 February 2014 02:29 PM

indeed, this is about regime change and zero about human rights. The west wanted the LTTE to live forever as a way to control SL, but this regime, despite warning not to do so, went ahead and liquidated the heinous terrorist monsters down to zero, after 30 years of mass massacres by them. Of course there are still LTTE agents who hold a different view.

james Saturday, 01 February 2014 02:10 PM

Sri Lanka should not be afraid of UNHRC investigation. In my opinion this gives Sri Lanka golden importunity to present its case before international community. It is a well known fact among international community that LTTE rebels were no boy scouts and most countries in fact branded them as terrorist organization. During wars terrible things do happen, and what had happened in Sri Lanka was no exception.

ind Saturday, 01 February 2014 04:58 AM

If that so called golden opportunity is missed by Sri Lanka, total responsibility is for the international community. Actually Tamils WHO LIVE IN SRI LANKA don't have that much of urgency of what international community (Tamil diaspora WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF SRI LANKA) is so concern. They don't want the issue to be worsen and to fave another war. Past is gone. Must face to the future. Not only Tamils, Sinhalese also had very bitter past if they want to memorize.

kumar dassenaieke Saturday, 01 February 2014 02:03 PM

USA,should look at its own records in the Arab world,Vietnam,Africa before taking other countries to the ICC or any Kangaroo court.
Sri Lanka,will never be taken to any international tribunal if it is sponsored by West over the alleged crimes in 2009

Dalu Banda Saturday, 01 February 2014 01:16 PM

I think US is begging and begging to agree to his terms. US is aware that China and Russia is very powerful unlike early days. US could not bomb Siriya as Putin threaten to retaliate by bombing Saudi Arabia. Can this lady go to Pakistan, Libya, Afghanistan, Siriya, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon?

Deepan Saturday, 01 February 2014 12:12 PM

Facts remain. People of Sri Lanka must live with dignity and right to practice the democratic rights. Increasingly Government of Sri Lanka become authoritarian state.

Jayanthi Saturday, 01 February 2014 11:58 AM

Pls. think before you write a load of crap!

ind Saturday, 01 February 2014 10:40 AM

Well said.

Saskia Saturday, 01 February 2014 10:20 AM

Yes, you are correct. The current regime should be thrown out first. The voters for this regime should rethink their view.

Saskia Saturday, 01 February 2014 10:17 AM

Don't you know the resolution adopted by the NPC recently to probe the international investigation? NPC represents the majority of SL Tamils.

Rajeeva Saturday, 01 February 2014 07:30 AM

Yes, you are correct. it's against the present regime. Why? Bcz this regime is not a puppet of the USA. What they want is to set up a regime that will follow orders from USA. In this context any action against the regime is an action against the country. Why is that USA is so concerned about Sri Lankas Post was progress. It was who US who set up and funded terrorism here.2009 the people of this country blew of their bloody big plan.

Tony Saturday, 01 February 2014 06:16 AM

The conern of international body is not against the country but against the present regime. It is sad that people are mislead to beleive that international community is against the country. Do what you promised on LLRC then the problem is solved. Don't be a cry baby!

ANTON Saturday, 01 February 2014 05:32 AM

IMPOSSIBLE, COS THEY ARE NOT SUBJECTIVE FOR OUR OBJECTIVE.

Muthu Saturday, 01 February 2014 05:01 AM

First the Govt. politicians of SL should be objective when dealing with SL people.

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SL asks US to be objective

Comments - 24

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