The Geneva Debacle

| by Robinhood

( March 20, 2014, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The first two weeks of the sessions of the Geneva Human Rights Council is now over. On the 18th and 19th the UNHRC would hold two parallel meetings against Sri Lanka. In one of the meetings there would an unexpected witness appearing to give evidence regarding the war zone. Still no visible signs to see that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) would hold any parallel meetings prior to that. In the coming week Minister Samarasinghe and his team would try to influence the members who are still uncertain about their decisions during the voting to their side or prevent them using in favor of the resolution. During the final week the leadership of the Sri Lankan delegation would be headed by Ambassador Ravinath Ariyasinghe.

The US representative who brought the resolution stated that the international mechanism should explore the violations committed by both parties. It was visible and a necessity to show that there is no biased opinion taken during this resolution to show the co sponsors of this council.

Like the previous sessions in order to discuss the resolution against Sri Lanka, a two hour unofficial meeting was convened. During the meeting amid four hour heated debate two sessions were completed. These discussions appeared as a mirror image of the problems occurring in world politics. It’s enchanting to see the diplomatic compliance and the obligation to answer the questions.

During the discussion Pakistan, Cuba, China, Venezuela and Russia were representing in favour of Sri Lanka. They were involuntarily participating for a losing debate. They couldn’t counter or contribute anything credible to prevent the factual allegations and the heaping human rights violation at present. Though Pakistan and other countries try to argue that violations against religious minorities are negligent, there are free and fair elections held and there are ample freedom of expression for Human Rights Defenders, Canada and Britain able to exclude them with credible facts and figures. The notable point in this was though there were allegiances to the resolution there were realistic amendments brought by few Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. The objective of this exercise is able to turn the resolution an acceptable one by the majority of the members.

Canada was very firm in her statement that the International inquiry mechanism going to establish should investigate alleged Human Rights violation would be a plenary commission. From the majority consent it was very apparent that an international inquiry mechanism would be established under the purview of the UNHR office.

During this unofficial discussion, this resolution has taken efforts to address the above questions. This resolution is brought jointly by five countries which includes Macedonia and Montenegro from Eastern Europe, Britain from Western Europe, US and Mauritius from the African continent. Unofficial discussions were held by high level delegation representing these countries tabling much useful information. Taking into consideration a final draft would be delivered by this week.

Secondly this resolution has widened its scope by taking into consideration including the rights violation of the southern people of Sri Lanka. The Weliweriya massacre has been noted in section five in the resolution. Attacks on worship places of religious minorities, attacks and repressions launched on Human Rights defenders, protecting media freedom is noted in section four in the resolution. Meantime important resolutions which are stated in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) such establishing and execution of the Rule of Law is drafted in the third section.

Recently former president Chandrika Kumarathunga stated that this resolution is passed in the UNHRC is due to the eroding of Democracy. UNP too stated that this is not a foreign conspiracy as alleged by Wimal Weerawansa to the Singhalese masses but due to the increased authoritarian conduct of the Rajapaksa regime. Even Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha who is most popular for the elimination of the Executive Presidential System too stated that there is no necessity to counter an international investigation. This Geneva resolution has brought effective results and significant acceptance in the Southern politics.

The US representative who brought the resolution stated that the international mechanism should explore the violations committed by both parties. It was visible and a necessity to show that there is no biased opinion taken during this resolution to show the co sponsors of this council. The war crime committed by the LTTE too should be investigated by a mechanism which has plenary powers. This would include taking the trapped civilians into human shields by the LTTE in the final stages of the war. There are possibilities that Tamil radical groups would refuse this inquiry mechanism.

There is a significant difference between the LTTE support Tamil Diaspora and the consent of the UNHRC. There is a conglomeration between Political slogans and reality. Recently TNA Provincial Council minister Ms. Anandi Sasidaran made an intervention in the UNHRC in Geneva. In a media communiqué held in Jaffna she said from this resolution the international community has deliberately cheated the Sri Lankan Tamil community. (Compare her with statement made by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe stating Ms. Navi Pille a deceiver) When elaborating her statement during a parallel meeting held on the 11th in the UNHRC Ms. Sasidaran pretending against the resolution, urged international community to include a political solution to its content. If the UNHRC fails to table a final resolution calling for an international investigation there are possibilities that she would condemn the resolution again when she gets back to Jaffna.

By adopting this resolution it appears that both Sinhalese and Tamil radical political followers will fall into a major chaos.

Robinhood of Sri Lanka ; Defending the rights of the ethnic minorities and combating radical politics.