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*High Drama in the Human Rights Council of the United Nations *

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High Drama in the Human Rights Council of the United Nations

Over the last two of weeks of May 2008, there had been a high drama with regard to Sri Lanka and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. May 13th saw the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka, with nearly 70 countries putting themselves down to speak and only 56 ultimately having time to do so. Meanwhile there was a spate of statements urging that Sri Lanka not be re-elected to the Council at the election which was held on May 21st. The usual suspects, the NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and the bizarrely named Asian Human Rights Commission, that have been sedulously targeting Sri Lanka over the last couple of years, were joined by three Nobel Prize laureates. Pronouncements designed to prevent the re-election of Sri Lanka to the Council were made by Jimmy Carter, or perhaps to be more precise the Carter Centre, and Bishop Desmond Tutu and even the Argentinian Adolfo Perez Esquivel, who obviously does not understand the difference between a military dictatorship and a democratic government that functions in the context of a vociferous opposition, an independent judiciary and a vibrant indeed frenetic civil society.? While it is conceivable that all this activity is due to deep concern for human rights in Sri Lanka, it is significant that none of the Nobel laureates actually engaged with Sri Lanka before their sudden outbursts. Far from making any attempt to visit, to ask questions, to raise issues with the government, they have plunged in on the basis of generalizations that cannot be substantiated.

Is there intelligent and meaningful life outside the UN Rights Council?
Malinda Seneviratne -Full Report- (lakbimanews.lk- 27/05/08)

Letter to Jimmy Carter by an ordinary Sri Lanken Citizen
To : Mr.Jimmy Carter (Jimmy Carter Center)
From Ranjith Galappaththi (SRI LANKA) -Full Report- (defence.lk- 26/05/08)

UN Human Rights Council election: The real truth
By Sarath WIJESINGHE sarath7@hotmail.co.uk -Full Report- (sundayobserver.lk- 26/05/08)

Is it all that important to be seated on the UN Human Rights Council? USA & Israel doesn't think so - why should Sri Lanka?
Shenali Waduge-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 24/05/08)

Tutu wrong ‘in toto’Mario Perera Kadawata-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 24/05/08)

Archbishop Desmond Tutu -Your statement on Sri Lanka published in the Daily Guardian on May 15, 2008
SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Box 55292, 300 Borough Drive, Toronto, Ontario M1P 4Z7 Canada
-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 24/05/08)

Sri Lanka has secured 101 votes out of 192 and it shows confidence in Sri Lanka on the part of the International Community© Insight -By Sunil Kumar For LankaWeb -Full Report- (LankaWeb- 23/05/08)

Ancient Mariners shooting the albatross
Sri Lanka, Human Rights & the Human Rights Council
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP)
22nd May 2008-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 23/05/08)

Wo! what's going on?
Asoka Weerasinghe (Mr.) Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester ; Ontario . Canada
-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 23/05/08)

Much ado about a voteThe Island Editorial-Full Report- (The Island- 23/05/08)

UNHRC: Lanka gains 101 votes By: Rasika Somarathna Courtesy: Daily News -Full Report- (LankaWeb- 23/05/08)

Sinking Tigers and the straw of human rights
The Island Editorial -Full Report- (The Island- 22/05/08)

Human Rights Watch Has Spoken Out Of Turn And Should Focus Their Attentions Elsewhere With A Felt Need!
©Insight By Sunil Kumar For LankaWeb May 20th 2008 -Full Report- (LankaWeb- 22/05/08)

Rev. Desmond Tutu,and his uncalled for diatribe against the Government of Sri LankaBy Charles.S.Perera-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 21/05/08)

Open Letter to Archbishop Desmond TutuAsoka Weerasinghe Gloucester . Ontario CanadaDear Archbishop Desmond Tutu:-Full Report- (LankaWeb- 19/05/08)

International Media Single out Sri Lanka
When Sri Lanka lost its bid for re-election to the United Nations' Human Rights Council, it was the main headline by the world media even though Twenty countries from five regions were vying for the 15 seats. Pakistan, Bahrain, Gabon and Zambia are the four other countries with poor rights records who won seats. France and Britain narrowly defeated Spain for the open European seats, a race that was something of a tossup for the gentleness of the campaigns and nearly indistinguishable voting records. Foreign Secretary David Milliband of Britain and Human Rights Minister Rama Yade of France were in New York on Tuesday seeking support. Slovakia and Ukraine won over the Czech Republic and Serbia for the two available seats reserved for Eastern Europe.
Sri Lanka denied seat on U.N. rights council-Full Report- (washingtontimes.com- 23/05/08)
Sri Lanka Loses Bid for UN Human Rights Council Seat.-Full Report- (bloomberg.com- 23/05/08)
Sri Lanka denied seat on UN Human Rights Council .-Full Report- (straitstimes.com- 23/05/08)
POLITICS: Sri Lanka Dropped From Human Rights Council .-Full Report- (ipsnews.net 23/05/08)
UN Elects New Human Rights Council Members, Rejects Sri Lanka-Full Report- (VOA 23/05/08)