UN Special Rapporteur breaches Code of Conduct
Posted on January 4th, 2013

Dr Kamal Wickremasinghe-Courtesy The Daily NewsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

As discussed in the editorial of this newspaper on January 3, the comments of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”UN Special RapporteurƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ on the independence of judges and lawyersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, a lady by the name of Gabriela Knaul, are based on partisan information she has received from the (foreign) Government Organised Non-Governmental Organisation (GONGO) minders of the chief justice (CJ).


US Supreme Court

Based on this information, Ms Knaul has intervened in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s domestic affairs for the second time within a month by expressing ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-serious concernƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ about the impeachment proceedings.

There are several incredible, unproven, and unprovable, accusations in her media statement: without the support of statistics, she has concluded that attacks and threats against members of the judiciary and lawyers, as well as interference in their work, have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-dramatically increasedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ over the past few months. She also charges that impeaching the CJ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-appears to beƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ for asserting independence. She goes on to add that the procedure for the removal of the CJ is extremely ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-politicisedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and lacks transparency, due process and fair trial.

Anyone objectively looking at the facts and circumstances surrounding the CJƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s impeachment case and its management is bound to easily see that all the above assertions and accusations are ridiculously wrong; There is absolutely no evidence to support her accusations other than her GONGO informantsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ whispers that the CJ is suffering ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-for asserting independenceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

There is a perfectly clear, publicly available list of alleged commercial, financial and other impropriety which the CJ has chosen not to answer. It was her GONGO-led minders who took the case to the political arena as their singular strategy of her defence. The politicisation of the case cannot be blamed on others.

Therefore the baseless charges of Gabriela Knaul against the government on the impeachment issue should be cast aside as rubbish.

However, the general context of KnaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s forceful attempt to create a human rights issue out of the impeachment case cannot be ignored simply as grandstanding by a career minded UN volunteer holding a peripheral post: she is part of the infrastructure the US and European countries superimposed on the UN system to take control of the developing world using their version of human rights as the major tool.

The UN mandate holders and their mechanisms

The network of Special Rapporteurs(a French word meaning ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”reporterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢), Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Independent Experts is part of the international system the Americans created in the last three decades or so, to haul the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”recalcitrantƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ nations over the coal under bogus charges of human rights violations; GONGOs are the other indispensable component of this infrastructure.

This special group of individuals is collectively referred to in UN language as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mandate-holdersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. They do not receive any financial compensation by the UN for their work, but receive personnel and logistical support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The special rapporteur job is nothing but a glorified ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”internshipƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ opportunity for those with right UN contacts to build a lucrative future career as a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”human rights professionalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.A mandate-holderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s tenure is limited to two terms of three years, and Knaul seems to have just started her second term.

The mandate holder network comes within the scope of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Special ProceduresƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ mechanisms of the UN, established by the western governments at the Human Rights Council (HRC), purportedly to address either ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”specific country situationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”thematic issuesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ relating to human rights in all parts of the world.

The two procedures that form the SP mechanisms, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-1235ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-1503ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, each named after the Economic and Social Council resolution establishing them, entail public discussion and confidential proceedings respectively, of alleged human rights violations by countries.

In essence, the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mechanismsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ provide a formal avenue for individuals (agents) and GONGOs in developing countries to clandestinely lodge complaints of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”human rights abusesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ against national governments, to allow the granting of UN ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”mandatesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to special rapporteurs, independent experts or working groups to look at a particular country or a thematic issue. Knaul is currently trying to act on such ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”complaintsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ from the Hong Kong based GONGO activist, Basil Fernando.

From its dubious, Western-sponsored beginnings the special procedures mechanisms have evolved into a monstrous tool used to haul sovereign developing country governments over the coal on flimsy charges of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”human rights violationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. Currently, there are 36 thematic and 12 country specific mandates. Not surprisingly, the list of countries with mandate holders appointed to conduct inquisitions against them is the same as those resisting Western dictates: Iran, Belarus, Somalia, North Korea and Myanmar are just a few.

An example of the self-serving and non-productive nature of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”workƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of the 37 mandate holders was the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-joint statement on the importance of human rights in the fight against povertyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, issued collectively by them to mark the Human Rights Day in 2006: they seem to think that the lack of the Western version of human rights, the right to protest against democratically elected governments, is the prime cause of poverty in the world!


Gabriela Knaul

Due to developing country protests over the methods used by special rapporteurs, especially their alliances with anti-government elements in the countries they focus on, the HRC attempted to clip their wings in 1997 by adopting a Code of Conduct for special procedures mandate holders, and disallowed them to address the media. Article 3(f) of the Code orders that mandate holders, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Neither seek nor accept instructions from any government, individual, governmental or non-governmental organisation or pressure group whatsoever.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Knaul insults the Sri Lankan Constitution

The disturbing aspect of KnaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s media releases is that she appears to, knowingly or unknowingly, entangle herself in a number of issues that far exceed her mandate. She is also in clear breach of the Code of Conduct by relying on biased information and instructions from GONGOs.

The implied threat in Ms KnaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statement that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I would like to reiterate that article 107 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, read together with Standing Orders of Parliament, is contrary to international human rights lawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚is highly offensive to Sri Lanka as a sovereign and equal member of the UN; KnaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s remark suggests that, as far as she is concerned, Sri Lanka can ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”shoveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ its Constitution and they should do things according to what she calls the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-international human rights lawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

Her observation and the implied threat are irrelevant because the CJƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s impeachment case does not even remotely resemble a human rights issue: it relates to the conduct of the bearer of one of the highest offices in the democratic governance structure of Sri Lanka. Pushing such a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”behaviouralƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or disciplinary issue including the parliamentary process in to the arena of human rights is a ludicrous and cynical exercise on the part of Knaul.

Apart from the fact that the impeachment case does not involve human rights issues, Knaul needs to understand that the so-called international human rights law is an airy-fairy concept that has barely taken root beyond Western capitals and her office in Geneva. Her attempt to bring Sri Lanka under some sort of universal jurisdiction by casting aspersions over the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution deserves contempt.

In Sri Lanka, Constitution reigns supreme

As to any real or imaginary conflict between Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution and the international law Knaul wishes to impose, the Sri Lankan Constitution holds sway: the situation is not different to America where the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution declares them to be supreme law of the land.

As recently as 2009, the US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor explicitly stated during Senate confirmation hearings that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-American law does not permit the use of foreign law or international law to interpret the Constitution and that there is no debate on that question.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚Also, Florida Representative Sandy Adams introduced a bill to forbid the US Supreme Court from ever citing or using any precedent from international law. During her tabling of the Bill, Ms Adams said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Constitution laid the foundation for our nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s judicial system, and allowing foreign law to supersede it in any capacity leads to its erosion. Not only is using international precedent a transparent disregard for the Constitution, but it could be used to advance a judgeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s personal political agenda over the best interests of the nation.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka chooses to adopt the same stance.

While Sri Lanka may choose to respect the basic legal architecture of human rights promotion and protection under the UN Charter and the network of treaties subsequently ratified, Knaul should not expect Sri Lanka to take seriously her observations on any conflict some unspecified ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”international lawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ may have with the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution.

According to her resume, Knaul has worked as a judge in Brazil and is an expert in criminal justice and the administration of judicial systems: it may well be she is unfamiliar with constitutional jurisprudence, or she could be applying a different standard to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankans can well remember that several international enterprises sought to unduly intervene in the crucial domestic battle against terrorism, under the guise of protecting human rights that went against the definition of sovereignty and the basic principles of Article 2 of the UN Charter that emphasises the importance of respect for sovereignty and the principle of non-intervention.

Knaul seems to be indiscreetly swallowing all the material sent to her by politically desperate anti-government elements and Sri Lankan GONGOS: she needs to urgently revisit the OHCHR guidelines on admissibility of communications related to a violation of human rights including the requirements that they should not have manifestly political motivations and should contain factual description of the rights which are alleged to be violated.

Our message to Knaul is that, the CJƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s impeachment does not involve human rights issues and if it did, the enforcement of international human rights law is a matter solely within the domestic jurisdiction of Sri Lanka. As an unpaid UN mandate holder, she needs to find some other ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”projectƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to keep busy and to prove investigative credentials.

One Response to “UN Special Rapporteur breaches Code of Conduct”

  1. Lorenzo Says:

    Well done Vasanthi.

    “[Tamilnet, Sat, 05 Jan 2013, 13:59 GMT]

    Calling the Teachers’ Associations and talking to them in an intimidating way, the Colombo-appointed Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Prof Vasanthi Arasaratnam warned them sternly against speaking to media on the affairs of the university and on the issue of re-opening it. The VC cited directives from the defence establishment of occupying Sri Lanka in gagging the academics, heads of departments and the teachers’ unions.”

    Good choice of VC, Douglas Devananda.

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