Govt-UNHRC deal compared with Kandyan Convention
Posted on February 11th, 2016

Courtesy The Island

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday described the pledge given by the government to implement  UNHRC resolution as a great betrayal comparable to the Kandyan Convention of 1815

Following is the full text of President Rajapaksa’s statement:

The President and Prime Minister have given the UN Human Rights Commissioner an assurance that last year’s UN Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka will be implemented. This UNHRC resolution was accepted and co-sponsored by the Sri Lankan government and passed by the UNHRC without a vote. The UNP led government accepted the Geneva resolution with the same carelessness with which they entered into the ceasefire agreement with the LTTE in 2002. Though our Ambassador in Geneva tried to negotiate different terms that was deliberately stopped by the government which insisted on accepting the US sponsored resolution just as it was. There is now an attempt to portray this UNHRC resolution as a great diplomatic victory for Sri Lanka. But in reality, it was a great betrayal comparable to the Kandyan Convention of 1815.

The people should once again be reminded about what exactly has been undertaken by accepting this resolution. In operative paragraphs 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12, the present government has accepted the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights which said that war crimes including the killing of civilians, torture, and the deliberate starvation of people had been committed by our armed forces and they have agreed to set up a war crimes tribunal manned by foreign judges, prosecutors and investigators and funded directly from overseas to try our war heroes for these alleged crimes. Furthermore they have agreed to remove through administrative action members of the armed forces who are suspected of having committed war crimes but against whom there isn’t enough evidence to place before the war crimes tribunal. They have also agreed to make amendments to the Public Security Ordinance and to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

In operative paragraphs 16, 18 and 20, the government has undertaken to devolve power in order to bring about a political settlement Sri Lanka and to do everything undertaken in the resolution under the supervision of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR). It should be borne in mind that the OHCHR that has come in for heavy criticism by the UN Human Rights Council itself. The UNHRC passes every year (with more than a two thirds majority) a resolution calling upon the OHCHR to end the domination of that office by Westerners and to reduce its dependency on Western funds. The government has thus agreed to place Sri Lanka under the supervision of an institution that is facing criticism by the UNHRC itself for its Western bias.

Having accepted the Geneva resolution, the government is now adopting various strategies to convince the public that it will not be harmful to the country. We saw the President and Prime Minister in recent days expressing to the international media what seemed to be contradictory views on the participation of foreign judges in the proposed war crimes mechanism. But this was just a drama for public consumption.  It became clear from the President’s Independence Day speech that there is no difference in the stands taken by him and the Prime Minister on the Geneva resolution. The President not only endorsed the decision of the government to implement the Geneva resolution but also accused those opposed to it of misleading the public. He further said in his Independence Day speech that the implementation of the Geneva resolution will only result in promoting democracy, reconciliation and respect for our armed forces. Subsequently, on 6 February the Daily Mirror reported that the SLFP had officially announced at a press conference that the UNP and the SLFP had jointly agreed on the implementation of the Geneva resolution.

The war was won by an SLFP government led by me. It is a matter of profound regret to me that our party has been subordinated in this manner to the UNP which tried to sabotage the war effort at every turn. Many would recall the manner in which the UNP even tried to stop the war by defeating the government at the budget vote in 2007. When that did not work, members of the UNP ridiculed the war effort by saying among other things that ‘any ox can fight a war’ and that ‘while claiming to be advancing on Alimankada the army was actually moving towards Pamankada’. It is not surprising to see such people now trying to exact revenge from those who won the war.

However, I am profoundly saddened to see that a section SLFP has also joined the UNP in this great betrayal. The UNP may be deriving a great deal of satisfaction by thus getting a section of the SLFP which won the war to underwrite every traitorous act they commit. I call upon the people of Sri Lanka to unite and resist this attempt by the government to betray the country and our war heroes.

12 Responses to “Govt-UNHRC deal compared with Kandyan Convention”

  1. Fran Diaz Says:

    We are with you in our thoughts and deeds, dear President Mahinda Rajapakse & Family, Yoshitha especially, and the Armed Forces of Lanka.

    We have faith that Truth Wins.

  2. Cerberus Says:

    Every day that goes by shows more and more how low and dirty the Yahapalanaya is. They go to Geneva and as President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out agreed to the UNHRC resolution without a thought of consequences. I guess My3 just went for a joy ride and took his son to the UN to show the boy how the UN works. Since My3 does not understand English all that went on would have been gibberish to him. He depended on the idiot tailor Mangala to handle the resolution and Mangala being part of the Singapore agreement co-sponsored the resolution. Then after coming home My3 assures everyone that that there will be no foreign judges. After the Prince Zeid comes and talks to him he changes his mind again and says he will stick to the resolution as it was passed. So what is the truth?

    Up to now no work has been started in the country. It appears to my simple mind that the West wants to take over the North and the East after it is given to the Tamils as a Federal state. The Western capitalists will buy up the land and establish the Trincomalee harbor to control the sea routes. US is already patrolling the South China sea with India. This is very dangerous for Sri Lanka who will be caught in the middle and I hope the Tamils realize what they are doing by inviting the West to come and park their war ships in Sri Lanka. Next thing we know we will be in the middle of a war between India and China. These are possibilities present day leaders have to be aware of.

  3. Dilrook Says:

    Thank you Mahinda for this bold initiative and thank you The Island for the translation which allows foreign parties understand his position without any ambiguity. What is told to locals must match what goes to the international community.

    All the more reasons for Mahinda to leave the SLFP. He can be party to this act of treason by remaining in the SLFP or he can leave the SLFP and form a new party. If he remains in the SLFP, he is duty bound to toe the party line.

  4. Fran Diaz Says:

    Er, excuse me, but wasn’t Pres MS, then Army Commdr Sarath Fonseka & almost the entire new Cabinet, A PART of the accused MR govt of War Crimes ?? !! Hmm, something odd & fishy here – in fact, sucks and stinks ….

  5. Fran Diaz Says:

    And wasn’t Ranil the Leader of the Opposition when the war with the LTTE commenced ? Where does he stand in the UNHRC report and the various accusations against the MR govt & false War Crimes ? It’s not as though Ranil went wild and threw fits to stop the war – he was a part of it too, wasn’t he ?

  6. Lorenzo Says:

    SLFPers are SHEEP. They will follow ANY leader ANYWHERE.

    MR should take over the SLFP. GAME OVER. NO NEED for a new party.

  7. Lorenzo Says:

    Fran,

    NO. Run-nil the traitor tried EVERYTHING he could to STOP the war.

  8. SA Kumar Says:

    MR should take over the SLFP. GAME OVER- Agreed CBK won’t give back hers father party to any one She had bad experiance.

    Lion have complied his birth duty once he liberated 275,000 people from VP& Co ,now they can not only see can travel by Aero plan and Rail (Jaldevi) in their life .

    Long life to MR

    NB/ Personaly I do not like MR becuase he kill my Thesiya Thalavar (VP) but I have to accept his achievement .

  9. Fran Diaz Says:

    Lorenzo,

    I am not referring to the CBK Presidency when Ranil was PM. I am referring to the time of the MR Presidency.
    What did Ranil do to stop the war happening during the MR time ?

    ———-

    Kumar,

    P’karan was killed in the Tsunami of Dec 2004.

  10. Lorenzo Says:

    Fran,

    NO ONE said the entire war was a war crime! The reason why some people blame MR is because MR was the COMMANDER IN CHIEF. That is the reason. NOT because he was the president.

    e.g. For instance NO ONE blames the PM – Wickramanayaka for war crimes!!

  11. Fran Diaz Says:

    Lorenzo,

    Why must we take note and pander to these, as you say “some people blame MR” ? Such ‘some’ people must be small in number compared to the many, many MILLIONS who are truly grateful for the removal of the LTTE, isn’t it ?

    It is the small minded, low IQ, vested interests inclined folk who will blame any govt for the removal of terrorists, after TALKS with them failed, try after try.

    A Permanent Peace must be brought to Lanka. Keeping MR & the Armed Forces accused and cornered will not help the process go forward. They must be part of the Process to Move Forward.

    Yup, Ranil would never be accused of War Crimes. He has no stomach for real and justified war. He can only stomach torture of some accused folk, where he is sure to get off scott free. When real and justified wars happen, he disappears abroad.

  12. RohanJay Says:

    Well said, former president Mahinda Rajapaksha. Sri Lanka’s most impressive post independence leader. It is the duty of all friends and people of goodwill towards Sri Lanka and people in Sri Lanka themselves to unite and protect members of Sri Lanka’s armed forces, from absolutely ridiculous bogus foreign charges which have no basis in reality against Sri Lankan army,navy and air force. Hopefully this govt will be kicked out, if they even attempt to implement the silly UNHRC foreign dictats. Everyone who loves and connected with Sri Lanka in some way wether Sri Lankans or not should be eternally grateful to Sri Lanka’s Air Force, Navy and especially army who won the war against brutal terrorists and brought peace and stability to Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of the current elected govt even though they are pathetic to protect the brave sri lankan heros who brought peace and stability to Sri Lanka.

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