The UN Needlessly Bulls Eyes Sri Lanka: Unsubstantiated Accusations
Posted on June 12th, 2020

By Shivanthi Ranasinghe Courtesy Ceylon Today

At the recently concluded Ranawiru Day commemoration, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa vowed “not to allow anyone to exert undue pressure and harass our war heroes who have sacrificed so much for the country” to return to the status of peace and tranquility to the people and our country. 

He then expanded, “If any international body or organisation continuously targets our country and our war heroes, using baseless allegations, I will also not hesitate to withdraw Sri Lanka from such bodies or organisations”.

Continuous target 

Ironically, independent onlookers instantaneously assumed that he was referring to the UN. Since then, many subject experts have articulated their concerns. Many warn that while the President’s words are great for local consumption, leaving the UN is not an option for Sri Lanka. Instead, they advocate that Sri Lanka must stay on and continue to engage with the UN. 

The fact that almost all jumped to the conclusion that the President was referring to the UN exclusively and was not making a general statement should get the UN bigwigs to closely study the President’s statement. The statement that he will not hesitate to leave offending entity cannot be taken in isolation.

 Instead, it must be taken in conjunction with the conditions that he specified that must come true for him to leave such an entity. The two conditions for him to leave are, if “our country and our war heroes” continue to be “targeted using baseless allegations”. 

Thus, the stress should be on “continuously target” Sri Lanka and “baseless allegations,” rather than on just target Sri Lanka with accusations. The allegations must be both baseless and continuous beyond reason for such a drastic step to be activated. 

Concrete evidence a prerequisite 

Therefore, President Gotabaya’s loaded statement can also be correctly interpreted as; any entity has the space to raise questions about our Military Forces’ conduct as long as it is not baseless. The charge must be followed with tangible evidence. This means, if there is evidence on which one can conduct a credible investigation, it will be done so. 

Hence, it is not enough to simply level allegations such as thousands had disappeared and insinuate that all disappearances had been involuntarily enforced. Each person who is alleged to have disappeared must be accompanied with details such as a name, his NIC number or some form of identification (if he is a minor) and so on. Otherwise, an investigation simply cannot be conducted on the mere allegation that “thousands have disappeared”.

A la Deutsch – the German way

It is not only the paucity of information that has stalled Sri Lanka’s efforts of conducting thorough investigations. It is also the lack of cooperation from the accusers. A classic case would be the arrest by German authorities of a person involved in Sri Lanka’s then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s assassination. 

He, identified as only “Navanithan G” in line with German privacy rules, had applied for asylum in Germany in 2012. The war ended in 2009. At the asylum interview, he had admitted to have been a member of the LTTE. 

Instead of handing him over instantly to Sri Lankan authorities for further investigations, the German authorities arrested him in January 2019 and in 2020 sentenced him to prison for six years and ten months. As Germany did not share their information with Sri Lanka, our authorities still do not know the identity of Navanithan. 

He may well be listed as missing in Sri Lanka. How did he arrive in Germany? Did he leave Sri Lanka alone, if not, where are the others who accompanied him? What was he doing in Germany for seven years before his arrest? 

Navanithan is not an isolated incident. Over the past 11 years such “disappeared” persons have surfaced from many places including Tamil Nadu, Europe and Australia. Yet, none of these countries agree to cooperate with Sri Lanka to locate those who had disappeared from the Island but now settled in their countries. 

By allowing those with a criminal past, still nurturing the LTTE ideology, capable of unleashing violence against fellow Tamils domiciled in these countries such as extortion without any form of rehabilitation carries a risk. 

Yet, clearly it is a risk these countries are willing to carry. In 2009, summoning the UNHRC for a special session Germany tried to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka citing war crimes. Yet, Germany is unwilling to corporate with the Sri Lankan authorities to conduct investigations into these allegations. 

Navanithan gets German crime record!

Sri Lanka, instead of prosecuting the LTTE cadres, sent former LTTE cadres into rehabilitation. This was designed with the help of international experts, including Harvard. The programme, ranged from six months to two years depending on how high the level of LTTE ideology was indoctrinated, the cadres were either sent back to school or trained in a vocational skill. 

Afterwards, much support was extended to them to reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives. They now live amongst citizens without any branding or blemish attached to them. 

Thus, it is not as if cooperating with the Sri Lankan authorities would result in former LTTE cadres been subjected to gross human rights violations. Hence, the reluctance of countries that accuse Sri Lanka of war crimes to cooperate is questionable. 

The irony is, had Navanithan surrendered to the Sri Lankan authorities, the chances are that by now he would have been able to firmly put his violent past behind him. As it turned out, 11 years after the war ended, he is being punished for a crime he committed 15 years ago. In 2026 he will leave the German prison with a permanent criminal record. 

Yahapalana Govt co-sponsored defeated UNHRC resolution 

The second condition President Gotabaya stipulated was that Sri Lanka must also have the space to clear its name. Once Sri Lanka conducts and concludes an investigation, the matter must be allowed to rest. This is something Sri Lanka has not been allowed to do. In 2009, the Germany initiated UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka was defeated. In fact, a counter resolution commended Sri Lanka for resolutely eradicating terrorism from the Island. Yet, the resolutions kept coming. Each time, the accusations within became more aggressive. 

Had the Yahapalana Government not co-sponsored the 2015 resolution, this exercise would have continued. However, co-sponsoring the resolution did not stop this process either. For instance, the Office for Missing Persons that came about as a result of this resolution states that if a missing person is located, his status as missing cannot be changed without his explicit consent. The whole premise of bringing closure to his loved ones who do not know his fate is thus lost. Worse, Military officers accused for his disappearance can never clear their name or record. 

LLRC and Paranagama Commissions

Contrary to what many internationally think about the Sri Lanka Government trying to push war crime allegations under the carpet it is not true. After the war, Sri Lanka engaged in two mechanisms – the Lessons Learnt and the Reconciliation Commission and the Paranagama Commission. The LLRC was made up of some of the finest legal brains in Sri Lanka. Citizens of all walks of life were encouraged to share their experiences and opinions vis-a-vis the war and causes that led to the war. 

The Paranagama Commission, though a domestic mechanism, also included experts on warfare and International Humanitarian Laws as Sir Desmond Silva, Sir Rodney Nixon, Major General John Holmes, Sir Geoffrey Nice, Professors David Crane and Michael Newton. 

Both commissions found the Sri Lanka Military did not intentionally target civilians, nor commit war crimes. Yet, these findings did not stand a chance. 

Ban Ki-moon violates UN mandate

Before the LLRC was concluded, the then UNSG Ban Ki-moon initiated his own fact finding mission – the Panel of Experts who produced the controversial Darusman Report. Though he violated the UN mandate, he assured that it was for his own personal appraisal. 

Yet, the contents of this report was leaked and republished by other sources. Today, these contents despite its questionability are established as true and factual, when true facts are pushed out of sight. More damagingly, Ban Ki-moon undermined the domestic mechanism without due cause. 

President Gotabaya is not being unreasonable when he noted that allegations must be with evidence that can lead a solid investigation and the findings must be accepted. He demonstrated his sincerity during the recent allegation involving an employee from the Swiss Embassy. Even in his Ranawiru Day speech, he did not accuse or address any specific entity. 

However, all independent onlookers immediately linked this to the UN. This despite the Gotabaya Administration pledging at the recent UNHRC session to continue to work with the UNHRC. This means the onlookers are accusing the UN of needlessly targeting Sri Lanka with baseless accusations. This is a very serious charge and the UN must immediately conduct an internal investigation as to the reasons for this presumption. 

ranasingheshivanthi@gmail.com.

3 Responses to “The UN Needlessly Bulls Eyes Sri Lanka: Unsubstantiated Accusations”

  1. Ancient Sinhalaya Says:

    Destruction of the Sinhalese race, Sri Lanka and Buddhism started with parangi invasion. Parangi brought religion
    of convenience which made a lot of Sinhalese alien to Sinhalese Buddhists thinking they are a class above and
    they did a lot of damage to destroy Buddhism (the only true religion in the world), Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese
    race. Living example is traitor low life traitor chief die hard catholic token Buddhist mega thief mega thakkadiya, bay gal karaya, mass murderer (Sinhalese Buddhists only of course) Batalande wa(n)dakaya Pot Pot r@ni_leech wickrama Sinhala killer. Traitor chief’s wolf in sheep’s clothing disguise (that is catholic wolf in Buddhist’s clothing) did irreparable damage to Mother Lanka, Buddhism and the Sinhalese race to the delight of tamils, mussies and catholics. Thanks to traitor low life, Sri Lanka, Buddhism and the Sinhalese race are facing eternal threat from
    the traitor foreigners tamils and mussies.

    Dutch brought tamils from tn to work in tobacco plantations. Then British brought tamils again to work in tea
    plantations. Then a lot of kallathonis crossed the 16-miles of sea to save their lives from the severe famine in
    tn in the 60s. Knowing Sinhalese are divided thanks to anti Buddhist, anti Sri Lanka, anti Sinhalese, minority
    worshiping, Mother Lanka dismembering GooandPee aka UNPatriotic_rats, they have become natives with
    1000s of years of history without an ancient tamil brick older than 400 years to substantiate their bogus claim.
    No Anuradhapuras, no Polonnaruwas, their mythical kings lived in sand castles or used cow boy builders?

    While tamils stayed away from government, mussies after multiplying like , propped up every government
    since 60s, landed powerful ministries promoted even more mass breeding, and filled up all the ministries under
    them with mussies. So principled, so honest Sinhalese deshapaluwas never propped up any government and let
    the mussies in to do the destruction. We all know how honest our deshapaluwas are. Sinhala modayas let the mussies in.

    Today, both foreigners wants their exclusively them only kingdoms while living all over the country enjoying
    more benefits, freedom than the native Sinhalese. Divided Sinhalese are easy prey. Even these traitors get their drealam and mussisthan kingdoms, they will be fighting eternal wars to expand their territories and with their
    foreign backers Sinhalese are going to be refugees in their own land or going to be wiped out totally. Already Sinhalese are banned in N&E, and probably short-memoried Sinhalese already forgotten how traitor chief’s
    catholic buddy barrel man hitler mala paharan used a visa system for us to go to N&E. Don’t ask a GooandPeer
    or jaathidrohee vermins’ party aka jvper, he/she won’t remember that.

    Since parangi invasion, Sinhalese have become prisoners in their own land and situation getting worse. After
    killing 100,000+, mainly Sinhalese, to get their tamil drealam not a word to say sorry. Now the traitor foreigners
    getting ready again to kill 100s of 1000s of Sinhalese to get the drealam home and abroad. Meanwhile, other
    traitor lot mussies after multiplying like getting ready to kill Sinhalese by millions to establish its mussithan.

    Why do have to put up with these ungrateful menaces who don’t want to co-exist with us and plotting to kill us
    all. If the traitors get their kingdoms, Sinhalese going to lose all and become refugees in our own land. Do we
    want that, apart from the smanala gang who doesn’t have any off spring? Of course not. We should petition
    (e-petition) the government to send these people back to where they came from. After all Mr Modi recently
    opened the door for tamils to come any time.

    Mussies can go former Buddhist countries, iran, afganisthan, pakisthan, bangladesh, malaysia and indonesia (Google those countries’ Buddhist heritages) they turned to mussie after multiplying like . Or there are 80
    mussies countries they boast and halal, sharia, buriya, goni billa dress (high fashion in hell among ghosts),
    multi wives, child brides etc. etc. etc all there and don’t have to kill any Sinhalese to get them.

    650,000+ estate tamils volunteered to go back under patriotic Sirima B who negotiated Sirima-Shasthri Pact.
    Then while the repatriation going on she lost elections and traitor alugosuwa (to Sinhalese Buddhists only) thambi
    mudiyanselage jr@ gave citizenship to all of them for their votes. Today, they must be numbering 3-4 millions
    or even more and aspiring for a greater drealam (remember 2019 Presidential Elections voting map aka
    drealam map).

    Can we trust these foreigners? Their record during the last 400 years is abysmal (apart from Murali). Even to put
    up a name borad, to sing our Natioanl Anthem, keeping our archaelogical sites safe, living all parts of our own
    country etc etc we are banned or need their permission. Name any country on the planet in a sad situation like
    this letting foreigners to rule over them. Enough is enough and it’s time to claim our country back and win our freedom to go back pre parangi era. Now the traitor menace getting ready to annihilate us all.

    Petition GoSL to send them back to save the Sinhalese race. Or within a few hundred years there will be no Sinhalese left in Sinhale! For a start take the civic rights of Sinhalese, tamil and mussie deshapaluwas who
    brought Sri Lanka to where we are today. Hang traitor chief die hard catholic token Buddhist who did the most
    damage (other two alugosuwas are dead, thambi mudiyanselage jr@ and lk porisada R@). Their murder
    Sinhalese, get Sri Lanka to themselves only agenda destroyed the social fabric of the country. To avoid eternal bloodbaths and to avert extinction of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, PETITION the Government now to send these
    undesirables to where they came from! Then no UN, AI, AB, CD, EF, sooka yaka, maha sona, reeri yaka, macermutt, monkey boon (previously), david milibanda etc. etc. who putting screws into Mother Lanka for
    diasporats votes/payroll won’t make any noise. What’s more the paid foot soldiers will be pleading GoSL to keep
    these undesirables! Do it now to save Sinhalese race, Sri Lanka and Buddhism.

  2. Ancient Sinhalaya Says:

    SOME of the treacheries of Anti Sinhalese, anti Buddhist, anti Sri Lanka, minority worshiping, Mother Lanka dismembering GooandPee aka UNPatriotic_rats. Remember this is only some. You can’t see these in so called
    Buddhist Sri Lanka (on paper) where all the media are controlled by GooandPee henchmen. These will give you
    a clue to why Buddhist jaathidrohee vermins’ party aka mercilessly massacred and Batalande wa(n)dakaya’s
    catholic buddy barrel man hitler mala paharan’s terras were given all the support by Pol Pot to establish a
    catholic country in the N&E. GooandPee (catholic) controlled media gave an air of invincibility to the terras in
    order to Sinhalese to give up the fight.

    Remember Wa(n)dakaya’s Thoppi Gala is a jungle and its catholic buddy karunkaya saying going to Madawachchi and saying went to Kilinochchi? All to give up the fight and surrender half the country to barrel man hitler mala paharan. MR came, so called invincible terras were running for their lives. That’s how GooandPee destroyed Sinhalese race, Sri Lanka and Buddhism. Traitor alugosuwas (to Sinhalese Buddhists only) thambi mudiyanselage jr@, lk porisada R@, r@ni_leech Pol Pot did so much damage and totally destroyed us. Hang the traitor low life wickrama Sinhala killer to teach a lesson to future traitors a lesson. GooandPee sacrificed 60,000+ (Bheeshana samaya) and 100,000+, mainly Sinhalese, lives. Still some Sinhala dhrohiyas support the cancer in Mother Lanka GooandPee for a packet of rice/shot of arrack/a job/pint size house from sunken eyes from samagi jana balu wegaya (dog speed) etc. etc. etc. Can you believe?

    http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2016/05/27/ranil-wickremasinghes-new-unp-3/

    http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2017/08/09/ranil-wicremasinghes-crimes-against-sri-lanka-and-its-people-for-forty-years/

    http://ltte-christian-ties.blogspot.com/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV6_o9txURc

    http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/08/05/christianizing-of-sri-lanka-unps-betrayal-of-buddhism/

    http://www.lankagrid.com/soma-thero/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_eJ1gX_fuU

    http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2016/09/26/ltte-terrorism-church-links-can-someone-explain-these-photos/

  3. aloy Says:

    Shjvanthi, they must be knowing that ourlrisoners get right royal treatments at prisons

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