Exclusion of Asia Pacific Group Nominee Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva from SAG
Posted on March 1st, 2012
SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Madame Louise Frechette
Chair of the UN Senior Advisory GroupƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On Peacekeeping Operations
405 East 42nd Street
UN Headquarters
New York, New York 10016, USA
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dear Madame,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Exclusion of Asia Pacific Group Nominee Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva from SAG
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are shocked to learn that you have debarred Major General Shavendra Silva who was nominated by the Asia Pacific Group in accordance with standing procedures from participating in the deliberations of the UN Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You have not only abused your authority in denying a member state nominee duly appointed in accordance with established UN procedure from taking part in the affairs of the SAG relating to peacekeeping operations, but also treated Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva at the third session of the SAG held on February 23, 2012, like an outcast, by instructing the other members from speaking to him or sharing any discussion papers at the meeting.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This conduct on your part is most unbecoming of a leader, especially one attached to the United Nations where members of all nations meet as equals to peacefully resolve issues affecting the world at large.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We recall your highly contemptible conduct in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Iraqi Oil For Food ProgramƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ involving the substantial sum of $110 billion, where you obstructed the audit report pertaining to irregularities from reaching the Security Council which was responsible for overseeing the program, as disclosed on page 186 of Paul VolckerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s independent committee report released thereafter following their review.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Major General Shavendra Silva is a heroic military leader who along with his fellow commanders of other divisions routed the well entrenched fighting forces of the Tamil Tiger terrorists regarded as the most brutal terror group by the FBI, that had earlier inflicted heavy damage on the Indian Peace Keeping Forces, battling them on the hot sandy beaches, marshy terrain and jungles of Sri Lanka to end 33 years of unbridled terrorism and restore the right to life of all ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ her 22 million citizens belonging to all of the constituent communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In addition, he and his brave soldiers were able to rescue nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians held hostage by the Tamil Tiger terrorists, to be used as a human shield and bargaining factor, causing minimum harm to these internally displaced Tamil civilians who had been forcibly herded and moved out of their villages by the Tigers as they retreated.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ General Silva represents a country which has willingly contributed troops to the UN for peacekeeping operations in many theatres, and he is therefore a worthy member of the SAG on Peacekeeping who is in a position to make a valuable contribution to your deliberations.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Your ill conceived decision to ostracize Major General Shavendra Silva based on unsubstantiated allegations of war crimes coming from prejudiced sources which are unproven to date, is a serious error on your part of giving credence to tattle tales and rumours carried in reports prepared by rights groups and the UNSGƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Panel based many thousand miles away from the actual battleground long after the conclusion of the military action against the Tamil Tiger terrorists who thrust the war on the Sri Lankan state, clearly showing that you are a very poor judge and unfit to lead.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ No member nation with an iota of self honour will be willing to overlook your high handed act and submit to your unlawful machinations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As Canadians of Sri Lankan origin, we are firstly ashamed to find a Canadian acting like a tin pot dictator ignoring the rules and humiliating the nominee of the Asia Pacific Group who belongs to a member state which enjoys equal status.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are also angry that you have foolishly sought to ostracize a duly elected nominee from Sri Lanka which is our motherland, also humiliate him and attempt to block his participation in the work of the SAG on Peacekeeping.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You should seriously consider resigning from your office forthwith, as you do not even have a fig leaf of reason to cover your nakedness in the eyes of the world.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yours truly,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahinda Gunasekera
Honorary President
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Copy to:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ H.E. Ban ki-Moon, Secretary General, United NationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:40 am
Well said Mahinda. Any self respecting nation or nations should not ignore the issue.It is highly unlikely that rules of conduct of a meeting give power to a chair to exclude a rep. from member nations.An investigation is needed as to who funded terrorists and terrorism. In a nutshell, terrorism was funded by bogus refugees, residing in Western countries. Terrorism made life hell and unlivable for Sri Lankans for 30 years. Major S took a role in bringing peace to the nationb by ending terrorism funded by the West. Is that the reason West is unhappy ? Sri Lanka defeated terrorism that was aimed at dividing Lanka. Are they contiuing to play te divide and rule policy ?
March 2nd, 2012 at 2:55 pm
The Wolf and the Lamb Fable. Sri Lanka is the Lamb and USA is the Wolf.
Once upon a time a hungry, starving Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside, when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to drink a little lower down. ” I am hungry, my cubs are starving, there’s our supper,” thought he, “if only I can find some excuse to seize it.” Then he called out to the Lamb, “How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?”
“No Mister Wolf, no” said the little Lamb; “if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.”
“Well, then,” said the Wolf, “why did you call me bad names this time last year?”
“That cannot be,” said the Lamb; “I am only six months old.”
“I don’t care,” snarled the wicked, stinking Wolf; “if it was not you it was your father;” and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb to kill it. The Lamb ran for its life and yelled, “Any excuse will serve a tyrant.”