U.S. wants speedy progress in Sri Lanka reconciliation process
Posted on September 14th, 2012
R. K. Radhakrishnan Courtesy The Hindu
The Hindu United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Blake. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan
United States wants the Sri Lankan government to show ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-accelerated progressƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in speeding up the process of reconciliation and granting of political rights to the Tamils of the North.
Asked to elaborate on what ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-accelerated progressƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ meant, United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Blake said here on Friday that it is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-incumbent on the government to show that it is committed by doing everything it can, as quickly as possible, the full range of actions that were mentioned in the LLRC [Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission] report.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Mr. Blake, who is here on a three-day visit, said that he had ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-wide-ranging and productive series of meetingsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ with political leaders, business community leaders and members of civil society. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I discussed in all our meetings the need for accelerated progress to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the National Action Plan. I emphasised the importance of progress in reducing the role and profile of the military in the North, and full respect for human rights,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he said.
Emphasising that implementation of the LLRC – the report that went into the causative factors of the war that split the Sinhala and Tamil communities and suggested remedial action – was the best way to achieve progress for Sri Lanka, Mr. Blake said that it was desirable to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-move forward as quickly as possibleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and implement the action plan.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I just feel there are a lot of questions on how quickly Sri Lanka is committed to moving ahead on this,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he said.
Drawing a comparison between the North and the East, he said that elections to the Eastern Provincial council were held just a year after the East was free of Tamil Tigers. Three years after the war was won, North still did not have a provincial council. In his meetings with senior Sri Lankan government officials in Colombo, he urged that the Northern Provincial Council elections be held as soon as possible. He also ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-encouraged an early resumption of talks between the TNA and the government to agree on powers to be devolved to the provinces.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-On issues of accountability, it is our hope that three years after the end of the conflict, there can be a credible and transparent accounting, investigation and prosecution of some of the outstanding and serious allegations of human rights violations, as well as progress on the missing,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he said, and added that accountability is a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-very important part of the reconciliation process.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Mr. Blake, a former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, introduced the new Ambassador to Sri Lanka and The Maldives, Michele Sison, who arrived last week. Ms. Sison had earlier served in the region in Chennai, as Consul General for South India.
September 14th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
SL wants USA to do more in speedy progress in Afghanistan reconciliation.
Militarisation of Afghanistan must stop.
USA must reduce the role and profile of the military in Afghanistan, and fully respect human rights, stop drone attacks.
We also encourage early resumption of talks between Al Qaeda and USA government for a political solution.
On issues of accountability in Afghanistan, it is our hope that there can be a credible and transparent accounting, investigation and prosecution of some of the outstanding and serious allegations of human rights violations, as well as progress on the missing,
September 14th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Lorenzo a brilliant comment. You nailed that blake, the yankie jaffa in to wall.
September 14th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Hey, Robert Blake, what happend to your 13A? Now where is the Co-Chair with Japanese Akasi? Those were the days. you and Akasi had a field day with the Co-Chair Party in New York. Comedy actors like you, Hilary Clinton and Susan Rice imagines that the world stands still but it doesn’t. Susan Rice refers to Sinhala as Sinhalese. This shows the very thing I am referring to; post May 19th 2009, even more, because the word “Sinhalese” is a word coming from the British Colonial time frame. Wait for this weekend news paper Editorials, your beloved 13A is challenged. President Rajapakse will not have a choice but to nullify it. Now what Robert Blacke, you only got the LLRC. Eventually it will be challenged in the supreme court.
September 14th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Blake waiting for power devolution to LTTNA so that he can enjoy young girls in Kilinochchi.
September 15th, 2012 at 1:24 am
Commendable, Lorenzo
September 15th, 2012 at 1:59 am
Thanks Lorenzo,great artical,
I just want ask Blake guy,who the hell are you to tell Sri Lanka how to security our country,when last 30years this terriest killing our citizen,what are you do,did you advise to Sri Lanka how to secure citizens for last 30 years. Mr Blake you donkey, you have moor problem than Sri Lanka,we can afford to look after ourself, Arab spring is back firering, to killing you’re country ambassador,you have bigger problem than Sri Lanka have, I think at this point you need Sri Lanka help to eradicate terreist in world.
September 15th, 2012 at 2:22 am
Cheers gentlemen.
September 15th, 2012 at 6:52 am
LORENZO !!! YOU HAVE ACHIEVED ” CELEBRITY ” STATUS. I love that comment.
September 15th, 2012 at 8:12 am
ROB OH !! Belek Kade, Tamil DI-AS-PARIAH wa ge Dollar Nottu aragene, oya Lanka wata enne, thawath Gunduwak aragenay. Redda asse inna Sarapaya wage. Dath set ekke hondai tooth-paste jingle ehekata. Parana Jingle ekak:- You wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.