UN diluted ‘war crimes’ report following MR’s defeat–govt Prez, PM blame media for false ‘CEPA’ reports ‘Govt sans Mahinda good for country’
Posted on September 19th, 2015
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday claimed the recently released Geneva report that dealt with accountability issues during the conflict would have been a 1,000 times worse than the one the country was confronted with had there been a government under Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The January 8 revolution prompted the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to dilute the report; President Maithripala Sirisena told a hastily arranged media conference at the President’s House yesterday evening.
Addressing print and electronic media representatives, President Maithripala Sirisena said that had the Rajapaksas remained in power some persons could have been named in the report. The President asserted that the report released at the on-going 30th sessions of the UNHRC was comparatively a moderate one. The change of Sri Lanka’s approach to foreign relations, constitutional reforms, release of land held by the military, relief to the war affected, measures to alleviate the suffering of Tamil speaking people as well as national reconciliation process under former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga influenced the international community to accommodate Sri Lanka.
The President expressed the opinion that the country couldn’t have survived without forming a government sans Mahinda Rajapaksa. That was the reality, the President said.
The President repeatedly urged the media to highlight the crisis the country could have faced in case Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected. Accusing the media of conveniently turning a blind eye to reality, thereby undermining stability, President Maithripala Sirisena said that there was a long way to achieve national reconciliation.
President Maithripala Sirisena appreciated efforts made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to shape up Sri Lanka’s foreign policy.
Responding to strong criticism of the Geneva report, President Maithripala Sirisena said that the government was prepared to meet any eventuality. The President alleged that certain extremist elements would try to cause trouble. The President emphasised the need on the part of both print and electronic media to be more responsible in their reportage of the Geneva issue.
Strongly defending the government’s handling of the Geneva challenge, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe queried the stand taken by the media on accountability issues. The UNP leader said that due to measures which had been taken by them since the January 8 revolution, no one was named in the report. The Premier maintained that the setting up of the proposed investigative mechanism would be the prerogative of the government of Sri Lanka. Commenting on the proposed formation of a hybrid court to try those who had been allegedly responsible for war time atrocities, the premier said that a decision would be taken after having considered all reports, including the Geneva one as well as those prepared on the instructions of the previous government.
The Premier rejected the suggestion that the parliament should pass an Indemnity Bill to pardon those who had committed battlefield atrocities. An irate Premier queried whether those who wanted an Indemnity Bill believed in clearing all wrongdoers.
Restating that no one had been mentioned in the recently released Geneva report, the Premier strongly criticised a section of the media for propagating lies regarding signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during his recent visit to New Delhi.
President Maithripala Sirisena too, strongly refuted recent media reports pertaining to high level talks between the governments of India and Sri Lanka regarding CEPA. The President insisted that there hadn’t been any movement relating to CEPA since the January presidential poll.
A visibly agitated Prime Minister said that some print media went to the extent of carrying advertisements regarding CEPA while he was in New Delhi. The Premier said that taxes were being contemplated on advertising.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said Western powers would have crippled Sri Lanka if Mahinda Rajapaksa regained power at the January polls. There could have been travel ban imposed on the former leader and other government figures, including military top brass, economic sanctions as well as bilateral restrictions imposed by the US and the EU.
September 20th, 2015 at 7:12 am
Mahinda answered all his accusers well and we were sure that our country would have been in a better position than today if Mahinda was our leader. This whole thing was a coup planned by foreign and local elements for long time. America and India was behind it and they gave lessons to the coup plotters in their own countries. Somehow the change they expected happened on Jan 8th and then on Aug 17th. They knew in advance who will be our Prime Minister because that’s the plan of the reactionary forces in the west and Indian parasites. Now they are all praising Sira and his Govt except the citizens of this country. They themselves boasts about their achievements during last nine months which was all bogus and corrupt. crime rate is up,essential food prices are up,Rupee is down,thuggery and Intimidation by Govt rampart, any fool can see where the country is moving but still these traitors are conning the people in this country by saying sweet words to fool the stupids who believe in them.
Politicians and the media brainwash the people with lies and one sided information. Very difficult to find the truth these days. This Govt does the same wrong doings which the previous Govt did and there is no change in Governing or the people who Governs. Politicians on both sides are corrupt and liars.We need a Sinhala Buddhist patriot who loves this country truthfully to lead us if we want to make our country the wonder of Asia if not it will be the same old country with these coward western backed traitors who are Governing this country today. We have a President who changes his words every now and then and we have a Prime Minister who behave like a thug using bad words on MP’s and Govern like a Dictator. When there will be a Sinhala Buddhist as a true leader to rule our blessed country? We are waiting for that day to come on our way some day.