By Niranjan Rambukwella –
The Member of Parliament from Kurunegala, Mahinda Rajapaksa, not too long ago released a statement explaining his position on the lately released United Nations investigation into allegations of human rights abuses and crimes that occurred in the course of and after the war in Sri Lanka. His statement contained five main factual inaccuracies.
1. “The investigation on Sri Lanka was not carried out by an independent Commission of Inquiry but for the really initial time, by the OHCHR.”
This was not the very first time the OHCHR has carried out an investigation. Other investigations contain the OHCHR investigations into Darfur in 2004, and the investigations on Afghanistan and Kyrgystan. These have been all carried out by the OHCHR.
two. “Similarly, I as well had to go against the wishes of certain strong nations to defeat terrorism and bring peace to this country.”
The LTTE is banned in the United States, EU and India. The US and India both supplied vital intelligence, instruction and military gear that played a crucial role in the defeat of the LTTE. EU nations also assisted with coaching and gear. There is no basis for saying that these nations did not want the LTTE defeated.
three. “Some politicians have been telling the individuals that all these international initiatives are based on my joint communiqué with the UN Secretary Basic of 23 May possibly 2009. I see that as a deliberate try to mislead the individuals and seek justification for their own cooperation with interventionist foreign forces.”
These are the words of the Mahinda Rajapaksa-Ban Ki-moon Joint Communique, “The Secretary General underlined the value of an accountability method for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The Government will take measures to address those grievances .” Dayan’s renowned congratulatory but self-defeating resolution in 2009, created this guarantee to the complete world, it “welcomes the check out to Sri Lanka of the Secretary-Common of the United Nations at the invitation extended by the President of Sri Lanka, and endorses the joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the check out as properly as the understandings contained therein”
4. “The most that can be accomplished with a report of this nature is to suggest the setting up of a war crimes tribunal and that has been done.”
The report could have completed a great deal a lot more than advocate a tribunal. It could have advised referral to the Safety Council, it could have named men and women and it could have advised an international tribunal. It could even have advised financial sanctions.
five. “Some seem to believe that had my government still been in energy, this report may possibly have led to financial sanctions becoming imposed on Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, neither the UNHRC nor the OHCHR can impose financial sanctions on a country.”
As these are UN reports and taken extremely seriously by the whole world, if the OHCHR recommended sanctions, it is very likely that the economy would have been in tatters. The OHCHR report would have led to numerous governments thinking about sanctions. The little investment Sri Lanka received would have dried up, tourist arrivals would decline, the interest prices Sri Lanka pays would rise and access to concessionary finance would be even a lot more difficult. Furthermore, it would make it extremely challenging for the US and EU, which account for more than half our exports, to not have targeted sanctions and travel bans. In a couple of years the Rajapaksas lost GSP+, with a damning report recommending economic sanctions, the Sri Lankan economy would have been in free of charge fall.
The query we want to ask is, why does Mahinda keeping lying to us?