Evaluation time?

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 00:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE drums are rumbling again. As the Government prepares to face the next round of UN Human Rights Council sessions, the possible fallout from them continues to grow. The Sri Lankan delegation left for the UN on Monday, carrying the hopes of the Sri Lankan Government.

Their task has been made tougher after a top US Government official stated that the United States would support a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council session to pressure the Sri Lankan Government to address alleged war crimes.

Addressing a media briefing, US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Maria Otero confirmed that the US would support a resolution that provides an opportunity for the Government of Sri Lanka to describe what it intends to do to implement the LLRC’s recommendations and advance reconciliation, as well as address accountability, human rights and democracy concerns.

Former Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert O. Blake who was also present at the briefing added that the US was insistent on a clear policy to address accountability of alleged war crimes and expected the Government to have a clear and fast route to resolve political power sharing issues. He also insisted that any attempt to put forward a power sharing mechanism should be based on discussions between the Tamil National Alliance and the Government, lessening the emphasis on the Parliamentary Select Committee currently being promoted by the Government.

On the positive side, they commended the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) report urged the Government to implement it as soon as possible. It is likely that strong measures to reduce militarisation of society and release names of detainees together with other specific recommendations in the report will go a long way to lessening the pressure on Sri Lanka. Overall, it would be in the country’s best interest if the Government increased the independence of the judiciary, promoted democracy and battled corruption more effectively. It would have the double efficiency of promoting human rights and obtaining a better response from the UN Human Rights Council.

The UNHCR has also in a letter to the UN Secretary General demanded reasons as to why Major General Shavendra Silva was appointed to a UN task force despite war crimes allegations being levelled against him. The ghosts of the Darusman report are lurking in the shadows and Sri Lanka has to gather all its forces to meet this old challenge in a new battle.

The Government has already taken steps to send its envoys to drum up support around the world and it is likely that China will continue to back Sri Lanka. Appointing of a ministerial sub-committee to implement a human rights plan as well as the short time lapse since the release of the LLRC report might stand the country in good stead. Yet, the overall issue of alleged war crimes and the nonappearance of a clear proposal for political power sharing could have a strong effect on Sri Lanka presenting a credible case before the UN.

It is time for Sri Lanka to rediscover its allies and see how the rest of the world views the country.