Tuesday, 11 February 2014 00:13
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The resolution on Sri Lanka, or at least a version of it, has finally seen the light of day when it was presented to the US Congress earlier this week. While it is likely that the original will undergo many changes before it reaches Geneva and in fact even while it is being mulled over by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), it is worth having a look at simply to understand what is ideally expected from the Government.
The resolution presented in the Senate on 6 February calls on the US and the international community to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to evaluate reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka.
This is ostensibly the worst nightmare of the Government and the foundation behind the threat made by British Prime Minister David Cameron in November during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Perhaps this is also what the Government is most prepared for since it has been systematically drumming up support for months.
Presidential envoys, Cabinet ministers and indeed even the President himself have been jetting around the world presenting the Government’s case. Newspaper reports indicate that Africa has become a special point of interest, presumably because they face many of the challenges that Sri Lanka does and would be more disposed to listening with a sympathetic ear.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris is in China at present on the same task. The world’s most populous nation together with Saudi Arabia and Russia will be UNHRC members that will likely empathise with the Government’s version of ground realities. Most analysts believe that the Government will once again do just enough to scrape by on this front.
However, the resolution also urges the Government of Sri Lanka to allow unimpeded access for media, international aid agencies and human rights groups into all regions of the country, as well as to detention sites that may hold political and war prisoners.
The Government of Sri Lanka has also been urged by the US Congress to end its media restrictions, including the obstacles to the flow of information in the north and east, and bring to justice those responsible for attacks on journalists and newspaper offices.
Finally, the resolution has called upon the President to develop a comprehensive policy towards Sri Lanka that reflects the United States’ interests, including respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, economic interests, and security interests.
These are all elements that have eluded the Rajapaksa regime. While it is realistic to expect these points to be watered down or indeed to disappear altogether in the weeks of diplomatic wrangling ahead, they nonetheless do not diminish in value and show how far the country still needs to go.
The fact that these ideals or goals are being held out by a country with double standards does not diminish their value. Issues such as increasing religious intolerance, systemic media suppression and sluggish accountability continue to undermine reconciliation. Regardless of what the final print of the resolution will contain, what will undoubtedly remain unchanged is the Government’s responsibility to ensure peace.
