Monday, 2 September 2013 00:09
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Says Pillay transgressed her mandate, made political statements about authoritarianism
“Country’s leadership better decided by the people rather than external entities with vested interests”: Govt.
“Surreptitious effort” by Pillay to pay floral tribute at Mullivaikal says Info Dept.
Claims High Commissioner made much of a Buddhist flag at Independence Square
The Government yesterday hit back hard at UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s statement at a press briefing, saying the visiting envoy had transgressed her mandate, made political statements, manipulated the Sri Lankan media and made much of a Buddhist flag at Independence Square.
Pillay had transgressed her mandate and the norms that should be observed by a discerning international civil servant, the Government said in response to the visiting High Commissioner’s claims that “Sri Lanka was heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction.”
“The judgment on the leadership of the country is better left for the people of Sri Lanka to decide, than being caricatured by external entities influenced by vested interests,” the Government Information Department charged in a press release issued last night.The Government accused Pillay’s delegation of having made what it called a “surreptitious effort” to pay a floral tribute at Mullivaikkal, in the final theatre of battle with the LTTE in the Wanni.
“It was pointed out by the Sri Lankan side to the OHCHR delegation that if such a gesture needed to be made it should be done at a venue common to all victims of the 30 year terrorist conflict and not on the grounds where the LTTE leader met his death,” the Information Department added, saying the event was brought to the attention of the Government only a few hours prior to being held.
“On inquiry it became evident that the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, who represents the UN Secretary General, was unaware of this planned event,” the Department said.
It accused Pillay’s delegation of directly inviting three television agencies from Geneva, well in advance of her visit to Sri Lanka to cover the floral tribute at Mullivaikal.
The Government said it was demonstrating selective manipulation of the media in Sri Lanka. “Following the GOSL communicating the inappropriateness of this act, based on it being a selective commemoration of victims of the terrorist conflict, and the High Commissioner deciding to cancel that program, these television crews were granted brief interviews by her in other locations,” the media release from the Government said.
The Department also charged that it was inappropriate for the UN High Commissioner to “propose the assignments of cabinet portfolios of a sovereign nation” referring to her proposal that the Police should be under the Ministry of Justice.
“It has been explained during the meetings the unacceptability of this position, as it is not in accordance with the established procedures of Sri Lanka, since the Police Department has consistently been under the Ministry of Defence and only briefly under an Interior Ministry,” the release said. The Law and Order Ministry is a civilian ministry brought under the President, the Government said.
The Department release also expressed surprise at Pillay’s statement that the Government had seemed to “downplay” the issue of incitement of hatred and violence against religious minorities.
“Further, much was made by the High Commissioner of having seen a Buddhist flag aloft at Independence Square. It was pointed out to her that only the National Flag and other relevant flags for a national event fly on the main flag post at the Independence Square. Subsequently, it was found that the Buddhist flag under reference was flying adjacent to Independence Square,” the Department release said.
“It may be noted that the Constitution of Sri Lanka provides the foremost place to Buddhism, while assuring all religions their rights. Her disproportionate singling out the flying of a Buddhist flag as an issue is regrettable, given that there are many countries where state and religion go hand in hand,” the Government release said.
Referring to claims made by Pillay that there had been reprisals against those who spoke with her in the north and east, the Government said that it had sought details regarding these allegations but to date no information has been forthcoming from the UN.
