Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Saturday, 2 March 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Dharisha Bastians
No-Action-Talk-Only (NATO) appeared to be the underlining criticism against Sri Lanka when the US fired a fresh salvo on Thursday at the ongoing UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) sessions.
The US rapped Sri Lanka for a lack of genuine action on the part of the Sri Lankan Government to address reconciliation issues and investigate allegations of war crimes, and expressed concern about recent attempts to undermine judicial independence in the country.
In the strongest criticism of Sri Lanka’s post war progress yet by the US since the UN Human Rights Council’s 22nd Session commenced on Monday (25), the US Delegation to the UN in Geneva said Sri Lanka must promptly implement the constructive recommendations of its own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission.
Echoing sentiments expressed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in her report to the Council on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation, the US Delegation said it shared the High Commissioner’s “concerns about the Government’s lack of genuine action on these issues as well as its recent efforts to undermine the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law.”
The US Delegation was addressing the Council during General Debate regarding the annual report presented by High Commissioner Pillay on Thursday.
“Sri Lanka must address accountability for violations of international law and investigate allegations of war crimes,” the US Delegation said. The US said it was imperative to promote reconciliation and accountability through transitional justice when conflicts end.
“We stand ready with OHCHR to help Sri Lanka address outstanding issues related to reconciliation, democratic governance and accountability,” the US Delegation noted.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Interactive Dialogue with High Commissioner Pillay, Germany hit back at remarks by Sri Lankan Head of Delegation Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, saying the High Commissioner and her team were being subject to “unjustified criticism.”
German Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Hanns H. Schumacher told High Commissioner Pillay that it was his impression that she was “personally and increasingly subject to unfair criticism.” He said that the statement delivered during Wednesday’s High Level Segment by Cabinet Minister Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka was an illustration of his point.
“Madam High Commissioner, your matter of fact but well founded presentation remains silent on the difficult circumstances in which your team and yourself have to do your work and on the extent also to which you are personally, and according to my own impression, increasingly faced with unjustified criticism,” Ambassador Schumacher said.
