Sri Lanka confident of avoiding war crimes probe

by lalith | May 27, 2009 at 06:22 am
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by Mel Gunasekera Mel Gunasekera  

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Wednesday it was confident of averting an international probe into alleged war crimes committed during its blistering offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the island had managed to lobby enough backing during a special United Nations Human Rights Council session to fend off what he dismissed as little more than empty rhetoric.

"There is no reason for a probe. These are political statements made by various people. I don't think we should get excited about it," Samarasinghe told AFP by telephone from Geneva.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Tuesday said there was credible evidence that both Sri Lankan government forces and the defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) grossly violated international humanitarian laws.

"An independent and credible international investigation into recent events should be dispatched to ascertain the occurrence, nature and scale of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as specific responsibilities," she said.

The Tigers were accused of holding tens of thousands of Tamil civilians as human shields, while government troops were alleged to have subjected rebel-held areas packed with civilians to intense, indiscriminate shelling.

Hypothetically, if the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE are found to be guilty of war crimes, then they would have to suffer the consequences. Supposedly then, there would be some sort of action taken against the GoSL. The LTTE too. However, it would be interesting to see what the judgment of action to the LTTE would be and how the UN Human Rights Council will set about executing the judgement to them.

There is no LTTE. Would they get hold of K.Pathmanathan or Castro, or the LTTE supporters who protested on the streets. Perhaps, pro LTTE web sites and others who are now passively backing the now defunct terrorist organization by way of authoring articles and doctoring photographs will have to carry the can.

The days when the Europeans, most of them occupiers of foreign land at some stage in history are fast fading. They are seeing a rapid decline of 'yes' countries. The smaller countries, especially in the third world are standing up to these bullies. This is heartening.

The British have been really bad losers. The only time they moaned more than Prabhakaran's death was when England lost to Sri Lanka for the first time at Test Cricket match. Beaten by their one time subjects. Not acceptable.

Some of the smaller countries have been commenting about the initiative brought up by these European Nations.

Colonialist attitude behind convening the special session – Bolivia

Bolivia cannot endorse the colonialist attitude of certain countries that convened a special session on Sri Lanka, which it believes was uncalled for. Adding that the money used to convene this special session could have fed IDPs currently in camps in Sri Lanka.

Duty of Govt. to address whatever threat on nation’s sovereignty – Angola Whatever the threat is on the sovereignty of a nation be it internal or external the government has the right to address it in an appropriate manner, Angola tells UN HRC speaking on Sri Lanka. Angola also said that this is only a way of a government discharging its duties.
 
Bangladesh says it trusts Lankan Govt. to find enduring peace

Bangladesh speaking at the special session on Sri Lanka at the UN HRC in Geneva said that the Sri Lankan victory over terrorism allows the government to focus on rehabilitation and reconciliation. Also Bangladesh added that it trusted the Government of Sri Lanka to find enduring peace.

Pakistan congratulates Lanka for defeating terror

Pakistan congratulates Sri Lanka at UN HRC for defeating one of the most ruthless and dangerous terrorist groups in the world. Adding that a special session is a ‘sanctimonious’ and unnecessary.

Some countries have politicized the mission - India

India tells UN HRC that by forcing a special session on Sri Lanka, some countries have politicized the mission.

 

Several countries show open support to Lanka at UNHRC session

Among the countries openly supporting Sri Lanka at the on-going UNHRC sessions are African nations, Non-Aligned countries, India,Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia,Cuba, China and Russia.

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4
israeli.agent

Over to KTTEs (Keyboard TTE). Get,Set and Goooo..!

They too need some solace at times.


.Agent.

3
lalith

SRI LANKA PREVAILS AT UN HRC

The expanded draft resolution presented by Sri Lanka at the special session at the UN Human Rights Council has been adopted with 29 countries voting for, 12 against and 6 abstaining.

Addressing the final session of the 11th special session on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka a while ago, Professor Rajiva Wijesinha says that he was ‘horrified’ that one delegation spoke on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). “We do not want this session to resurrect the LTTE”.

2
Tamiya

Wow, your title itself is a tease to humanity in the world.

0
israeli.agent

....and then the 'diasporans' built the London Bridge.

 

.Agent.

2
lalith

Sri Lanka fought and beat the LTTE and killed Prabhakaran.

This time Sri Lanka fought the bullies, starting with Britain and it's idiot terrorist supporter Miliband and won.

What were these passive terrorist writers expect.

This time, the Sri Lanka lobby was stronger than the British French lobby and the LTTE money.


0
nimalru

Hang on a minute Mt Lalith. You have been posting Sri Lankan government propaganda materials for sometime. In your view UK, US and France are all LTTE supporters. You have fought one of the most cruelest war in the history of mankind by using banned weapons againist innocent civilans. You denied food and medicine to them. You denied access to the media so that you could hide all the war crimes. You know what, you can't deceive the world forever. Time has come for your leaders to stand before war crime courts. Your politicians tell nothing but lies. You always like you are ruling the whole world. IMF is blocking the aid becuase you use that money to kill people. You post these comments here becuase there is media freedom inn the west. But you block even very geniune web sites. You kill the journalists. You deport western diplomats.

You are not going to escape from the judgement that is going to come on you all.




0
lalith

Hey nimalru.

This is total sour grapes. The countries you have mentioned are not terrorist supporters, but they have some of the worst terrorist supporters of the worst terrorist group in the world (now defunct). In fact, if you read a bit, you will find that USA is fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and they also banned a set of fools called the LTTE.

I don't know where you are wrting all these from. You seem to be very naive and empty. I pity you.

By the way, I will wait for the judgment. Who is going to judge me? KP??



0
nimalru

Simple as this. Sri Lanka is a racist country. It treats Tamils as second class citizens. War on Terror is over but innocent Tamils are still brutally killed everywhere in Sri Lanka. The whole world is watching and the time has come for Sri Lanka to reap what it has sown. The way you fought war on Terror in Sri Lanka was very cruel. This is not my view but every sensible person on this earth would know what is happening in Sri Lanka. If I post a comment like this in your country, I will be dead in two days. Please don't talk great about a country that has become one of the most dangerours countries to live on this earth.



0
lalith

The most dangerous country on earth. Yes, for TERRORISTS. :-)

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