19 March, 2024

Blog

Government Needs To Commit To More Than Commissions 

By Jehan Perera

Jehan Perera

Preparing for the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council cannot be easy for a government that was elected on a nationalist platform that was very critical of international intervention. When the government declared its intention to withdraw from Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship of the October 2015 resolution No. 30/1 last February, it may have been hoping that this would be the end of the matter. However, this is not to be. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s report that will be taken up at the forthcoming UNHRC session in March contains a slate of proposals that are severely punitive in nature and will need to be mitigated. These include targeted economic sanctions, travel bans and even the involvement of the International Criminal Court.

Since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s visit in May 2009 just a few days after the three decade long war came to its bloody termination, Sri Lanka has been a regular part of the UNHRC’s formal discussion and sometimes even taking the centre stage. Three resolutions were passed on Sri Lanka under acrimonious circumstances, with Sri Lanka winning the very first one, but losing the next two. As the country became internationally known for its opposition to revisiting the past, sanctions and hostile propaganda against it began to mount. It was only after the then Sri Lankan government in 2015 agreed to co-sponsor a fresh resolution did the clouds begin to dispel.

Clearly in preparation for the forthcoming UNHRC session in Geneva in March, the government has finally delivered on a promise it made a year ago at the same venue. In February 2020 Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena sought to prepare the ground for Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from co-sponsorship of UN Human Rights Council resolution No 30/1 of 2015. His speech in Geneva highlighted two important issues. The first, and most important to Sri Lanka’s future, was that the government did not wish to break its relationships with the UN system and its mechanisms. He said, “Sri Lanka will continue to remain engaged with, and seek as required, the assistance of the UN and its agencies including the regular human rights mandates/bodies and mechanisms in capacity building and technical assistance, in keeping with domestic priorities and policies.”

Second, the Foreign Minister concluding his speech at the UNHRC session in Geneva saying “No one has the well-being of the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multicultural people of Sri Lanka closer to their heart, than the Government of Sri Lanka. It is this motivation that guides our commitment and resolve to move towards comprehensive reconciliation and an era of stable peace and prosperity for our people.” On that occasion the government pledged to set up a commission of inquiry to inquire into the findings of previous commissions of inquiry. The government’s action of appointing a sitting Supreme Court judge as the chairperson of a three member presidential commission of inquiry into the findings and recommendations of earlier commissions and official bodies can be seen as the start point of its response to the UNHRC.

Negative Response

The government’s setting up of a Commission of Inquiry has yet to find a positive response from the international and national human rights community and may not find it at all. The national legal commentator Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena has written that “the tasks encompassed within its mandate have already been performed by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC, 2011) under the term of this President’s brother, himself the country’s Executive President at the time, Mahinda Rajapaksa.” Amnesty International has stated that “Sri Lanka has a litany of such failed COIs that Amnesty International has extensively documented.” It goes on to quote from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that “Domestic processes have consistently failed to deliver accountability in the past and I am not convinced the appointment of yet another Commission of Inquiry will advance this agenda. As a result, victims remain denied justice and Sri Lankans from all communities have no guarantee that past patterns of human rights violations will not recur.”

It appears that the government intends its appointment of the COI to meet the demand for accountability in regard to past human rights violations. Its mandate includes to “Find out whether preceding Commissions of Inquiry and Committees which have been appointed to investigate into human rights violations, have revealed any human rights violations, serious violations of the international humanitarian law and other such serious offences.” In the past the government has not been prepared to accept that such violations took place in a way that is deserving of so much of international scrutiny. Time and again the point has been made in Sri Lanka that there are no clean wars fought anywhere in the world.

International organizations that stands for the principles of international human rights will be necessarily be acting according to their mandates. These include seeking the intervention of international judicial mechanisms or seeking to promote hybrid international and national joint mechanisms within countries in which the legal structures have not been successful in ensuring justice. The latter was on the cards in regard to Resolution 30/1 from which the government withdrew its co-sponsorship. The previous government leaders who agreed to this resolution had to publicly deny any such intention in view of overwhelming political and public opposition to such a hybrid mechanism. The present government has made it clear that it will not accept international or hybrid mechanisms.

Sequential Implementation

In the preamble to the establishment of the COI the government has made some very constructive statements that open up the space for dialogue on issues of accountability, human rights and reconciliation. It states that “the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka is to continue to work with the United Nations and its Agencies to achieve accountability and human resource development for achieving sustainable peace and reconciliation, even though Sri Lanka withdrew from the co-sponsorship of the aforesaid resolutions” and further goes on to say that “the Government of Sri Lanka is committed to ensure that, other issues remain to be resolved through democratic and legal processes and to make institutional reforms where necessary to ensure justice and reconciliation.”

As the representative of a sovereign state, the government cannot be compelled to either accept international mechanisms or to prosecute those it does not wish to prosecute. At the same time its willingness to discuss the issues of accountability, justice and reconciliation as outlined in the preamble can be considered positively. The concept of transitional justice on which Resolution No 30/1 was built consists of the four pillars of truth, accountability, reparations and institutional reform. There is international debate on whether these four pillars should be implemented simultaneously or whether it is acceptable that they be implemented sequentially depending on the country context.

The government has already commenced the reparations process by establishing the Office for Reparations and to allocate a monthly sum of Rs 6000 to all those who have obtained Certificates of Absence (of their relatives) from the Office of Missing Persons. This process of compensation can be speeded up, widened and improved. It is also reported that the government is willing to consider the plight of suspected members of the LTTE who have been in detention without trial, and in some cases without even being indicted, for more than ten years. This contrasts with the release of those detained following the Easter Sunday bombings. The sooner action is taken the better.

With regard to institutional reform which is a part of transitional justice that underlay the UNHRC resolution that the government has withdrawn from, the constitutional reform process can address unresolved issues. A reduction in powers to the presidentially appointed governors would facilitate more to be done for people by the provincial councils. Setting a date for the provincial council elections would be another confidence boosting measure. The government can also seek the assistance of the international community, and India in particular, to develop the war affected parts of the country on the lines of the Marshall Plan that the United States utilized to rebuild war destroyed parts of Europe. Member countries of the UNHRC need to be convinced that the government’s actions will take forward the national reconciliation process to vote to close the chapter on UNHRC resolution 30/1 in March 2021.

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Latest comments

  • 46
    4

    Most Sinhalese writers including Jehan Perera gloss over things to make the Sinhalese Buddhist racist state look genuine and trustworthy.

    It is not: Sinhalese driven Sri Lankan state wants to buy as much time as possible while it is dismantling the Tamil nation in the island by various means.

    Most importantly its deadly armed forces are stationed in the North-East to subjugate the Tamil speaking people and instill fear.

    Even more virulent is the accelerated colonization of the North and East with Sinhalese from the South.

    Deeds of the Sri Lankan state and its Sinhalese agents in power speak louder than all the commissions and their actions – it is eye wash while they dismantle the Tamil nation within.

    I would say that most Sinhalese writers contribute to this eye wash while they clearly know the ground reality in the North and East of the island.

    • 4
      27

      Tamils are no different.

      • 3
        1

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      • 4
        2

        Jadam we all know that you are an opportunistic Sinhalese racist or Southern Sri Lankan Muslim , who is working for the Sinhalese establishment or even for some outside power, to deliberately create a rift between the island’s Tamils and Tamil Muslims , that they can be divided and ruled . This is why at a drop of a hat , you promote an artificial Muslim ethnicity and a separate state for Muslims , that is then urged to join with their former Sinhalese allies, who now constantly discriminate and kill them. Other than during the LTTE period , the Tamil people have never had bad relations with the Muslims. Even this was due to Muslim spying and partnership with the Sinhalese . However the Sinhalese have a history of marginalising every minority , when the opportunity arises , even when they cooperated with them in the Eelam Tamil genocide

        • 4
          1

          Under the guise of a Islamic homeland , what you and your masters are trying to do is , steal more Tamil land , especially in the east and merge it with Sinhalese land. I can see through your game. Strange all this so called Islamic homeland with this artificial Muslim ethnicity is all situated only in the Tamil areas, despite the fact 72% of the island’s Muslims live amongst the Sinhalese and there are many Muslim majority areas down south. This fake ethnicity and claim for a homeland for a people who only migrated from South India , a few centuries ago largely as refugees, and had no history of owning or ruling a land or having a homeland here , and are ethnic Tamil converts to Islam ,with a dash of Arab does not hold but you keep on trying , as a ploy to steal more Tamil lands for the Sinhalese

          • 4
            1

            The North and East are the ancient homeland of the indigenous Eelam Tamils but now the homeland of all the island’s three Tamil speaking or Tamil communities. The indigenous Hindu and Christian Eelam Tamils, The Indian origin estate or Malayaka Thamilar who have lived in the island for more than two centuries , and the Muslim Tamils who have been now living in the north and east for a few centuries. All three Tamil people can thrive and live as equals here and practice their own religions. Do not try to create mischievous artificial divisions and unworkable Bantustans within this Tamil homeland , so that it benefits the Sinhalese racists and the Sinhalese or Islamic extremists can create havoc and steal more lands from this common Tamil homeland. United we stand as a powerful 25% joint Tamil minority to thwart state sponsored Sinhalese racism . Divided like now as indigenous Eelam , Indian origin and Muslim we will all ultimately perish. The Sinhalese have been cunningly using one Tamil speaking community against the other to marginalise all the three Tamil people and become more powerful. The Muslims should have learnt this. There was and still a far greater division between the Kandyan Sinhalese who are more closely related to the Sri Lankan Tamils and the low country Sinhalese who are mostly South Indian immigrant converts to Sinhalese Buddhism or Catholism and are very closely

            • 3
              1

              Sorry Catholicism and are very closely related to the Indian Tamils. Yet the Sinhalese gloss over these division and show are united front.

    • 18
      0

      Look at the picture
      .
      Pictures worth 1000 words. All high criminals are flanked to one another.
      :
      Only man out of Rajaakshes family is that GLP (the man who betrayed OXFORD qualifications) I really dont know hy GLP is doing this. What has he got to gain ?

      • 4
        0

        He is the adopted grand pappa of the Rajapakshe family. Name is G.L. Rajapakshe not Peiris anymore which is an insult to all other Peiris famalies. The shameless bastard has betrayed even his own mother what a pathetic human being.

        • 3
          0

          Thiha,
          Let s call him GL RAJAPAKSHE.
          .
          I wonder what his FAMILY would say about “GLP POLITICS”. These men would never be able to shed their last breath easily.
          :
          As we know whatever we deliberately do wrong, would come back on us. Look as MAHINDA RAJAPKSHE s situation today. Greedy guy cant even move from A to B, nor can he speak 2 sentences without being caught by unexplainable tiredness.

          • 1
            0

            The real meaning of Hybrid is Offspring of two animals or Plants of different species; person of mixed nationality ; thing composed of incongruous elements (means out of place or absurd) , which clearly suitable to Rajapaksa clan shown in the photo with an absent minded professor staked in the middle. Any way Sri lanka moving towards a tyranny that’s going to be worst than Trumpism.

    • 2
      0

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

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    • 3
      1

      Justice was delivered in East Timor, Bosnia and South Sudan only by international intervention. This is the same for Tamils. India backed by Europe and USA should intervene militarily to liberate Tamils from the clutches of Sinhala terrorists. Take over Katchativu for the start and ban Sri Lanka navy on the sea separating India and Sri Lanka. Russians gave Crimea to Ukraine on a goodwill basis and when that was abused, took it over. Similarly if Katchativu is taken back by India, other than rogue states like China and Pakistan, there will be no protest. It is time that India abandons giving carrots and show the stick to Sri Lanka. Sinhalese were always a vassal state to Tamils of south India, paying Kappang and offering to marry Pandyan princesses. History will repeat itself. In 1970 police brutality on Tamils began, now it has commenced. In 1987 parippu was dropped over Jaffna, but this time it will be Kavung drop over Colombo. Sinhala card board veerayas get ready to hide under the bed.

      • 1
        4

        Dr. GS:
        In the most unlikely event that the international community forces an Eelam on Sri Lanka, do you seriously think that it will be viable? The market for most of the produce of the North and East is the South. What if the South boycotts everything from Eelam? Exporting to India is not an option since everything is cheaper there. Tourism? What if the South imposes a travel ban between the two states? Will tourists come to Sri Lanka only to visit the North and the East? Perhaps I am missing something here and you can enlighten me. And oh, not to mention the fact that the Tamils living in the South will no longer be welcome by the majority community and they will be made to feel it.

        • 5
          1

          Leonard think before you express yourself. Tamils in north and east must wean off from the agriculture and fisheries economy to high tech. Sinhala governments will always keep Tamils in north and east in a primitive setting. For Tamils to improve their quality of life, they need independence or wide scale autonomy where Sinhalese cannot interfere and place obstacles to the progress. If you boycott everything from Eelam, do you expect Sinhalese to eat grass an punakku. If markets in the south is closed for Tamils, then it will be a golden opportunity for them to diversify. Tamils can develop their airports and harbours for tourists to land directly without need to come through Colombo. If Maldives can develop islands for tourism, then there is ample avenue for Tamils to develop islands around Jaffna and Mannar. I have already sent a proposal for light railway system for Jaffna to both Sri Lanka and India. There are plans to develop nautical tourism around Jaffna with cruises and yachting. What about bridge or tunnel connecting India (from Keelakarai) to Jaffna or from Rameswaram to Mannar. This will increase trade and travel between India and north. Please remember that if you try to be funny with Indian Tamils in the south, you will lose upcountry also.

          • 1
            1

            GS

            (1) In your city and rural planning for North and East have you factored in the entire Tamils speaking from South (Muslims/SL Tamils/ Indian Tamils) before the border is closed/fenced/land mined and UN patrol are put place please?

            (2) What is the actual total population you are using (after all the Tamils move to North and East) for your planning?

            (3) What is the anticipated population growth rate in your planning?

            (4) It is good you have no plans for agriculture as there may be some shortage of land to dod so? Fisheries also not in the planning??

            (5) Would the high-tech employment all be in Tamil Nadu where people can enjoy the park strait and take a ferry to work and return home or use underground tunnel highways to Tamil Nadu?

            (6) Would the North and East citizens be allowed to live freely in Tamil Nadu as well?

            (7) Food production base will be Tamil Nadu correct?

          • 0
            0

            Dr. GS,
            .
            Long time no see. Hope you are keeping well.

            You can forget about srilanken future so long COVID keeps Rajaakshes healthy.
            :
            No sooner, they would transfer all the stolen funds to Liechtenstein.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein
            Nobody would stand on their way since millitary men are appointed to even schools today.
            :
            This we warned the people prior to THE RETURN of RAJAPKACHE CRIMINALS.

          • 0
            1

            Dr GS:
            “Tamils in north and east must wean off from the agriculture and fisheries economy to high tech.” This is the only glimmer of hope for an independent Eelam economy-wise, but easier said than done. For one thing, where is the investment to come from? You will look to the Diaspora for this but you may be sorely disappointed, for their “patriotism,” I suspect, may last only until the goal of Eelam is achieved. Also don’t forget Eelam will be competing with the South and the rest of South Asia, where labour is generally cheaper. Even if transportation between South India and the North is facilitated by a bridge, trade will be largely one way.

            Tourism. Airports can be built, but how many tourists will come only to visit the North and East? And if you think tourism in the few islands you are talking about can be built to the level of the Maldives, you are living in fantasy land.

            Boycotts. I don’t think it will be an impossible task for the South to fill in the shortages created by boycotts of produce from Eelam. Think turmeric!

            By “Tamils living in the South,” I was referring to the Tamils of Jaffna origin (mostly resident in Colombo).

        • 1
          0

          L.J,
          Don’t you think the entire separatist problem would be solved overnight if:
          1. People of all ethnicities are allowed to run businesses and live anywhere in the country?
          2. Recruitment to state employment is merit based , with no community over-represented ?
          3. State sponsored colonization schemes should allow Tamils to settle in the South if they wish, not only Sinhalese in the NE?
          4. No state sponsorship of any religion?

          • 0
            1

            Old Codger
            1. To my knowledge, any one from any ethnicity can live anywhere in the country without hindrance but there are a few problem areas when it comes to businesses. Again, to my knowledge, this is not a grievance cited in discourse on the Ethnic problem.
            2. Is this really an issue? In the South, where the Sinhalese predominate, a correspondingly larger proportion of employees of this ethnicity would be expected. Isn’t the reverse true in areas where the Tamils are a majority?
            3. I think the basic rationale for the state-sponsored colonisation schemes in the NE was that that region had large tracts of empty land that needed development and the South had many people without land. Aren’t most of the empty state lands found in the NE? I don’t think there is any problem with such colonisation schemes as long as there is no ulterior motive to change the demography. Are there Tamils in the NE willing to migrate to the South to cultivate land if offered the chance?
            4. Agree with you that there should be no state sponsorship of any religion. Anyway, any religion that requires sponsorship is a fake religion devoid of real power. Truth does not need sponsorship.

            • 1
              0

              L.J,
              1.At least you do admit that there are areas which are no-go for minority businesses, even if this fact is not often mentioned. Why is the law not enforced?
              2. You are confusing the issue. The majority are vastly over-represented in state employment overall. Check out the recent video of a Sinhala Police officer talking to protesting Jaffna students.
              3. There are empty lands in the South too. Why are minorities not facilitated to go there? They will be willing enough if their security is guaranteed. But what use are guarantees when the mono-ethnic forces themselves are partial, as in the Minuwangoda riots?
              You know as well as I do that the Weli Oya settlements had ulterior motives.

  • 25
    2

    Mere words is not going to satisfy any one seeking truth. Government actions have spoken very clearly in releasing a cold blooded murderer who has killed even a five year old simply because killing a Tamil is not a crime in Sri Lanka.
    There are more actions of this nature if someone looks at at it objectively.
    Only thing international community is not looking for objectively. They will be more looking at whose side Srilanka is in their side or the other side I.e China.
    I do not think they can convince them that they are on their side rather than the side of China. Today we have become a modern colony of China. Chineese everywhere especially in North not to the liking of India and its allies if the west.
    We need to only wait and how harsh they will want to go in March in Geneva. Nothing Srilanka does will have an impact on the decision

  • 14
    4

    The sooner all of us Sri Lankans realize that unless we brush aside all fragile attachments such as Race, Religion ,Caste, Language ,Politics etc: and unite to rescue our Motherland from sliding further into a morass of conflicts, the better for all of us in the long run.

    • 4
      19

      Whose Motherland?

      There are 3 distinct nations within the island. Sinhala Only nation, Tamil Elam and Muslim Elam. Unless and until all their right of self determination is recognized by splitting the island into 3 equitably no one will unite. There is no earthly reason to unite.

      • 4
        12

        GATAM
        Yes Yes the Military Junta in Mayanma is providing a piece of land in Burma for the Rohingiya refugees – Now what the UN has to do is to make arrangements to transport the Rohingya refugees back to the Rohingiya Muslim Elam facilitated by Mayanma.

        This is the way forward for Sri lanka also……

        Every one lived happily ever after>>>>>

        • 1
          1

          WK,

          Be practical. That is not possible in SL as the Muslim percentage in SL is much higher. Greedy people like you in all 3 tribes is the root cause of the problem. Just let it go. Be happy with your equitable share and do not salivate at others’ equitable share.

      • 0
        0

        This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

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      • 3
        5

        We are in to together, no separate state or areas for any ethnic group that include the Sinhalese.

        • 1
          1

          The Sinhalese want to to have the Island as their ghetto because they have every thing except for their Island ghetto.

      • 2
        1

        It is the motherland of Medamulana Rascals. Looking at the manner how things work for them and the people stand it out.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKvq4PEXxwc
        :
        At least looks like, it is their private property. My million dollar question is as to why, MOTHER LANKA has produced JUDGES, Lawyers and the officer in srilanken law and order allowing DANCE to the tune of Rajapakshe and their criminal bunch.
        .:
        See, commissions come and go, in order to settle their high crime investigations, with LOCALLY eduated JUDGES, Lawyers and all others in the field stay in hibernation mode ??????????????????????????????????????????

    • 6
      5

      Harischandra,
      Normal people want exactly that,
      Only Gota and the Sinhala Bauddha thatta brigade and the Tamil ultra racist nutcases want to treat the other as garbage and grab all that belongs to the other including their dignity as a human being.

      • 9
        1

        WK,
        .
        I see something is changing in terms of ” KARMIC RETRIBUTION ” today. Mahinda Rajapakshes aka Mafia Boss looks as if he would kick the bucket next days.
        :
        That would definitely leave SLPP in a disasterous situation. One one hand, MR deserves it for all what he deliberately made to own citizens. All because of his power greedy tactics. Man is seen not being able to move from A to B.
        His state looks serious…. than BIASED media block the kind of news.
        :
        Hope not NANDASENA would react to the manner PISSU soldier took the weapon, killing and murdering his cabinet men next days…. I have no doubt, the last episode would be akin to THAT we were compelled to see in Tripoli (Gadafi and his family).

      • 1
        0

        WK,

        “Normal”?

        Funny. So those who disagree with you are not normal! That makes you abnormal.

  • 9
    19

    Part 1- Let’s talk about the reality. Sri Lanka is a tiny country which has no bargaining power. All superpowers know the strategic location of the country and China’s influence. So, they want to use human rights of minority as a tool to control the island. Not because they are saints or love to uphold human values. Civil war of 30 years is not their attention. Conveniently the last three months of the war. Last 3 months is the result of 29+ years pressure situation. Both parties are responsible for crimes. One party is no longer there to pay the price. It is the legitimately elected government in power to deliver benefit of most people (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims) is there to pay the price. There were two type of human losses. One is deliberate acts to show hate. Those are individual crimes. That happens someone is undergone so many personal pressure situation (sometimes a family member was killed by LTTE, or personal experiences) How much legitimate the reason is, such actions must be punished by law. However, it must be done with proper evidence. Those crimes have nothing to do with the elected government.

  • 9
    19

    Part 2- The second type was the people killed when Government forces attached LTTE. Whole world knows that LTTE has been given enough chances to surrender. They never used those opportunities. For the benefit of peace-loving rest of the community, the elected government had to act decisively. LTTE forced civilians to stay with them because that was the only action that could prevent forces attack. Then LTTE had family members of own soldiers who were called Mahaweer family members. They were there willingly. With LTTE, Mahaweer family members were killed. The government need not to answer for those deaths. With regard to other civilians, Government must show what actions were in place to minimize those deaths. There cannot be ZERO civilian deaths in a civil war. If LTTE purposely pushed civilian in front and shoot a government soldier hiding behind , which soldier is liked to be get killed that way. Which government would allow that? Those perished civilians were a part of collateral damage. There was no government driven Tamil genocide. If that were there, Government could have finished the war 3 months earlier by killing all.

  • 9
    17

    Part 3- I remember that I was hearing a Commander talking to foreign reporter saying” They are trapped in. This is a cake walk. But we cannot attack because civilians are with the.” It must be BBC, CNN or ABC (Australian). It took 2 months after that to finish it. Let the Government to study all reports done so far and prepare on list with reported incidents carried out by all actors. Also list all government actions to finish the war. Then talk about actions are proportionate to the threats. When UN wants to take action against this tiny country why it is at the front of the long line. Ask US to be in the line before Sri Lanka for their crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and also to native Indians. Ask UK to be in the line for the crimes they did in Sri Lanka 1815 onwards and also from crimes in Europe. Ask Australia to be there before us for their crimes for Aborigines. So, this is not simple as you see. No government will punish who acted on their instructions whether forces or officials. Let’s do what a Government can do not to happen this again. Drop your punishment demands and get together to have law in place for a better future.

    • 2
      2

      Well said.

  • 28
    7

    Asking for extremist sinhala buddhists who’ve engaged in serious humans rights violations for the past 6 decades to hold themselves accountable is the one of the biggest saddest jokes I’ve heard this year. Asking extremist sinhala buddhists to not commit humans rights violations is like asking a fish to not be wet.
    .
    The ONLY solution is for the international community, foreign countries and financial institutions must come together to impose sanctions on these extremist sinhala buddhists to ban them from their countries, to ban them from their banks, to freeze all their stolen money they’ve stashed in foreign countries. These sanctions should be enacted and enforced as soon as possible.

    • 21
      7

      Because just like clock work the extremist sinhala buddhists will run away from the country to stash it’s stolen money once it’s term is over and the cool down period for the 69 lakh idiots to forget how much was stolen from them could begin.

      • 3
        8

        Then together we must fight corruption and crime in the country. International community never helped us economically or allow our humble citizens enter their countries to make a living.Only those who claim asylum status are given a chance to enter, that gives every minority to agitate and create conditions in a country to qualify for that status which is very unfair to citizens that stay back and fight and suffer all the injustices created in the third world countries by their nasty leaders.

    • 5
      18

      Sitrep24,
      “Asking extremist sinhala buddhists to not commit humans rights violations is like asking a fish to not be wet.”

      Dumbo, it was Tamils (Hindu and Catholic) and Muslims who carried out terrorist activities, war crimes and human rights violations, not Sinhala Buddhists. Sinhala Buddhists never committed terrorist activities. In the world Muslims hold the first place and Tamils the second place for terrorism. Good show. Isn’t it?

      If the International Community put sanctions on Sri Lanka, Sinhalayo will put sanctions on Demalu and Muslims.

      • 3
        1

        Sadly this is true for Tamils and Muslims too.

        “Asking extremist sinhala buddhists to not commit humans rights violations is like asking a fish to not be wet.”

        The only solution is an equitable split of the island into 3.

        • 0
          0

          4 ?

  • 24
    2

    “……. the government pledged to set up a commission of inquiry to inquire into the findings of previous commissions of inquiry.”
    This is a perfect example of how the devious and diabolical minds of Sinhala politicians work. This is just another stalling tactic and nothing meaningful will ever emerge from it. Playing ‘hide and seek’ like this is not going to get the country anywhere. The International Community will not swallow this, at least not the respectable and responsible countries within it.

  • 8
    19

    UNHRC is a toothless tiger. Nothing to worry. It all dies down.

    The only way a country can be punished for HR violations is through a resolution passed at the UNSC. China and Russia will not support it anyway (not because they love SL but because they hate USA and UN bodies).

    • 7
      2

      JADAM

      “China and Russia will not support it anyway (not because they love SL but because they hate USA and UN bodies).”

      Though you have a point you did not consider how Hindians are going to use their clout in the UN.

      • 0
        12

        You dumb vedda, long time wasting your time dumb ass sinhala Buddhist modayas…

        • 3
          0

          jamise muthu banda
          The Tamil Speaking Sinhalam

          Where you been all these years?
          Did you go looking for your Thalaivar the psychopath?
          I am told many of your mates have given up looking for your Thalaivar, is he coming back?

          Is he hiding somewhere in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cambodia, ……?
          By the way do you know the total quantity of Gold, Gota and his goons stole from your Thalaivar’s treasury back in 2009?

      • 2
        2

        Vedda’s son,

        Endia does not have the power of veto at the UNSC. So it does not matter at all. Every Endian action has an equal and opposite reaction from Pakistan.

        • 2
          1

          JADAM

          “Endia does not have the power of veto at the UNSC. So it does not matter at all.”

          Indeed that was what Pakistani/Chines lackeys of Sri Lankan origin including the weeping widow believed when Pakistan was divided into two parts. Again in 1987 when Hindians invaded this island UNSC didn’t even warn Hindia.

          Will China prevent the Hindians from dividing and gobbling up this island while China is too busy grabbing more land and areas of sea from neighboring borders?

          Was there an incident in which UNSC ever stopped other countries invading, occupying, annexing areas?

          Tell us as to what UNSC did to prevent Kurdistan being divided into 5 areas and being occupied by 5 or more countries, Palestine, Tibet, (once) Cambodia, Cyprus, Western Sahara, Nagorno-Karabakh, Australia, New Zealand, USA, South America, Canada, Sri Lanka, …….

          You should try and live in the real world.

          Gota should have learned lessons from National Leadaer Thiruvengadam Vellupillai Prabaharan. Advise him to stop beating his chest.

  • 2
    1

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

    For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

    • 15
      2

      Good one Eagle Eye. Get the Dhammika Peniya. It may not cure the covid but it may cure your blindness and racial bigotry. Or get Pavithra to break a pot on your head. she has plenty of time in quarantine in a luxury hotel. I think you got it right when you say those who came from India should go back. We can send all the Karawa, Berawa, salagama, the Durava back to India. That will leave only the Govigama and their cousins the Vellala behind. The Muslims and the Burghers have no problems. so, we can make sri lanka great again like Trumpie made the US great again.

    • 4
      3

      Eagle Blind Eye

      Thanks for your brief comment.
      Keep up your good work

      Please make sure HLD M doesn’t sit on your head.

  • 9
    19

    My Dear Jehan,

    Could you please let me know if General Karuna Amman, Colonel Pilliyan, and other Tamil soldiers who have been rehabilitated and released with the blessings of the Sri Lanka Government mentioned in the UNHCR report of humanrights violations?

    Has the UN taken any action throughout the 30 year – LTTE terrorist campaign to cut off the bucket loads of $$$$$ that were flowing from western countries to the LTTE to commit – attrocities that included the civilian massacres that were most reprehensible?

    The UN suffers from selective amnesia when it comes to humanrights violations and it is apparent that the UN is biast to Western Countries and their sinister ploy of using the UNHCR as a tool to control Third World Countries according to their political agenda.

  • 13
    1

    Jegan,
    It is too much and too long to play game with ethnic politics. Ethnic politics do not match with development politics. On the ground military, ministers and Monks are trying to capture land in the North and East with demolishing Hindu statues and replacing with Lord Buddha and shouting loudly that there is no ethnic problem in Srilanka and there is no political prisoners and after President accepted that most of the surrendered civilians and LTTE men were murdered by him (his orders), appointing commissions after 12 years to study the earlier commission reports makes every human beings to laugh.
    Continued cheating and lieing is not going to help the country but it might help the Rajapakse family. The country needs peace for development. The country needs unity among communities. Even after Corona, Sinhala majority do not want to live peacefully. That is why they choose Gotabaya who was responsible for the bloodbath.
    Why should UNHCR intervene in Sri Lanka if there is a peace and rule of law in the country?

  • 5
    1

    “Government Needs To Commit To More Than Commissions “

    The Government is setting up a commission to investigate and report on how to “commit to more than commissions”

  • 7
    2

    Dear Jehan
    Proof of the pudding is in the eating. That said, no amount of appointment of commissions is going to solve the fundamental question or the concerns raised by the UNHCR; unless and until there is a genuine effort and commitment by the authorities. COI is another white wash.
    There are lessons to be learnt from the South African experience and how it handled reconciliation. Many a time South African authority offered its assistance. Were they taken in the spirit of friendship?

    • 6
      10

      Ratnam Nadaraja,
      Sri Lanka did something similar to what S.Africa did. In S.Africa Afrikaans who committed heinous crimes against Black Africans confessed and walked away. In Sri Lanka 14,000 LTTE Tamil terrorists who massacred Sinhalayo for three decades were pardoned, rehabilitated and released. In S.Africa the Black Africans did not insist that the Afrikaans should be punished. In Sri Lanka, Sinhalayo who are the main victims of LTTE terrorism did not object for releasing LTTE carders. What else you guys expect as reconciliation.

      “There are lessons to be learnt from the South African experience and how it handled reconciliation.”

      • 4
        0

        Hello EE
        Its obviously apparent that you haven’t an iota of the South African reconciliation process
        I suggest that you try to read about it before you put the pen to paper. No offence intended
        Its said ” Ignorance is bliss”

        • 2
          1

          RN,

          in full agreement with you. Thank you RN. We have all along asked EE to read about it before putting the pen to paper… nothing seems to have helped him sofar.
          :
          EE is a hired man for MEDAMULANA rascals. No matter even if his family would have been abducted and raped down, he or the like ILK would never grasp the little. I really dont know how the senses of the kind of people work. We have to advertise calling new Doctoral students to work on their dissertations and find lot more as to why our PEOPLE stay permament stupid.
          :
          Please listen to the video below. Even UNIVERSITY educated medical professionals, go after KALI AMMA controlled PANIbeema makers.
          :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CjxXVHeLS0

  • 5
    5

    Sinhalayo are wondering why they have to face these harassments after helping people brought from Hindusthan to their country by colonial rulers by giving them citizenship.
    —-
    “These include targeted economic sanctions, travel bans and even the involvement of the International Criminal Court.”

    • 2
      1

      Nonsense. There cannot be any sanctions or the involvement of ICC. All those must be passed at the UNSC and they cannot. Russia and China always veto these.

      Nothing can turn 2009 Losers into winners and Winners into losers.

  • 4
    1

    thank you.

    Yep Geneva and its consistency in human rights…………anyone dare talk sanctions on Israel even get removed from the parties in London let alone in the third world countries?? same for the partners India and the US.

    Anyone surprised about this report to set us all back further in dark days instead of helping us build our nation so all can live peacefully, diaspora can be “shipped” back to do the Nation building activity in the respective areas?? therefore making rooms for the next batch of global refugees/destitute to the developed countries for the required services such as toilet washing/cleaning in various sectors..run shops and super markets thinking they have now made to the free world?? avoiding Brexit scenarios without further affecting the Western Countries with Nationalism and further abuse of this pathetic “refugee service provided Inc” never be allowed to be part of the adopted countries?. The Trump Wall maker the Geneva well done on behalf of the humanity.

    • 0
      2

      Opps I missed out the Medical professionals, Nurses and old folks carers the locals do not want to do in the UK and similar developed countries….Brexit is to brings “brain drain” from all the professions in the respective developing countries,,,,why can not we be served by our own children be it whatever the jobs having just done that for them in our survival and upon arrival for the past 40 years? where are they?. No one to pick the vegetables and the trash in the UK and no one to do the fishing (most of the quotas are sold to overseas owners a long time ago Brexiters failed to tell us).

      Since many Nations are now due dligently stopping infighting I guess this Toilet Washer Supply chain needs to go on??

      Yep we put our navy out looking for illegal European fisherman and not the illegals?? All the illegals have been coming through Ireland for 10’s of years no one noted….now the UNCHER come to help SL once more….

      • 1
        2

        Have we set up any commission for the war crime investigation from 1970-1977-1981 in Jaffna yet?

        War crimes are not about LTTE and GOSL but about FP/TULF/Tamil Nadu??

        Peace and Reconciliation process where everyone stand in a box and look at their victims and explain what they did….look forward to FP/TULF/TNA doing this and setting examples for the rest of the UN investigations??

        This will help all our new generation of Diaspora and Local children to understand what did really happen in SL? A world peace building educational event for the regional citizens what not not to do when we have problems to solve??

        • 0
          2

          Shouldn’t Sri Lankans make a case for a different approach to conflict resolution/conflict management by asking all the UN Nations to invest in Sri Lankan development/shaping her to be the iconic Nation for Sustainability and Bio Diversity, technology experiments/Research and Development to make her the showcase for human unity/UN vision and Mission statements for a better tomorrow.

          Where their children also can have stake in her future and make this the example for all that is discussed around the world as “carbon neutral” / sustainability / environmentally friendly / waste and water management / ocean cleaning / fish stock management in the sea without further polluting her with Arms and Armies?? Navy battalions and their nuclear waste, noise pollution to the sea living creatures??

          • 0
            2

            This folly TNA sitting all these opportunities out because its bankrupt in any morality/education/knowledge ever since inception a killing machine??

            Hon MR has asked this folly to work with him just as he did with the LTTE to transform the Nation well before the end of war?? Non response was a crime against humanity?

            Not a single donkey knows how the war ended and all riding on the account of the GOSL and Armed forces…..it is their host Nations executed the entire event this folly has no way of even pausing the question in public?? where is this life long MP/Carrier politician Mr Sampanthar pls? he can be the witness/material evidence for the FP crimes in Jaffna since 1970??

  • 2
    0

    Jehan: This Government led by GR must be thinking that it can play “Buffoonery” they played on the Voters of Sri Lanka on the International Community and Organizations. Do you think the appointment of a “Commission” to “Examine” what another Commission had done is a “Sensible” thing to do unless of course, that previous Commission was composed of a set of “Lunatics”? Just read through the “Terms of Reference” given to this present Commission. Also read through the “Report” sent (appeared in Sunday Times) by the Commissioner of UNHRC to the Government. How do you “Asses” it and the “Relevancy” of this “Commission” appointed by our President? Shouldn’t “GR” be tried in ICC for granting “Presidential Pardon” for that “Ratnayake” who was found “Guilty” for “Murder” of those students? That was the very “FIRST” “Presidential Act” on assuming duties. Doesn’t that “ACT” show he (GR) “Knew” of all the “Circumstances” that was “Orchestrated” in the commitment of that “Heinous” crime? He must be made to pay for it. Why don’t you talk of these “Crimes”? The present Commissioner of UNHRC, twice elected President of Chile, would know to “Judge” these “Criminals” better and hang them appropriately in the International arena.

  • 3
    0

    UNHRC and UNHCR are two different distinct UN organizations.

    UNHRC is United Nations Human Rights Council whereas UNHCR is United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

    Both have headquarters at Geneva.
    .
    UNHCR was very active in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka with their field staff. Their mandate is to help refugees, However in Sri Lanka they were assisting internally displaced people as well.

    On the other hand UNHRC in now in the limelight preparing for the forthcoming 46th Session on human rights at Geneva.

    Some of the comments made above used incorrect abbreviations that prompted me to make this observation.

  • 3
    0

    Please see below the joint statement by Mahinda Rajapakse and Ban ki Moon on 26th May 2009 and PM Modi in 2009.

    “President Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General agreed that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic development. The Secretary-General welcomed the assurance of the President of Sri Lanka contained in his statement in Parliament on 19 May 2009 that a national solution acceptable to all sections of people will be evolved. President Rajapaksa expressed his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance this process and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.”

    “The Prime Minister Modi emphasised that a meaningful devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would create the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement. The President of Sri Lanka reiterated his determination to evolve a political settlement acceptable to all communities that would act as a catalyst to create the necessary conditions in which all the people of Sri Lanka could lead their lives in an atmosphere of peace, justice and dignity, consistent with democracy, pluralism, equal opportunity and respect for human rights.”

    What happened to all these promises?

  • 8
    0

    The failures of this Government are amply displayed by the action of appointing one commission examining the results of another commission. This is a clear delaying tactic as the Govt has either made a wrong decision for which its in trouble or does not want to take the leadership in taking a bold action. In both cases its clear that this Govt has FAILED like no other Govt in the recent history.
    Law and order; Justice, Peace; Communal harmony; Social Justice, Bribery & Corruption; Religious Practice; Economy; Daily Life; Policing etc have been negatively affected since 2019 January. Racism and Religious hatred has been spread and is the basis on which the country is ruled today. Currency has depreciated more than 20% from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021.
    The main reason in my opinion is the selection of the Ministers who are not educated and clueless in taking leadership. They are like a heard of cattle following one leader with no vision or action of their own. They do not have an actual voter based other than hanging on to the Kurakkan Sathakaya thereby getting their base. The Cabinet we have is the worst Cabinet in years.

    • 3
      1

      You are right

  • 3
    0

    There is yet another alarming situation developing in the country without the scrutiny of the People and the International Community and that is the “DIRECT” “FORCE” exerted on the “Judiciary” and t
    Law Enforcement. Recently the Commission appointed by the President to inquire and report on the “Political Victimizations” by the previous Government (Yahapalanaya) has submitted its “Report”. This “Report” reportedly runs to more than 2000 pages. However, the President has taken extracts of it and submitted a “Cabinet Paper” for approval. The important “Recommendations” are “THREE” in numbers: (1) To take necessary “Legal Action” against those who “Complained” (2) To “Withdraw” all Legal Action instituted against those who are “Accused” (3) To “Compensate” all those who are “Charged”. The number in (2) above relates to around “70” persons and interestingly that includes the name of Udaya Gammanpila on whom there is a case filed by a “Private Party”. Next, most of the cases have been “Investigated” and after facts have been “Ascertained” by the Law Enforcement , the AG, CID, and Bribery Commission have gone before the Courts. Some of the cases have already are at the inquiry stage before the Courts. So ALL those cases are now to be “WITHDRAWN” and “COMPENSATION” to be paid to “ACCUSED” and “PROSEQUITE” the “COMPLAINANTS”. What “LEGAL SYSTEM” is that?

  • 2
    0

    My comment continued…….If a “Presidential Commission” is empowered to “Inquire” into cases that are being heard in Courts, under Investigation by Law Enforcement Agencies including the AG, is there any use in maintaining those Judicial Institutions? This is, in my opinion, it is a “Kangaroo System” of a Judiciary. Just look at the “Recommendations viz (1) withdraw all cases (2) compensate the “accused” (3) “Prosecute” the complainants. Shouldn’t this “Development” come to the attention of the International Community? Does the UNHRC or the DEMOCRACIES further believe or trust this Government run by a “War Hero”? Those “Recommendations” are already submitted by the President (GR) to the Cabinet for approval. That “Cabinet Paper” is in the hands of many other political parties and have “Shown” to the public at media briefings. It is high time that this “Militarized” Governing System be “STOPPED” from further damaging a Democracy. Don’t the International Community see a “Hitler” in the making?

  • 3
    0

    Present day Sri Lankans are the most
    daringly contemptuous people I have ever come across.
    war , Tsunami and now a virus that is crippling the whole world nothing had healed their sickness of the hearts , while other nations citizens are struggling to save lives and economy, all you read about Sri lankan is the superiority of race and religion
    Even at a time no ones next breathe is gauranteed , people are arrogant enough to promote racism even using covid.
    What happens if the latest news about a more dangerous Covid that is
    Spreading makes us all husha husha and we all fall down?

    nothing is certain and yet racists and bigots will not let this government do
    what I believe they can.
    .
    Racists and religous and cursed bigots of all forms feel arrogantly assured of their lives.

    You can be critical , but you also should not behave like a cretin , nothing constructive, only thing the deeadbrains of racist and bigots know is kill them or expel them, ( They now call that attitude as Burma and Isil Syndrome)the biggest comic is the racists and bigots can not even make peace among themselves , the only instance that unites them with flowing hypocritical love for eachother is when they can use racism and bigotry.against those whom they are prejudised about.

  • 3
    1

    UNHCR! Is that a forum where those who are powerful can leave it and ask others to go to hell if fingers are pointed at them? Yet those who leave it have the brass guts to tell that they do not intend bullying smaller nations in dragging human rights issues. The reality is that a noble set of values is misused for International politics of domination. The reality is that we are on our way to become a hermit state. The more International pressure created in various bodies such as UNHCR will accelerate the movement of Sri Lanka to that situation. Of course! there would be much suffering to the average Sri Lankan and will drive the center of the Indian Ocean to be a base for states which the very accusers of Sri Lanka despise.

  • 3
    0

    When it comes to Commissions there is no greater expert than Ranil Wickramasinghe. Perhaps the Government should consult him.

  • 5
    3

    For Gotha the chicken has come home to roost. He has capitulated on cop;le of issues. The Monument and ECT and now the UN where we are told Peofessori has agreed to CONSENSUAL SEX . But Jehan how much is much more other than TOTAL CAPITULATION. The UN pressure has found him out and there is no way back for him. Just like Trump he is a time President and California Trial beckons.

    • 1
      1

      All these are to deflect the pressure and whittle down any UNHRC resolutions.

      The Hindia is dead against Tamils anyway. It does not matter what sori Sinhalam does. Hindia itself is implicated on these issues and if Gota goes down he will make sure Hindian VIPs will also be at the least dragged along with him.

      Sori Sinahalm then will manage Hindia on ECT by various protests, legal or environmental issues etc. In reality, Hindia will have some kind of paper agreement, ECT progress will be dragged and nothing to show for.

  • 0
    0

    Are the law makers on Snooze mode ?
    Seems like ,while the law makers are on Snooze mode , The Steet Goons are back on the road,
    Threatening the men in Uniform demanding them to leave,while grabbing the law’s bxxxxx with their hands.

    Are we about to witness another Digana episode ?
    Or are these Goons political thugs ? Who are suppose to divert peoples attention?

    Again and again we see Street Goons capitalizing on road accidents when a minority is the accused.
    One Country One Law ????

    Or one Country and Goons law .?
    Where is the law ?
    Lets see if these goons are arrested and put behind bars .
    One Country One law .

    ,,

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