By Malinda Seneviratne –
Malinda Seneviratne
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is upset with the Government of Sri Lanka. He said, ‘The Government has refused point blank to cooperate with the investigation (into allegations of human rights violations in the last phase of the war); such refusal does not undermine the integrity of an investigation set up by the Council – instead it raises concerns about the integrity of the government in question.’ He then asks, ‘Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths to sabotage an impartial international investigation?’
What he has not mentioned (why not?) is that the Government has explained ad nauseam its position on the matter detailing the lack of consistency, impartiality, rigor and integrity on the part of his office and especially his predecessor, Navi Pillay. He is correct though when he says such refusals don’t undermine the integrity of the said investigation. It is not the refusal that questions integrity but the pathetic track record of his office, especially with respect to its dealings with Sri Lanka.
This was abundantly apparent in the collusion of his office with the inglorious machinations of the United States of America to insult, humiliate and in other ways harass Sri Lanka in multiple sessions of the UNHRC. The US Embassy in Colombo as well as senior diplomats representing countries that have consistently sided with the USA in these moves have been interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka for years and especially in what can only be called ‘the manufacturing of “evidence” to support a conclusion that has been desired’.
Sri Lanka has every right to object. Sri Lanka has every right to question Zeid’s integrity when his office, so ready to unleash invective on Sri Lanka, indulges in scandalous navel-gazing when certain countries have rejected the commissioning of similar processes against them. In the case of Israel, for example, the UNHRC has to contend with irrefutable evidence whereas in Sri Lanka’s case, Zeid is working with vague allegations made by persons of dubious repute citing equally compromised ‘witnesses’.
This is why his last question is ridiculous. He asks, let us repeat, ‘Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths to sabotage an impartial international investigation?’ The issue is, Mr Zeid, the absolute lack of integrity on your part and that of your office. Simple. If you have any doubts, try answering the following questions.
Why has your office not questioned the investigating team about ‘evidence forms’ getting into the hands of terrorists? Does it not bother you that signatures have been collected on unfilled forms?
If the Government did nothing about such activity then indeed it would be supporting ‘interference’ in the UNHRC investigation, compromised though that process is. Mr Zeid should be applauding the Government for acting swiftly on this issue and bringing to light something that clearly indicates that the entire investigative process has been compromised beyond rectification.
Mr Zeid dismisses the entire matter by saying that his team is equipped to detect fraud. Collusion in fraud and a track record of selective targeting on the part of his office doesn’t really give credence to the claim, but let’s go along with it. He ought to be concerned by the fact that some people are actively engaged in a massive fabricating exercise. Worse, the agent of fabrication in this instance has had close relationships with certain diplomats in Colombo as well the Tamil National Alliance, the principal Sri Lankan political entity that had been supporting the patently flawed UNHRC exercise.
Integrity is the issue in contention here. It would be much simpler and so much more honest if Mr Zeid came out with the truth. All he has to do is to put the following in Diplospeak: ‘We have, for reasons we don’t have to state but which you all know, decided on the conclusion that is convenient to our purposes, we are in the process of manufacturing evidence to support this and so Sri Lanka can go fly a kite!’
*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and his articles can be found at www.malindawords.blogspot.com
Razeek / November 9, 2014
What a stupid article. It is the government that is desperately manufacturing evidence in their favour. All the ex-militants(terrorists) are now working for the government.How dare you challenge the integrity of Al Hussein who took his own country to task on human right violations.
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Rupathy / November 9, 2014
Malinda and Lankan supporters needs to rethink and stop attacking the messenger. He is appointed to do a job of a Human Right Commissioner for UN. The investigation is mandated by the security council of the UN. SL representatives are writing as if they are writing to their own citizens but it looks childish for the diplomats who now have to decide based on the finding of this investigation next year.
Lanka needs to respond with the focus of convincing diplomats. If Lanka keep writing childish arguments after not allowing the investigation for the sake of responding they will loose the few who might support Lanka. If they keep this up and try to discredit the UN they will loose all meaningful supporters.
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Amarasiri / November 9, 2014
Malinda Seneviratne –
*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and a Shill and White-washer of the Regime.
Malinda, the answer is Blowin’ on your face.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowin'_in_the_Wind
“Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released on his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war and freedom. The refrain “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” has been described as “impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as intangible as the wind”.[2]
In 1994, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2004, it was ranked #14 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
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Robert.R / November 9, 2014
Oh dear, Malinda seems to be getting his knickers in a twist over this.
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AVB / November 9, 2014
Does this chap knows the meaning of “Integrity”????
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Amarasiri / November 9, 2014
Mr. Malinda Seneviratne
RE: Mr Zeid’s Integrity Gripe
“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is upset with the Government of Sri Lanka. He said, ‘The Government has refused point blank to cooperate with the investigation (into allegations of human rights violations in the last phase of the war); such refusal does not undermine the integrity of an investigation set up by the Council – instead it raises concerns about the integrity of the government in question.’ He then asks, ‘Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths to sabotage an impartial international investigation?’:
Malinda Seneviratna, the Shill and White washer, the reason is very simple.
It is like the thief being caught with the stolen goods.
The good news is that you still have a job shilling and white-washing.
The bad news is that you have to work harder and harder.
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douglas / November 9, 2014
This Guy is mistakenly using the “unused portion” of the “Season Bus Pass” handed over to him by the outgoing Commissioner. He is already lost in the woods. (Period)
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / November 9, 2014
These Most of the UN Member countries are Crazy to Appoint persons to the post of UN human rights commissioner, who are making Aligations Against the Sri Lanka, “The UpComing MIRACLE OF THE Asia”.
U N Office Should immediately Sack this Jordanian, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein as UN human rights commissioner,
And Appoint qualified persons like, OX Ford educated,
Hothambaya, Karuna Amman or Hiwal Modawangsa as their Human Right Commissioner,
and His assistant Should be a person like IRCs Wermin Silawa or
Gal-goda Gandassaara.
All of them get together will eliminate all the Human rights problem in the world, With White Vans and Steel rods.
Why not you Advise your sponsor MA Ra ya to start Some street Drama with Hiwal Modawanghsa,
Wermin Silawa,
with his Future Education Minister, Sex maniac Brat Melharka,
Pimp Waas,
Bere gedara Jarpaal, and
Foreign Service’s unserviceable Ladies,
and Jarapassa Relative goons Deplomutts.
Then the H R problems in Wonder land will be solved as PEE RISK says, and
Even Ma Ra ya can Appoint One of his, sitting on the brain,
ox ford educated,PINATA KANA Racing car BRATS,
as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
ANICHCHA WATHA SANKARA, SRI LANKA ??????????????
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Saro / November 9, 2014
Malinda Seneviratne is out of his mind in accusing UNHCHR in “Why has your office not questioned the investigating team about ‘evidence forms’ getting into the hands of terrorists? Does it not bother you that signatures have been collected on unfilled forms?”. The so called evidence forms were prepared by those whose loved ones were killed by UN Military.
The UNHRC is bound to carry out the terms of the UNHRC Resolutions and Sri Lanka has committed to uphold the UN Charter.
Sri Lanka is trying to get away with genocide of Tamils and violation of human rights by “false and unsubstantiated” criticisms of UNHRC office and its chiefs past and present.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 9, 2014
Malinda,
Did Mr Zeid say it is an “Impartial, Independent, International Investigation ‘?..
He must have been smoking the Water Pipe with his US mates in a Bedouin Tent for the last five years…
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Native Vedda / November 9, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
Water Pipe – hookah, shisha, Argileh, Nargile, lulava, cachimba, mada’a, chillim, Gudugudaa, Hitboo, …. its origin is traced back to Persian empire.
Please ask Mahinda whether he met this dude inside (Good Muslim & teacher leader, author of green book) Gaddafi’s Bedouin Tent when he visited Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in September 2009.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 9, 2014
Dear Native,
Bedouin Gaddafi’s Jamahiriah was thousand times better than Cameron , Harper Obama Democracy in Tripoli now .
If you don’t know, ask an Arab or a Turk in your neighbourhood or the work place.
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Native Vedda / November 10, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“If you don’t know, ask an Arab or a Turk in your neighbourhood or the work place.”
Have you asked the Libyan for a start?
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aratai / November 9, 2014
.
Mr.Zeid must be comparing UN’s investigation with your hambantota dalit clans investigations.
:-)
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aratai / November 9, 2014
.
Malinda asks, “Why has your office not questioned the investigating team about ‘evidence forms’ getting into the hands of terrorists?”.
.
Very good question Malinda. It’s time Srilanka let investigation team to come to the island to investigate about evidence forms.
:-)
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Peace Lover / November 9, 2014
dont you worry malinda malli we have our very own K A Sumanasekera who can cut this Zeid fellow to pieces with his brilliant arguments such as Zeid is from the middle east and gets paid by the Vellala chaps ;-)
boo to Zeid and long live K A Sumanasekera ;-)
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Leon / November 9, 2014
You and your potty little country, with a tin pot dictator should face reality. You are dealing with super powers and because of their position they can tell and do potty little countries like yours whatever they want. That Malinda is the reality. When your potty little country becomes a super power you can tell these countries where they get off. Until then Malinda you can’t do anything, try as you might.
That is the reality.
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Pot Shot / November 9, 2014
How many laptops do you want in one year?
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Pot Shot / November 9, 2014
Zeid is working with vague allegations made by persons of dubious repute citing equally compromised ‘witnesses’.
Malinda, Just for the interest of CT readers can you define the reputation of MR, Gota and Basil?
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scott / November 9, 2014
“The US Embassy in Colombo as well as senior diplomats representing countries that have consistently sided with the USA in these moves have been interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka for years and especially in what can only be called ‘the manufacturing of “evidence” to support a conclusion that has been desired”, says Malinda.
This is the standard regime mantra chanted wherever he goes by the pathetic GL Pieris.
During the last three hundred or more years, the countries of the world have got rapidly interrelated. This process has been further accelerated by post world war II and post socialist globalization. All countries except for pariah states like North Korea are intertwined economically and in other ways, and benefit from these interrelations. The concept of sovereignty has declined in validity, acceptance and utility. In that context when a people are oppressed by a dictatorial, nepotistic, corrupt and feudal regime as is the case in Sri Lanka, the international community has a right and an obligation to come to the rescue of the people. That cannot be summarily dismissed as “interference”. Millions of Sri Lankan citizens, far from considering this “interference” in fact welcome it. What the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights is doing is trying to protect the people’s rights against tyranny. It is heartening that the High Commissioner is conducting an inquiry characterized by professionalism and integrity.
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Mallaiyuran / November 9, 2014
It is unfortunate, but cannot be helped that the Lankans ties themselves to the trees, beat them up, hurt their private parts in the name of becoming Muslims, and hang them on trees, running in front of army and vehicles … …so on the list goes. This suicidal cannot be corrected in Lanka. So, it is hopeless if somebody tries to stop Malinda hurting himself.
The biggest deficiency is his time, which is mainly spent on feet washing of the Royal family. So he does not read news and comment on them. Royal Government printed a second newspaper with the name of Uthayan saying Ananthi has join SLFP. Because Malinda never saw that news, he never has asked the Royal Government to investigate it. If had read it, he would not have kept silence as it was a thing really hurts his professional field, the journalism. The Royal Government printed an anti-Christian notice in the name of Shiv Sena and distributed in Vavuniya. The entire government machine did not know that there was no Shiv Sena in Vavuniya. You know, Malinda did not see that at all. If he had, he would be the first one to demand the Royal Government to investigate of it.
The Lanka is rated as the world forth worst country in the world to for the media. Honestly, this rating was done by Navi Pillai’s and Prince Zeid’s office, not any independent organizations. This must have done jointly with America, because America is rated as the best in that list. Lanka is with in the 22 nasty countries that use raping helpless women as a war tool. Isn’t it too was done by the Zeid’ office. Lanka is having a criminal as EP. The clearance to this was given by Zeid office and confessed by his office. If you think, it is in every way, the UNHRC’s integrity is so flawed. So what Malinda can do without asking to investigate the UN letter head case?
That is ok, but Malinda’s foolishness is hurting himself like all other Lankan doing like I said in the first paragraph. When international countries warned that using heavy artillery may amount to war crime, Lanka said it did not use and the civilian casualty is zero. It challenged anybody to come and see. But now the UNHRC is mooting the for real inquiry. Lanka is, now, wiggling for foolishly inviting others to come and see the savage it did. Like that one, responding to Malinda’s request, when UN start to investigate how its letterhead was duplicated in Vanni, Malinda has put his one of his hand on the back to cover it and beat him with the other hand, like all other Sri Lankans are tying them to the tree and beating themselves. You can’t help when writing, Malinda like fools, without knowing what to ask from UN and what not to.
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AKP / November 9, 2014
Convoluted and hard to understand. What does the author mean by ‘scandalous naval gazing’?
Naval gazing is self-indulgent or excessive contemplation of oneself, .
Whatever one may accuse the UN of naval gazing cannot be one of them!
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Katmai / November 9, 2014
Many years ago when USENET was still popular a program had been written which replied to posts by picking phrases from past posts on the subject and mixing them together. To some everything in these replies made perfect sense. But to a majority it was just psychobabble. Either way, the replies certainly got everyone riled up. Some wondered if this ‘guy’ never goes to sleep. That program, though it was not meant to be, gave a good insight into different people’s comprehension and interpretation of written English.
This guy’s writing remind me of that program. He just throws in stock catch phrases like “interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka” from the list put out by the PR firms and churns out articles with little substance. And everyone gets all riled up. If someone asks for an example on the saying “even the most prestigious university can give an education but not intelligence” you know where to find that, don’t you?
And a good way to loose credibility for an organization is to grant and award to such writing.
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Navin / November 9, 2014
[Edited out]
“Sri Lanka has every right to question Zeid’s integrity when his office, so ready to unleash invective on Sri Lanka, indulges in scandalous navel-gazing”. But Malinda, Zeid is so far away, and you being here in Sri Lanka, we Sri Lankans are gazing at your ass trying to fathom the depth to which it has been ripped by MARA and his goons.
As a journalist you stink. You garbage piece is full of illogical, racist, unsubstantiated statements, and malicious, blatant lies. [Edited out]
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Concerned_Minor / November 9, 2014
In fairness, it is not Zeid’s integrity gripe at stake, as he is only carrying out the mandate of the UNHCR to bring about a just and equitable closure to any or all supposed HR violations, which were carried out during the latter period of the conflict. But it is Sri Lankan governments refusal to cooperate which puts the integrity gripe heavily against them, squarely on their shoulders. Can a democtatically elected and a responsible government stoop to such low levels like a bunch of terrorists to destroy and carnage its own citizens, and get away with it lightly without being called into question? Is it that they (armed forces) really didn’t care because they (Tamils) were not people of their own kind, and therefore those lives were considered worthless? Do they (the government) have any remorse or regret for what they did? Will it be allowed to happen again in the future to other minority communities as well? Big questions, big time. The UNHCR campaign must be supported in full to carry out it directives to completion, in order to prevent another repeat.
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Upul / November 9, 2014
Mali, Mali..Mali,
Each one of us who read and comment on CT know you have to sing for your meals. We get that.
Do you really have to scrape the bottom of the barrel each time you are asked to write something?
The Sri Lankan govt and by extension the Sri Lankan armed forces committed atrocities. Full stop, period, end of discussion.
It is not relevant if the Japanese killed in Nanking, or the Americans in Iraq or the French in Indo-China.
You as a Sri Lankan and a journalist to boot, should be concerned about what happened in our own country, although it was to the ‘Tamils’. It is that impunity that lead to Aluthgama,Dambulla and Beruwela and soon to your neighbourhood. Do not for a moment think the dots will not connect.
For good measure you might want to dismiss the atrocities of the LTTE too and not use that as justification for the govt’s violations.
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Jim softy / November 10, 2014
Wwhy he does not start investigations about recent gaza – massacres ?
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Rajash / November 10, 2014
Malinda drink some gripe water
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Rajash / November 10, 2014
Malinda
Drink some gripe water to help your mental constipation
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Stanley / November 10, 2014
Machchan Malinda
The readers have not forgotten that you were one of the people in Rajapaksa’s jumpo team to Geneva in 2012.
So your article is nothing special to us.
It is so obvious that you are hunting for a better post in the Lake house.
This article is not enough to satisfy Rajapaksas, you need write defending their corruption as well.
In your next article, do say that Rajapaksa family is the only family in Sri Lanka which never got any illegal wealth and leading a simple life.
However, you have sold your intergrity for an unqualified favour from Rajapaksas.
Sad, it is all in the name JOURNALISM!! This is the reason, international community says that there is no independent media in Sri Lanka!!
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Lucky / November 10, 2014
“The readers have not forgotten that you were one of the people in Rajapaksa’s jumpo team to Geneva in 2012.”
Also he visited an area which is not far from Zeid’s office.
Be cautious, when you visit this place next time, Zeid’s gang will photograph you and publish it everywhere.
What happend to your pen? It is looking for State paid job.
Good luck.
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Ganesh / November 10, 2014
Malinda Seneviratne –
WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR APPOINTMENT AS THE MEDIA SPOKESPERSON FOR RAJAPAKSA REGIME? SHAME ON YOU.
ARE YOU HUNTING FOR ANY GOVERNMENT ASSIGNMENT?
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Sylvia Haik / November 10, 2014
No, he is aiming for a laptop.
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The Last Dinosaur / November 10, 2014
In summary Malinda asks… If my neighbor (Israel & USA) can beat his wife… Why can’t I beat my wife… The UNHCR doesn’t have the right to investigate my abuses. First it should investigate my neibhbour..
Malinda… you need to do a brain transplantation surgery. You will keep on writing like this if you think through your butt….
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