{"id":139074,"date":"2015-02-11T00:40:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T19:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=139074"},"modified":"2015-02-11T14:47:02","modified_gmt":"2015-02-11T09:17:02","slug":"sirisenas-govt-must-deal-with-the-legacy-of-the-past-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sirisenas-govt-must-deal-with-the-legacy-of-the-past-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Sirisena’s Govt Must Deal With The Legacy Of The Past: New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s New York Times editorial has stressed on the importance of the UN remaining involved with the Sri Lankan government concerning the alleged abuses that occurred during the final phases of the war, in the wake of reports emerging of a possible postponement of tabling the OISL report.<\/p>\n

\"Maithri<\/a>The Editorial board while commending the steps taken by the Sirisena administration to aid in the reconciliation process to which includes its pledge to free hundreds of detained ethnic Tamils, restoration of Tamil owners’ land seized by the military for commercial development projects, the appointment of a new civilian governor for the North and lifting the ban on foreigners to travel to conflict affected areas, has pointed out that nevertheless Sirisena government must deal with the legacy of the past.<\/p>\n

It has gone on to emphasize that any delay in the release of the UN report must be brief and that the UN must remain involved.<\/p>\n

“This is not to rebuke Mr. Sirisena’s welcome intentions but its simply the best way to guarantee that the inquiry is swift, independent, that witnesses are protected and that perpetrators are finally punished,” the editorial states.<\/p>\n

Full text of the Editorial<\/span><\/a>;<\/p>\n

It was just one month ago that Sri Lanka surprised the world by electing opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena as president, rejecting the authoritarianism, corruption and dynastic politics of the administration of the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa. President Sirisena has moved swiftly to usher in a new chapter of hope for Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

So as not to reopen old wounds too soon, his government is now seeking a delay in the release of a report that is scheduled to be presented next month on a United Nations inquiry into war crimes and other human rights abuses committed during Sri Lanka\u2019s civil war that ended in 2009. The government is also lobbying for support from the United States and the United Nations for a proposed domestic tribunal on abuses. The United Nations says as many as 40,000 Tamil civilians may have been killed during the last months of the war. Mr. Rajapaksa had flatly refused to cooperate with the United Nations inquiry.<\/p>\n

Mr. Sirisena\u2019s government has taken other positive steps to begin the healing process. It has pledged to free hundreds of detained ethnic Tamils and to restore to Tamil owners land seized by the military for commercial development projects. It has also appointed a new civilian governor for the ethnic Tamil-populated Northern Province and lifted a travel ban on foreigners to the area.<\/p>\n

Mr. Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who, as defense secretary, oversaw some of the worst abuses during the civil war, are still national political forces. One of the new government\u2019s concerns is the outcome of upcoming parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n

However noble its motives, the Sirisena government must deal with the legacy of the past. Any delay in the release of the United Nations report must be brief. And the United Nations must remain involved. This is not a rebuke to Mr. Sirisena\u2019s welcome intentions. It is simply the best way to guarantee that the inquiry is swift and independent, that witnesses are adequately protected and that perpetrators are finally punished.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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