{"id":166981,"date":"2016-08-31T00:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T18:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=166981"},"modified":"2016-09-06T23:57:55","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T18:27:55","slug":"open-letter-to-un-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/open-letter-to-un-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter To UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rajeewa Jayaweera<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Rajeewa<\/a>

Rajeewa Jayaweera<\/p><\/div>\n

Dear Mr Secretary General,<\/p>\n

Welcome to Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

We Sri Lankans are indeed gratified of your decision to visit our island for the second time during your term of office, which is drawing to a close at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

According to your media spokesperson, the main focus during your previous visit to Sri Lanka in 2009 was in three critical areas; Humanitarian Relief, Reintegration & Reconstruction and a sustainable and equitable political solution. During your visit to the North, you visited IDP camps including the Menik Farm and toured war ravaged areas by helicopter. Despite \u201ca sustainable and equitable political solution\u201d being one of the three critical areas of focus, no visits were undertaken to any other parts in the country. Consequent to your visit in 2009, you appointed a Panel of Experts (POE) to advise you on the issue of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict. Many of us Sri Lankans have often wondered of your reasons for the limitation of the mandate to \u2018final stages of the conflict\u2019 rather than the entire conflict period. The report by POE, prepared without visiting Sri Lanka (we are aware, the then government denied visas for POE members) resulted in the passage of an American Sponsored Resolution on \u2018Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka by the UNHRC in Geneva. Under threat of sanctions, the new government in Colombo co-sponsored the resolution.<\/p>\n

\"Ban+Ki+Moon\"<\/a>Based on your itinerary during your current three days\u2019 visit, we gather you are due to address a conference in Galle on \u2018Reconciliation and Coexistence: Role of Youth\u2019. It is a welcome departure from your previous Colombo and Jaffna centric visit in 2009. You are then scheduled to visit Jaffna for separate meetings with the Governor of Norther Provincial Council and the TNA leadership who will be joined by the Chief Minister of the NPC in addition to a visit to a refugee camp. The joint meeting with TNA leaders and NPC Chief Minister no doubt must be an attempt to impress upon them, especially the Chief Minister, of the need to work together in tandem rather than at cross roads. Finally, time is to be spent in Colombo speaking on \u2018Sustaining Peace \u2013 Achieving Sustainable Development Goals\u2019 to a cross section of people besides holding meetings with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickramasinghe. It would appear the main focus of this visit is to encourage unity and cooperation between Sinhalese and Tamil communities in the country and to promote ethnic reconciliation between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities for the equitable and sustained development of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

You are on record expressing your \u2018outrage\u2019, \u2018unhappiness\u2019 and other forms of dissatisfaction over developments, often involving Human Rights issues in various UN member states.<\/p>\n

Iraq, a UN member state was invaded by a joint US \/ British force in 2003 not sanctioned by the United Nations, in search of hidden WMDs which are yet to be found. It is now a virtual failed state. According to UK based NGO Iraqi Body Count www.iraqibodycount.org , civilian deaths in Iraq between January 2003 and August 2016 is estimated at 182,134 which is higher than the number of lives lost during the 26-year ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Thousands have disappeared without a trace from majority Shia and minority Sunni \/ Christian communities. Foreign forces and military contractors have committed heinous crimes during the last thirteen years. Iraq has not been able to prosecute foreign forces and contractors committing crimes as they are above Iraqi law. During your term of office, you have visited Iraq on eight different occasions. Nevertheless, you have, let alone the appointment of a Panel of Experts, not even voiced a need for such a panel to inquire into \u201cissues of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law\u201d in Iraq.<\/p>\n

Kashmir has been in conflict since 1947. You are aware of the periodic unrest in Indian occupied Kashmir, draconian Indian laws to deprive Kashmiris of even some of their basic rights, laws protecting Indian Police and Armed Forces from prosecution and the most recent unrest since early July. Kashmir for all practical purposes has been under siege for almost two months. A humanitarian crisis with shortages of food and medical supplies is in the brewing. Children have not been to school since their Eid holidays in early July. Since you have expressed \u2018concern\u2019 over current situation in Kashmir, your current five nation visit would have been an ideal opportunity to visit India and Kashmir for a round of discussions with Indian and Kashmiri political and civil society leaders to ascertain for yourself, the gravity of the current situation in Kashmir. Such a visit would have been doubly helpful since you have expressed \u201cUN\u2019s readiness to offer its services\u201d.<\/p>\n

It is indeed essential to treat all conflicts and violations of Human Rights on a level and not on a selective basis, even if it is \u201cdifficult and painful\u201d. That is only possible if one acts impartially with courage and moral conviction. It is hoped, your successor who in your own words \u201cshould be a woman\u201d would adopt a different and more impartial approach when faced with similar difficult and painful situations.<\/p>\n

It is believed in some quarters you intend contesting for the office of President in your own country, South Korea after relinquishing your current post. If that be the case, we Sri Lankans wish you success in your future endeavors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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