Obama to hold the loop against Sri Lanka

CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS

(February 6, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Obama administration of the United States of America is considering requesting the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to postpone taking up the resolution on Sri Lanka in the forthcoming session.

The report on the resolution adopted on Sri Lanka by the UNHRC last March is to be taken up during the Council sessions this March. However, the reports stated the US may ask the UNHRC to postpone the taking up of the resolution.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Biswal, had hinted at this during her interaction with TNA leaders on Tuesday, sources have been quoted as saying in the New Indian Express.

The US was happy with the exit of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s hostile government and saw a bright future for US-Lanka relations during the tenure of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The report has stated that the US did not want to upset the Lankan apple cart by presenting a strong anti-Lankan resolution at the UNHRC.

Biswal is understood to have warned that a strong resolution accusing Sri Lanka of war crimes will be exploited by ultra nationalist forces opposed to

Tamils, which could in turn bring Rajapaksa back to power through the June parliamentary elections.

However, TNA leaders told Biswal during her meeting with them that they could not allow the Tamil issue to be brushed under the carpet. They feared that once Colombo and Washington warmed up to each other, the Tamil issue would be put on the back burner and other bilateral issues would be brought to the fore.

In his message to the President Siisena, President Obama noted, “International and domestic monitors and observers were permitted to do their jobs. Sri Lankans from all segments of society cast their ballots peacefully, and the voice of the people was respected. At this moment of hope, the United States looks forward to deepening its partnership with the people and government of Sri Lanka and to working with President Sirisena to advance peace, democracy, and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.”