A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Saturday, July 15, 2017
Implement Geneva resolution or face consequences – UN
*...flays security establishment and its allies in govt* Geneva to review New Anti-Terrorism Act
Ben Emmerson, UN
Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, speaks during
a press conference in Colombo yesterday, July 14. (Lakruwan
Wanniarachchi / AFP)
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Alleging that ‘retrograde elements in the security establishment and
their allies’ in the government were trying to undermine post-war
reconciliation process, the UN yesterday warned Sri Lanka of dire
consequences unless the government fully implemented Geneva Resolution
30/1 co-sponsored by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration in Oct
2015.
The warning was given by Ben Emmerson, QC, Special Rapporteur on the
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while
countering terrorism.
Addressing the media at UN compound in Colombo at the conclusion of a
five-day visit undertaken on the invitation of the government, the
British lawyer explained a range of measures available to the UN in case
reneged its promises. Emmerson declined to speculate what their options
would be but indicated that punitive measures could be taken.
Emmerson was flanked by UN Resident Representative Uma McCauley.
The Special Rapporteur asserted that fulfilling Geneva Resolution
wouldn’t be an easy task. Responding to a query, Emmerson said that Sri
Lanka shouldn’t test patience of the international community. Sri Lanka
last march received two year period to accomplish the challenging task.
Emmerson emphasized that Sri Lanka couldn’t under any circumstances refrained from implementing the Geneva Resolution.
The Britisher who had held Special Rapporteur post since Aug 2011
declared Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism law as one of the worst in the
world. Emmerson declined to compare the situation in Sri Lanka with any
other country.
Asked by The Island whether he could explain argument with Justice
Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, over Sri Lanka’s human rights
situation, Emmerson said that he didn’t wont to comment on discussions
he had with government representatives. Emerson emphasized that it was
his policy not to reveal discussions. When The Island pointed out that
Emmerson, in his opening remarks, had referred to discussions he had
with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Law and Order Minister Sagala
Ratnayake, Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Attorney General Jayantha
Jayasuriya as well as Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake though
he declined to discuss his meeting with Justice Minister Rajapakse,
Emmerson acknowledged that he was being selective. Having listed all
politicians, officials, military and police top brass, Emmerson said
that he had also met the Minister of Justice.
The UN official said that those who had been obstructing the process of
post-war national reconciliation were known and it would be up to
Parliament and the people to decide on them.
Emmerson again declined to comment when P.K. Balachandra, The New Indian
Express correspondent in Colombo asked him whether during his meetings
here he had met any one of those who had been obstructing the UN led
process.
Justice Minister Rajapakse is a key member of the Prime Minister
Wickremesinghe’s ministerial team tasked with implementing the Geneva
Resolution.
Emmerson attributed the inordinate delay in the implementation of the
Geneva Resolution 30/1 to agenda pursued by elements in the security
establishment and their allies in the government. In spite of much
touted promises by the government, Emmerson said: "Two years on and
already four months into a two-year extension granted to the government
by the Human Rights Council the progress in achieving the key goals set
out in the Geneva Resolution is not only slow but seems to have ground
to a virtual halt. None of the measures so far adopted to fulfill Sri
Lanka’s transitional justice commitments are adequate to ensure real
progress and there is little evidence that perpetrators of war crimes
committed by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces are being brought to
justice."
Emmerson revealed that Sri Lanka had promised to discuss the proposed
Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) in place of the PTA and bring in required
changes before being presented for parliamentary approval. Emmerson
emphasized in no uncertain terms that the proposed Act wasn’t acceptable
to the UN though there were significant improvements. Emmerson alleged
that the proposed CTA was meant to continue with the existing security
policies that would guarantee the continued violation of those human
rights of suspected terrorists.
Emmerson revealed that he had received an assurance from the Foreign
Ministry that the CTA would be discussed with his Geneva-based team to
redraft it in line with international standards.