Commonwealth rights envoy opposed

28 October, 2011 
By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala service

	President's spokesman says Sri Lanka has a right to oppose the moves to appoint a rights envoy

The Sri Lanka government has confirmed that it objects to a move by a group of countries to establish a special envoy aimed at making the Commonwealth more effective on human rights.

A report by an advisory group has made over 100 recommendations aimed at reforming the organization, including bolstering the organization's ability to tackle violations of its core principles by member states.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's spokesman, Bandula Jayasekara told BBC Sinhala service that a group of countries including Sri Lanka opposed to one of the key proposals to appoint a rights commissar.

“It is not only Sri Lanka. There are also other countries who are opposing this,” he told BBC Sandeshaya from Perth.

Amnesty International 'biased'

"Let me also add that Sri Lanka has the right to oppose when other countries have the right to propose.”

It is time that Amnesty International clears their backyard before pointing the finger at a democratic country   President Rajapaksa's spokesman, Bandula Jayasekara

Media reports said India also supports Sri Lanka’s policy on the issue.

Rights watchdog Amnesty International has, meanwhile, said the two countries have “a lot to lose” if the human rights records in Sri Lanka and India were open to scrutiny.

The watchdog has also questioned the decision by the Commonwealth to host next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in a country with a questionable human rights record.

The Commonwealth, said AI, “risks becoming irrelevant” if the next CHOGM held in Sri Lanka in 2013.

But in a strong worded attack, the Sri Lanka government has accused the AI of being biased against the island nation.

Gay rights

"We have seen how biased Amnesty International is and they have been issuing many anti-Sri Lankan statements,” Bandula Jayasekara told BBC Sandeshaya from Perth.

	'It is absurd to even consider allowing Sri Lanka to host CHOGM as long as it fails to account for alleged war crimes'

“It is time that Amnesty International clears their backyard before pointing the finger at a democratic country,” he added.

But the rights watchdog is not impressed.

"It is absurd to even consider allowing Sri Lanka to host CHOGM as long as it fails to account for alleged war crimes," said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Director.

The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Perth reports that the summit is divided over several key issues including moves to get rid of laws in some member states which discriminate against gay men and lesbians, our correspondent says.

“I am not qualified to comment on that. It is a matter for the external affairs minister who is taking part in the ministerial discussions,” was the response by Mr Jayasekara when asked about Sri Lanka’s response.