UNHRC efforts to target SL armed forces:Govt. may contemplate new laws, constitutional safeguards

Dr. Amarasekera warns govt. to be wary of vile Western strategies

 By Shamindra Ferdinando

Under severe pressure on the human rights front with UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet pushing for punitive measures against Sri Lanka, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday (1) said that the government wouldn’t hesitate to introduce news laws in Parliament to guarantee protection for the armed forces.

 Prof. Peiris emphasized that they were even ready to provide what he called constitutional safety for the armed forces. Prof. Peiris, who is also the Minister in charge of the education portfolio, said that the government bore the responsibility to take tangible measures to safeguard the interests of the armed forces. Prof. Peiris dealt with the issue at the weekly SLPP media briefing at Battaramulla.

The top academic said that the Constitution could be amended to afford the required protection.

 The 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is now underway.

 Prof. Peiris who served as the External Affairs Minister, after the successful conclusion of the war in 2009, explained constitutional safeguards in place for the protection of US and UK military personnel deployed for overseas missions. However, in the guise of protecting human rights, war-winning Sri Lanka was being relentlessly harassed by interested parties bent on causing turmoil here, while hiding the sins of their own armed forces, Minister Peiris said.

 UNHRC adopted three resolutions against Sri Lanka in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In Oct. 2015, Sri Lanka co-sponsored Resolution 30/1 against its own armed forces and the war winning political leadership. In March 2020, Sri Lanka announced withdrawal from Resolution 30/1 though it firmly remained involved in the process.

 Commenting on Bachelet’s controversial report that dealt with the situation here, Prof. Peiris alleged that it was unfair by Sri Lanka. Although a Bachelet’s Office agreed to make some amendments, such gestures weren’t sufficient to rectify the harm caused to Sri Lanka.

 Alleging that the UNHRC pursued an agenda in respect of Sri Lanka at the behest of some member states, Prof. Peiris questioned the rationale in Bachelet focusing on purely domestic issues, particularly developments following the Nov 2019 presidential election.

 Prof. Peiris discussed how the UK turned a blind eye to LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham’s wife, Adele’s direct involvement in LTTE terrorism. Minister Peiris pointed out the absurdity in the British position as regards accountability issues having provided a safe haven to Adele who sent child soldiers into battle after tying cyanide phials around their necks.

Prof. Peiris, who once led the government negotiating team for talks with the LTTE said that those who had been involved with the LTTE had no qualms in promoting their association with the terrorist group. Pictures and video footage of Adele in LTTE combat uniform is in the public domain.

 Referring to US National Security Adviser John Bolton threatening the International Criminal Court (ICC) in case it sought to prosecute Americans, Prof. Peiris explained how the world’s solitary superpower sought to protect its interests. However, Sri Lanka was at the receiving end for bringing the war to a successful conclusion over a decade ago, Prof. Peiris said, pointing out the Western powers sought protection for their armed forces deployed in other countries whereas our forces operated within Sri Lanka territory.

 Federation of National Organizations (FNO) spokesperson Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera urged the government to be wary of Western strategies. Asked whether the nationalist organizations approve of the government’s stand in Geneva, Dr. Amarasekera emphasized that the country couldn’t under any circumstances accept the Core Group’s resolution. Dr. Amarasekera said that having quit the accountability resolution in March last year it would be ridiculous to accept another resolution. The civil society activist said that losing a vote in Geneva was much better than giving in to their despicable strategy. The government should be wary of their perceived readiness to listen to our grievances, Dr. Amarasekera said, urging those responsible for Geneva policy to review the strategy. Dr. Amarasekera regretted the government’s pathetic failure to exploit valuable evidence provided by US and UK defence advisors, a confidential UN survey, Wikileaks and other documents to disprove unsubstantiated war crimes accusations against the backdrop of UN confidentiality clause that denied Sri Lanka an opportunity at least to examine accusations till 2031.

 Dr. Amarasekera said that the government hadn’t done its homework and struggled in Geneva expecting other countries to save Sri Lanka. Their failure to present Sri Lanka’s case properly in Geneva couldn’t be justified, Dr. Amarasekera said, pointing out how New Delhi made use of the situation again to demand the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which was forced on the country by Delhi. Dr. Amarasekera was referring to New Delhi’s recent statement in Geneva.

 Dr. Amarasekera said that Bachelet was pushing for wider actions against the armed forces. Her report should be examined against the backdrop of the US declaring Army Commander General Shavendra Silva a war criminal, the veteran nationalist said. What she wanted was individual member states to take punitive measures, Dr. Amarasekera said, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage, too, were denied visas, based on false accusations.