An appealing presence on the ILO podium

by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa flew into Geneva, while a particularly ominous political storm was brewing at home, threatening to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka, in the outside world as well. But, when he returned home in the early hours of the morning on June 17, the global community had acquired proper perspectives on Sri Lanka, sans the ugly distortions that mischievous elements had attempted to propagate. In addition, matters at home had settled down to a wholesome normalcy.

This in sum, is the story of President Rajapaksa's highly result - oriented visit to Geneva.

A focused view which enable us to fathom what went so impressively right in President Rajapaksa's approach at Geneva.

A crucial meeting with Louis Arbour. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - set the tone for a series of initiatives taken by President Rajapaksa in Geneva. Since, the Commission on Human Rights is in the major UN body working to promote and protect human rights, the world over, the President unerringly identified the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as the top-most official, who should be apprised of the correct ground reality relating to the observation of human rights in Sri Lanka. This exchange of views, alleged the fears and hesitations, that some sections of the global community had experienced, in recent times, due to the baseless rumours that were irresponsibly broadcast about so - called human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner was totally persuaded that cherishing human rights in a highly charged social atmosphere, cruelly dominated by relentless acts of violent terrorism, was indeed a stirring display of statesmanship. Luis Alfonso President, Human Rights Council, personally assured the President of their commitment to collaborate with the President, in his human rights initiatives, Continuing to pursue human rights issues, President Rajapaksa, met Jacques Forster, Vice President, International Committee of the Red Cross, (ICRC) to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The discussion, took on a special significance, as it was held in the deeply sensitive backdrop of the abduction and assassination of two members of the Red Cross Organisation Mr. Forster expressed his gratitude to President Rajapaksa, for the prompt action taken by him to probe this heinous crime. The highlight of President Rajapaksa's visit to Geneva, as his address at the International Labour Organisation, at its 96th session. The President's keynote address was presented in an unusual aura.

In a rare and distinguished departure from the staid traditions, usually observed at events in the UN Systems. President Rajapaksa was offered a substantial time slot of 48 solid minutes for his address. Unless under unusual circumstantial, Un Schedules, do not generally, set aside provisions for prolonged addresses. Meeting President Rajapaksa personally, when he arrived at the Headquarters of the ILO, Director General Juan Somavia made it quite clear that President Rajapaksa's visit, did not come within the "general" category.

He embarked on his address, with an appealing note of humility and warmth. The President said.: My visit the ILO, from time to time, have been a great learning experience and a particularly enriching influence on my politics, at the grassroots world of work, impressed the August assembly by their start outspokenness.

The President, took special care, in his key-note address to lavish praise upon the ILO, 'for being in the forefront to upgrade the life of workers of all sectors', especially singling out the role played by the ILO, to spear-head the movement to insure 'equal pay for equal work'. Tracing the history of Sri Lanka's pioneering moves to elevate the women worker to a privileged status, the president stated that, women in Sri Lanka gained the right to vote, before this privilege was achieved by many western countries. What stood out significance is the strong emphasis he placed on the built in sense of compassions that dominates Sri Lanka's predominantly Buddhist culture.

This was a calm and restrained reminder to the global community, that high deference for human rights is very much in our blood itself. He went on to stress, that the philosophy which determines our style of life is structured upon the concepts of non-violence and loving kindness which we have adhered to as a nation for thousands of years.

The mild implication in this is, that, those who rush to accuse us of human rights violations, should restrain their temptation to indulge in such vast measures. He made a strong plea to the global community to get together, to rid mankind of the encourage of terrorism. He traced the history of a long series of inhuman atrocities, inflicted upon his country by terrorist, who have no respect whatsoever for life. President Rajapaksa made it quite clear to the global community. That, it is insufferable and tragic irony, should accuse the Sri Lankan state, of ethnic cleansing.

The end point in his objective recounting of the violence that Sri Lanka has to endure, was the responsible and humane pronouncement, that "We do not believe in a military solution."

In what could very well be dissented as an indulgence in the lighter vein, President Mahinda Rajapaksa indicated that he became President, after serving his country as the Minister of labour for a period. Perhaps, President Rajapaksa, intended to propose an agenda for the serious consideration of the many Ministers of Labour present in the audience.

President Rajapaksa's keynote address at the ILO, is without any doubt, an impressive success. His dark-brown shawl, (Kurahan Satakaya) emphasising the immaculate whiteness of his national costume, made him an appealing presence on the ILO podium.

His words came through, as an expression of unplanned humility and an unadorned frankness, making for an emphatic believability. A specific theme, ran right through his address, as a golden thread.

This was his stark affirmation of faith in the international community. This was the rationale behind his scrupulously careful and detailed analysis of the ground-reality of the country.

In effect, what he said amount to this "Members of the International community. We affirm and reaffirm our faith in your capacity to understand the truth, when it is placed before you as it really, is fully believed in your capacity to understand and appreciate reality."