Counter international witch hunt - S. L. Gunasekara

by Nilma Dole

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Controversy surrounds Sri Lanka being forced to take 'command responsibility' to suit the hidden agendas of various international INGOs and foreign 'lackeys' to discredit the armed forces who are waging a relentless battle to protect the country's sovereignty and integrity, said renowned lawyer S. L. Gunasekera.

He was speaking at a seminar organised by 'Global Sri Lankans' on 'Countering the International Witch hunt'. He said, 'Let us remember that war is dangerous but the international witch hunt is equally dangerous". Members from the UAE, the United States and Switzerland said that Sri Lanka was being criticised in the international witch hunt.

The inquiry into the deaths of 17 employees of the Mutur branch of the French NGO ACF (Action Contra Faine) in 2005 was highlighted in this connection. Lawyer Gomin Dayasiri who represented the navy and the army said, "The ACF employees had been asked to remain in the office despite shelling from the LTTE and armed forces. They were also warned by government officials to evacuate.

However, the ACF staff decided to remain in the office until the fighting ceased". The ACF suddenly closed the office without any reason and furnished reports upon on returning to France. There was no ACF representation at the inquiry.

The legal luminaries highlighted that such criticism has no basis of evidence and that witnesses now have the licence to lie to bring disrepute to Sri Lanka. Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Palitha Kohona said that Sri Lanka has been subject to criticism despite it trying its best to suppress the LTTE terrorist outfit.

Public diplomacy plays a critical role in understanding that NGO groups from western countries exercise critical influence on public opinion and hence should be free from propaganda.

Dr. Kohona said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had highlighted that "Sri Lanka is Asia's oldest democracy and continues to be concerned about the well-being of the people even before our western counterparts spoke about human rights".

The President's ambition is that Sri Lanka will do its best to free itself from the Tigers' clutches despite the international funding they receive to strengthen themselves.