UNHRC sessions:

Lanka rejects interactive dialogue on LLRC report

by Manjula FERNANDO

Sri Lanka has rejected the proposed US call to have an interactive dialogue at UNHRC on Sri Lanka, on the impending Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report.

The Sri Lankan delegation has pointed out that UNHRC members will have a round of debate on Sri Lanka's Human Rights record at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in October 2012. "Every member of the UNHRC has to answer the Member States every five years on their human rights record and Sri Lanka's turn is in October next year," Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who is now in Geneva attending the 18th sessions of the UNHRC told the Sunday Observer over the phone, adding that the US initiative is unfair given that Sri Lanka has shown so much progress towards reconciliation since the end of the humanitarian operation in May 2009.

"We have said no because that will be prejudging the LLRC report. Our position is that until the LLRC report is out, there should not be efforts to undermine our domestic process towards reconciliation or put undue pressure on the members of this independent Commission."

The US earlier sought Sri Lanka's consent to have this interactive dialogue at the 19th UNHRC sessions in March. He explained: "In October 2012, there is a UPR for Sri Lanka. Every five years we go before the UN Human Rights Council and discuss Sri Lanka. Every country has to do that. Our five-year cycle starts in October 2012. We will have to present a report to the Council about what we have done to promote and protect human rights.

After the report there is an interactive dialogue. "We feel the American initiative is not necessary given the fact that the LLRC is yet to complete its mandate and it will also put undue pressure on an independent process.

It is trying to make recommendations towards reconciliation. We had been communicating this message to all delegations in Geneva. We have sent various senior ministers to different parts of the world to present this position," the Minister said.

Minister Samarasinghe said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who will be in New York for the UN General Assembly from September 19 along with External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris will communicate the same message to various Heads of State and foreign ministers. "We believe this US initiative is unfair and tantamount to prejudging what the LLRC is doing."