CHOGM 2011 in Perth:

Overwhelming support for Lanka

By Manjula FERNADO

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris, upon his return from Australia held a press conference last week to wrap up the CHOGM outcome which he termed was a resounding victory for Sri Lanka’s foreign policy.

He said, contrary to the ‘media hype’ that was build up in the run up to Perth CHOGM that Sri Lanka was going to be castigated on the lines of its allegedly flawed human rights record, the vast majority of the international community endorsed the points of view expressed by Sri Lanka. And Sri Lanka was able to set precedence with the help of others by immediately thwarting intrusive attempts to raise domestic issues of a sovereign nation.

The attempts to embarrass Sri Lanka at the CHOGM proceedings finally boomeranged on the ‘perpetrators’ themselves and became a blessing in disguise for the country to portray the true picture and state of affairs in the post conflict era.

The excerpts of the press conference;

The proceedings at the Commonwealth conference which was concluded two days ago was an unparalleled triumph for Sri Lanka. There was this question that was built up in certain quarters that the international community is hostile to Sri Lanka. There was a wide chasm between the sentiments of the international community and the position of the Government of Sri Lanka, that is a view that has been orchestrated systematically over a long period. We saw that this was done with great tenacity in the days leading to CHOGM in Perth.

A lot of effort and money was put into by people who wanted to propagate this point of view. The outcome clearly demonstrates that far from there being any problem with regard to Sri Lanka’s views and policies, the international community did understand. The actual outcome of CHOGM makes that crystal clear.

In the international media and Australian media, there was this expectation that there will be strong opposition to CHOGM 2013 being held in Sri Lanka. We were told that this is probably not going to happen, that many countries are going to voice their opposition to Sri Lanka being chosen as the venue. Nothing was further from the truth. The question of venue was never re-visited for one moment by any of the 54 countries that participated.

This has been decided in 2009 by the Heads of State and government in Trinidad and Tobago, that CHOGM 2013 will be held in Sri Lanka. There was unanimous endorsement with regard to the decision. No dissent of any kind was articulated by anyone.

The proceedings of the Heads of Governments concluded when the invitation was extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to all the delegations that were present to come to our country in 2013 and everyone presented in the room responded very warmly. There was no issue whatsoever.

The other matter which makes clear the attitude of the international community is, there was this enormous hype that Sri Lanka’s human rights and various matters relating to Sri Lanka’s domestic policies were going to occupy centre stage at CHOGM. Look at the media reports. Look at some of the statements that were made by spokesmen for the Australian Government just before the meeting commenced.

We were told that there was an ‘expectation’ that Sri Lanka’s human rights were going to be raised. What really happened demonstrated the reality of the situation. At the Foreign Minister’s meeting, there was an attempt made by the Foreign Minister of Canada to bring up issues relating to Canada. I objected to that very vigorously. As the External Affairs Minister of this country I pointed out that this is entirely contrary to the culture of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth is a voluntary association of sovereign and independent states. There is no question of using the Commonwealth Heads forum to probe or discuss in any manner domestic issues relating to a member state. We objected to it and said this is very unsound precedent.

However, I added that Sri Lanka has nothing to hide. We are prepared to engage bilaterally with any country that wishes to discuss these matters with us. We are open to discussions in a bilateral context but this was not the forum for that.

I have been in Government for a long time but this was a unique experience.

I was humbled and greatly strengthened by what happened in the room just after my statement. Fifteen countries got up one after the other.

They said they very strongly endorse the views that have been expressed by the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. It was an electric moment in the room.

We then asked the chairman of the conference the Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd what the process is going to be next and his answer was categorical. He said the consensus in the room is crystal clear. It was immediately dropped. There was no discussion on Sri Lanka.

The raising of this matter by the Canadian Foreign Minister gave the opportunity for 15 voices, representing 15 sovereign countries, registering the strongest possible protest against the politicisation of the proceedings of the Commonwealth, which was the comment that I made at the very beginning, that it was dangerous to the future of the commonwealth. These 15 countries unequivocally supported the stand taken by Sri Lanka.

When we engaged in discussion, our point of view prevailed. The facts speak for themselves. The facts do not need to be embellished. At the media briefing which we voluntarily convened at the conclusion of the proceedings, we told the truth. And it is this truth that convinced the overwhelming majority of nations. It is a very small group of countries who did not agree. They do not represent the international community.

When President Rajapaksa arrived in Perth there was an action filed against the President by a private individual who now confesses that he is a sympathiser of the LTTE. These attempts are not objective or dispassionate. They have a political agenda and this political agenda is intimately linked with the objectives of the LTTE.

We strongly protested to the Australian authorities that there is no basis whatsoever to this presumption. This cannot be allowed to proceed. President Rajapaksa as an incumbent Head of State, thrice elected by the people of Sri Lanka, is entitled to full immunity under the provisions of both the Australian law and international law. He cannot be brought before any Australian Court.

The Federal Attorney General of Australia upheld this position immediately and directed that these proceedings cannot go ahead. We said these are vexatious proceedings and that they have a political purpose. These are nothing more than propaganda. It is not serious litigation at all.

Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard also expressed herself in similar terms. We thank her for that intervention. These attempts were to intimidate and prevent the President from participating in these proceedings. What happened when he did speak. He spoke at the Commonwealth Business Council. And that was a magnificent showcasing of Sri Lanka, the unique opportunities available on this island after the eradication of terrorism. The inherent strengths and the capabilities for which we are now able, after almost a quarter of a century. He was able to articulate that message in great force at the Business council.

Similarly at the sports breakfast President Rajapaksa indicated why it is that Sri Lanka has to be given the opportunity to host the Commonwealth Games in Hambantota. All of this we were able to do and the results were obvious for all to see.

Many of the countries that were present there particularly the South Asian countries, said in one voice, that the eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka has brought a variety of benefits to the entire sub-continent.

The SAARC summit will be held next week. The countries of SAARC made no bones about it. They said in the most unequivocal terms that all their countries were reaping the benefits and that it was truly a regional and international issue as opposed to a mere national issue.

I also want to tell you that Sri Lanka raised her voice in respect of a variety of measures which were important to the global community at this time – The attempts towards, institutions like the Commonwealth to be politicised and to be used as political tools for the accomplishment of objectives which are contrary to the well being of the majority of nations who constitute the Commonwealth. Sri Lanka and many of the countries expressed strong opposition to the proposal relating to the appointment of a Commissioner of Human Rights. That is not the way the Commonwealth functions. We made the point that priorities must be properly identified.

The Commonwealth must commit itself to the attainment of urgent goals, ie climate change, Global warming, rights of women, rights of under privileged people of many of our countries, access to education, social mobility, empowerment, economic issues. These are the issues that are of prime concern.

It is absolutely wrong for financial resources allocated to be used to support a commissioner whose role is intrusive, to pass judgements on domestic policies of a sovereign country, at a time efforts are being made to strengthen its domestic mechanisms.

Trends of this kind, far from strengthening the commonwealth, will result in the disintegration of its basic structure. Sri Lanka raised this point of view and was joined by about 90 per cent of the countries that was present in the room. It is important for us to ensure equitable geographical representation. We have much to contribute to the richness and the diversity of the international legal order today.

Many other countries from Latin America, Africa joined us in articulating this point of view. These are now Sri Lanka’s precedence during the CHOGM proceedings.

This was a singular triumph in three different respects. First and foremost due to the unanimous decision relating to the venue of CHOGM 2013, secondly the immediate rejection of Canada’s attempt to raise Sri Lankan domestic issues as part of the proceedings and thirdly the rejection by the relevant Australian authorities on the vexations that was made to embarrass the Sri Lankan President by bringing in a totally futile litigation.

The fact that there was no grounds was clearly evident by the Australian authorities who prevented that litigation from being forwarded. This was an unparalleled achievement of Sri Lankan Foreign Policy.

In response to questions by the media Prof.Peiris said they appealed to the delegates with whom they met on the sidelines and the media present at the press briefing held at the close of CHOGM, not to come with preconceived notions and instead give Sri Lanka a fair hearing and this reaped results as is evident by the outcome of the Perth visit.

He said he made sure to answer all the questions posed by the media and satisfy all their concerns as Sri Lanka was open for queries in the proper format.

In response to a question whether the Canadian PM would boycott the CHOGM in Colombo, he said it was entirely a matter for individual judgement. But he added Prime Minister Harper did not particularly object to CHOGM 2013 being held in Sri Lanka nor did he say Canada will not come. PM Harper said as the prime minister he will not come. Prof. Peiris concluded by saying that he believed the Commonwealth event in Colombo will be a singular success.