Those who commit Human Rights abuses cannot preach to Sri Lanka
by Shenali Waduge
Sri Lanka’s delegation presently at the Geneva sessions of the UN
Human Rights Council are facing a barrage of onslaughts on the theme of
“accountability”. For a country that has become the only nation to
defeat terrorism and put an end to sporadic acts of terror with bombs,
suicide and assassination this is an achievement no other nation is
likely to achieve. Instead of bouquets Sri Lanka receives bricks - why
because Sri Lanka jerked the happy existence of too many factions
benefiting from the prevalence of terror.
The
whole “accountability” sing song is just a gimmick and a perfect modus
operandi to strike revenge. Yet, given the limitations within our scope
we have done an admirable job from the time the military took up the
challenge to eliminate the LTTE to the present where people do not have
to fear terrorism.
Sri Lanka is not going to apologize for succeeding to achieve what
the majority wanted just because it leaves a minority disappointed. Our
message to the world is: First hold LTTE accountable for its crimes and
then move on to accusing Sri Lanka. This is the order of
“accountability”.
The UNHRC in 2010 issued 228 recommendations on how Washington can
address violations. These are violations that the US is accused of
within the US. We cannot even number the violations that the US is
accused of internationally.
The US has yet to close Guantanamo Bay, US tortures kidnapped
foreigners flown in private planes to Diego Garcia, there are over 2.3m
in prison in the US with 3000 facing death and even children can be
sentenced to life in prison.
It is a country that is being run by another nation while in debt to
another nation. Sri Lanka was magnanimous enough to declare that no LTTE
child cadre would be sentenced for taking part in LTTE terror.
Muslims in the US are being discriminated and arrested on false
terror plot accusations.
These are nothing but entrapments. So what has the US done regarding
these UNHRC recommendations and who is monitoring them? Did Ban-ki Moon
appoint a 3 member panel to investigate this? Let alone the scores of
other invasions taking place without UN mandate and simply watched by
nations all over the world with only condemnation statements that hardly
stops the carnage taking place.
An America that used nuclear bombs not once but twice has no moral
right to be pointing any fingers.
An America that invades nations simply to secure the corporate
interests of a few Americans are not doing any justice to America or
Americans.
An America that has through over 70 covert operations killed more
than 10m people can hardly comment on guestimated civilian figures in
Sri Lanka.
An America that has hardly settled any of the millions it has
displaced has no right to be asking for statistics about Sri Lanka’s
resettlement.
An America that allowed 3 genocides to take place has no moral right
to comment and it is shameful of the other members of the UN to even sit
and listen to US delegations uttering absolute lies or even nodding in
approval when US is talking human rights.
A lesson we can learn from this silence is that all these nations
enjoy watching US bully countries like Sri Lanka for when such countries
fall into a vulnerable situation internationally and locally the other
nations eagle in on countries like Sri Lanka to advance their own
agendas. India is the perfect example.
This is the situation taking place globally - so can we count on
nations to look at Sri Lanka’s situation from a righteous point of view
and come to our aid? Hardly, and the countries that do come forward to
speak on behalf of Sri Lanka who say what they say because they
genuinely believe that Sri Lanka has taken magnanimous steps following
the LTTE defeat it is more than commendable and Sri Lanka salutes the
support of these nations.
Table every allegation against US on the UN floor and ask the US to
explain. On the floor of the UN, every member whether large or small has
an equal voice. Let Sri Lanka be heard.
Yet, how does the US respond to these allegations - it simply
dismisses these recommendations and calls them political provocations by
hostile countries. Its time Sri Lanka did the same...but then what would
be the consequences?
However, before anyone starts sentencing Sri Lanka we demand to know
what accountability the UN, the UNHRC, the US and all the nations that
have banned the LTTE have to say about LTTE atrocities over 3 decades
where openly LTTE front organizations have been financing terror but the
representatives of these organizations are treated like VIPs and
documentaries that are funded by them are even being nominated for the
Noble Peace prize, where documentaries that highlight contradictions,
unverified and unconfirmed allegations suffices over real pictures of
attacks by the LTTE on civilians, unarmed soldiers and enough of war
crimes and crimes against humanity about the LTTE.
Where is the justice for the people the LTTE have killed over the
years? Why is justice for a terrorist organization like the LTTE taking
precedence? First hold LTTE accountable and then come to all other
issues. This is what Sri Lanka demands.
We want to know what the world will do about the accountability of
the LTTE for these crimes. The LTTE crimes cannot be allowed to get
drowned or hidden by purposely attacking a Government that has every
right to take the larger interest of the country into consideration to
end terrorism. It is the right of any country to protect its citizens -
that is what Sri Lanka did. Human rights cannot be used as a political
football against its enemies who countries term enemies simply because
they want to change its government. Sri Lanka’s government must remember
at all times that the present international pressures surrounding Sri
Lanka is primarily because they do not want a Rajapaksa Government to
rule Sri Lanka.
Once international lobbies determine who they want and do not want
there is little point attempting to make amends or compromises. Thus, it
is in the Governments best interest to win the hearts and minds of the
people of the country for their survival. Saying it simply - there is no
point sucking up to these nations and their representatives - their plan
is already laid out. You are either in or out. The word compromise does
not exist in their vocabulary!
Courtesy: defence.lk
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