'West's double standard on human rights should be countered'

By Niwanthi THILAKARATHNE

An interview with the Ambassador for Iran in Sri Lanka, Dr. M.N. Hassani Pour on the recent US Resolution on Sri Lanka, at UNHRC Session in Geneva

Q: What is your opinion regarding the resolution on Sri Lanka which was presented to the UNHRC by the US?

A: First thing which I want to mention here is the strategies of the West on human rights and democracy. They are developing these concepts through the media. They want to make these concepts accepted by the international community. They use them as instruments to put pressure on developing countries.

Cultural diversity should be respected. Asia is the cradle of civilisation.

The Silk route is an example to prove that. Islam, Buddhist and Hinduism have their own values which is different from the West. Therefore, human rights of the West are different from the human rights in Islam. The West is trying to make their value system internationally accepted.

This is not possible because of the difference in value between the west and developing countries. International organisations are controlled the US which use the media to control developing countries. Nobody talks about human rights violations in Israel or Guantanamo.

It shows their double standard. America should not speak of human rights in Sri Lanka because it is an internal affair. People are being killed daily in Afghanistan. Nobody talks of human rights violation in Afghanistan.

There are no human rights problems which depend on the West. This is my explanation about human rights issue which is politically motivated by the West for changing policy of developing independence countries such as Sri Lanka. We should ask the West as to why they do not talk about human rights violations in Israel, Guantanamo, Yemen, Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Q: How should Sri Lanka face the human rights challenge?

A: It is by getting together of developing countries. Support of Non - Aligned Movement or Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) should be obtained taken for this task. The US resolution against Sri Lanka shows their double standard. We strongly support Sri Lanka in the human rights issue. We are ready to cooperate with Sri Lanka in order to challenge this.

Q: What are your views on channel 4 video regarding Sri Lanka?

A: The West is using the media as a new strategy to put pressure on developing countries. Sri Lanka should use the media to put pressure on the West. Human rights problems in Britain should be published. We have books on violation of human rights in Western countries.

Q: Sri Lanka representatives also presented a video as a response to channel 4 video. What is your comment?

A: I think that it is the best thing which Sri Lanka should do. This is a right of Sri Lanka. Although people are being killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they are not shown. But they put pressure on developing countries through mass media as they control mass media over the world. Therefore developing countries should get together to end dominance of the West through the media.

Q: International human rights organisations support the US resolution on Sri Lanka. What is your comment?

A: All international organisations are directly or indirectly dominated by the West. These organisations support the resolution.

Q: There is an allegation against the LTTE that children were recruited for armed combat by them. What is your comment?

A: Any organisation should not misuse children. If any organisation does not respect and use children in war should be considered as violation of human rights. The human rights council does not speak about this. Nobody pays attention to the killing of civilians in Israel.

Q: According to your views what is the responsibility of the opposition in this crucial moment?

In any country there are different ideas, groups and parties. The Opposition should respect the opinion of each other and unite to develop the country.

Q: What are your views on the development process of the government in Northern and Eastern provinces especially providing infrastructure to IDPs?

A: I think that development policy of Sri Lankan government is on the right track. Economic growth of Sri Lanka is around 8 percent. Investments are at a good level. As stated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, development should reach the people.

The government of Iran has supported the development process in Eastern province. We have built hundred houses for the people in Eastern province.