Permanent solution to N-E problem within Sri Lanka's reach

by Panduka SENANAYAKE

“Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and should be allowed to find a permanent solution to solve the problems of those in the North and the East without outsiders, forcing their will on the country,” said Veterinary Surgeon Noel Nadesan of Victoria commenting on the March 23 resolution on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on “Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

Nadesan, who migrated in early 1987 is a successful veterinary practitioner in Australia. He edited and published a Tamil fortnightly newspaper and has written four books, one of which has been translated into English, on his experiences as a veterinary surgeon. Copies of his newspaper had been burnt and he had been threatened over his moderate views by detractors. Following the end of terrorism in Sri Lanka Nadesan built a small hospital at his birth- place in the island of Eluvaitivu, in Northern Sri Lanka.

He was confident of Sri Lanka finding its own home grown solution to the problem and said that the Government has the people's mandate to do it. He said that the Government needs to have a plan on devolution and decentralisation of power, economy and culture.

He said that the UNHRC’s resolution would turn out to be counter-productive because the US which brought the resolution, and its supporters were trying to foist their own solution on Sri Lanka. Placing a timeframe during which the country has to show to UNHRC, the progress it has made on implementing steps on accountability and reconciliation indicated a lack of trust on the Sri Lanka Government, he said.

"Further, this could be considered a high-handed act by some of the Sinhala nationalists. Since they cannot take on the mighty USA, they will hold the Tamils in the island responsible for this. Instead of bringing the two communities closer, this would drive a wedge further between them, “he said.

Asked if the timeframe was placed to prevent the SL Government from shirking its responsibilities and avoiding accountability Nadesan said, “It is a joke for America of all countries to speak of accountability. They do not wish to be accountable and do not sign international covenants that would hold their soldiers responsible for violations of human rights around the globe; but here they want to subject a small country, which fought a 30-year terrorism, accountable,” he said.

Some groups with vested interests, highlighting certain acts on the part of the soldiers towards the end of terrorism was laughable, he said.

If these groups had any concern at all, they should have done so at the beginning, he said citing the attack and killing of prisoners at a Sri Lankan jail in 1987. There were many such incidents but none of these champions of human rights spoke out then, he said.