Various forces exerting strong pressure:
UNHRC highly politicised, the general perception
by Uditha Kumarasinghe
Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva said the general perception is that the UNHRC is
today a highly politicised body due to various forces exerting strong
pressure.
The forces in the UNHRC are politically divided, but if they wish to
punish an emerging Third World country, they get together.
Therefore, we don't see the UNHRC as an independent organisation
which takes into consideration the true facts and circumstances in
arriving at decisions, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Powerful countries have openly violated the UN Charter, human rights
and the territorial integrity of other nations, but got away without
being hauled before the UNHRC. This shows that the UNHRC discriminates
only against Third World developing countries, he said.
The Minister said when there is a vote at the UNHRC, the whole
European Community votes as a blok despite the difference of opinion in
those countries. But they have no say. The UNHRC is structured in this
manner and it shows how they vote. Hence, we can't accept the UNHRC
verdict because it is mostly based on political affiliations.
If one were to look at the grave human rights violations in Iraq,
Afghanistan and other developed countries it would be seen that they are
ignored and the UNHRC doesn't dare to bring any resolutions against such
countries.
This is because they are influenced by these powerful countries, the
Minister said.
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