New CHOGM Chair will tackle grievances of African member nations - Deputy External Affairs Minister

by P. Krishnaswamy

With only three weeks more for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera was working on a tight schedule, holding discussions with ministry officials on seating arrangements for the Heads of State, protocol and other related matters but spared time for a short interview with the Sunday Observer. He said that all arrangements for hosting the summit are in place and expressed optimism that the summit will be an outstanding success. On assuming office as the new Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Charge, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will prove different and would take initiatives to meet grievances of the African member nations which had expressed reservations, he said. He also commented on the critical statements of the UNP and political parties across the Palk Strait on holding the CHOGM in Colombo.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Are all arrangements in place for hosting the summit?

A: We are ready with all arrangements and the summit will go on as planned. I am sure it will turn out to be a significant international event. We will have a successful Business Forum, People's Forum and Youth Forum and an overall Heads of Government summit.

Q: Can you please tell us of the Government's stand on Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's outrageous statement saying that his country would boycott the Colombo CHOGM 2013 in protest against Colombo's failure to improve human rights and steps towards reconciliation and accountability?

A: This is their view and this is how they look at it. I believe that the Commonwealth, comprehends the fact that human rights violations occurred during the LTTE terror regime and in the areas under their control during that period. Peace, communal harmony and democracy have been fully restored in the country on elimination of terrorism. And the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has been implemented and much headway has been made in this direction.

The number of the Commonwealth member countries is 53 and some of the countries may be guided by their own ulterior motives to express reservations on human rights and other issues. We will explain the situation on ground to the Commonwealth Heads of Government.

They and their delegations will be free to tour any part of the country and talk to the people for first hand information on the realities on the ground. Our President will be the next Chairperson-in-Charge of the Commonwealth and, I am sure, he will make a difference and will take initiatives to fulfill the aspirations of the member countries in keeping with the Commonwealth agenda.

Q: Our country, in the recent past, had established diplomatic missions in many African countries. But there have been media reports to the effect that Kenya is lobbying African countries to boycott the Colombo CHOGM 2013. What is the actual situation according to reports from our diplomatic missions in the African countries?

A: We have renewed diplomatic relations with many African countries by establishing diplomatic missions in those countries, including in Kenya. The reservations harboured by Kenya or any of the African member country are due to the negative decisions relating them taken by Commonwealth leaders in the past.

But our President will, on being elected Chairperson-in-Charge of the Commonwealth, take steps to rectify all these shortcomings. Under colonial rule member countries in Africa had suffered much and they have their grievances.

They look up to the Commonwealth for support and assistance. However, the Kenyan government has already rejected media reports that it was lobbying African countries to boycott the Colombo CHOGM 2013. The country has also expressed 'shock' over the reports.

It is unlikely that any of the African countries will boycott the Colombo CHOGM 2013. Our President as Chairperson-in-Charge of the Commonwealth will work on a different perspective altogether.

Q: The anti-government forces overseas and the pro-LTTE diaspora have based their propaganda on false accusations of genocide and communal-based discrimination of the Tamils. Will this issue be taken up at the CHOGM deliberations in an effort to apprise the Heads of Government of the true picture?

A: Sri Lanka has over and again told the international community that the battle was against terrorism and there is absolutely no truth in accusations that it was directed against any community.

We have requested the world nations to come and see for themselves the actual situation. Human Rights High Commissioner of the UN Navy Pillai and other international delegations of human rights visited the country in the past for an on-the-spot study. Some of them were here during the period of terrorism and after the end of terrorism.

They have stated in their reports that the accusations of 'genocide' are untrue. They have stated that no genocides were perpetrated either by the armed forces or the government. In fact, such incidents took place in the LTTE-controlled areas during the LTTE terror regime. They are myths, fabrications concocted by interested elements with ulterior motives. As we have always explained the actual situation to the international community, we will explain again to the Commonwealth Heads of Government and their delegations. The people affected due to the three-decade-long terrorism belong to all three communities.

Q: The Commonwealth Bar Association and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales have applied to appear before the SC on behalf of former CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, to explain on UK''s Constitutional Act on removal of judges. Do you think there can be other motives for this application since it is being made at a time when the CHOGM is being hosted in Colombo?

A: Leaving alone other motives, such interventions by external bodies in the legal system and judiciary of this country will set a bad precedent. That is why the SC has refused the applications. Ours is a democratic country, having its own independent judiciary and any cases before the SC or other lower courts should be allowed to take their own course.

Q: The opposition leader has made statements to the media to the effect that there is no democracy in the country and, therefore, it is against the principles of the Commonwealth to hold its summit in Colombo. Your comments on that please?

A: The UNP is in a mess. There is no democracy within the party. As you know, religious leaders are trying to bring about a settlement among the different warring groups of the party. And the UNP leader is talking about democracy in the country! The UNP, as policy, had always opposed the Government's development programs and international events sponsored by the government.

I feel sorry for the state of affairs of the UNP and its leadership.

Q: India's All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Ms Sushma Sivaraj visited the North in the post-terrorism period for an on-the-spot study of the ground situation and submitted a report. Will Indian PM heed Tamil Nadu leaders' request not to attend the Colombo CHOGM?

A: Krishnasamy, a Union Minister representing Dindugal in Tamil Nadu has clearly told the Indian centre not to take into consideration the politics played by Tamil Nadu leaders for their own political mileage, but to do what is best for the people of the country. Ms. Sushma Sivaraj had also expressed similar views.

Her delegation was represented by all opposition political parties of India. I personally received the delegation on its arrival in Colombo and organised all its visits.

They were happy and realised that all reports on the purported discrimination and injustices against the Tamils were incorrect. On seeing the ground situation, they had changed the impression that they had formed in their minds before coming.