UNHRC probe erodes Lanka's sovereignty

A vast majority of parliamentarians on Wednesday expressed their opposition to the proposed investigation against Sri Lanka by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the alleged human rights violations following a motion presented by nine UPFA parliamentarians to the House on the grounds that such a course of action was detrimental to peace and reconciliation and that it erodes Sri Lanka's sovereignty and dignity.

The motion signed by UPFA parliamentarians, Achala Jagodage, Malani Fonseka, Janaka Bandara, Udith Lokubandara, A.H.M. Azwer, Shantha Bandara, J.R.P. Suriyapperuma, Nimal Wijesinghe and R. Duminda Silva was debated for two days and was passed with an overwhelming majority of 134 votes. At the end of the debate, TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan called for a division by name and the motion received 144 votes in favour while 33 members including those in the SLMC and DNA were absent at the time of voting. Ten TNA members who expressed separatist sentiments voted against the motion.

At the end of the debate, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga apprised the House of the decision taken by the UNP and the DNA to move certain amendments to the motion. Amaratunga said if the Government does not incorporate their amendments, they would abstain from voting. Later the DNA Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera moved their amendments to the motion. As the Government didn't incorporate the proposed amendments, the UNP abstained from voting while the DNA members left the chamber when the vote was called.

During the two-day debate on the motion the Government and Opposition members aired their views on the pros and cons of the proposed international inquiry. Government legislators who joined in the debate described it as a deliberate attempt to interfere with the internal affairs and destablise the country. Government members said the outcome of the debate would help identify the true patriots who love their motherland.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa displaying his oratorical skills on the floor of the House repeatedly defended the Government's position on this issue. The Minister said that the UNHRC probe is the initial move towards penalising the country's political leadership and the military top-brass who liberated the country from the clutches of terrorism. He said there is only one question to be raised before the House-whether the Opposition is for the UNHRC probe or against it? Weerawansa said those who had pressurised the Government to launch military operations against the LTTE terrorists should not leave room for any international probe on the alleged human rights violations during the final phase of the war against terrorism. Over 60,000 youth were brutally killed during the 1988-1989 reign of terror. Did the UNHRC or anybody else come to Sri Lanka to look into these atrocities, he asked?

Minister Weerawansa said whatever criticism he had on the Government, he commented the bold decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to defeat terrorism which his predecessors had failed to defeat. Whatever problems crop up, the patriotic people are committed to safeguard the President and the war heroes. The UNP leaders didn't have the courage to end the war against terrorism. The problem before us is whether we would allow the Commander in Chief and the war heroes to be taken before the International War Tribunal or not? If parliamentarians do not stand against the move to hold an international investigation against Sri Lanka, it would be the biggest betrayal in Sri Lanka's history and it would certainly amount to an act of treachery. He said there was a conspiracy to deprive the Government of minority votes at the next Presidential election by unleashing attacks on Muslims. The troublemakers are funded by certain foreign powers, the Minister said.

UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya who joined in the debate said no UNP MP ever betrayed or spoken ill of the country at any international fora. He said that though they themselves do not carry "patriotic labels " they also have patriotic feelings towards their motherland. The UNP has never spoken about any international probe. What is the purpose of moving this motion before the House? Is it to exert pressure on the UNHRC or tag the "traitors label" on the Opposition MPs, he asked.

Winding up the debate External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris set out the reasons for the Government to oppose this international inquiry. He said that nobody should think that this will be a fair inquiry. He said this was not the only one resolution brought against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Three resolutions had been moved against Sri Lanka in three consecutive years. The Minister said that the international inquiry is grossly unfair as a very special standard would be applied to Sri Lanka. This is a highly selective process adopted only for Sri Lanka.

This is a campaign to satisfy influential politicians of some foreign countries. The Minister said that the voting pattern on the resolution at the UNHRC, did not reflect international opinion. This is a matter which should be dealt with sans partisan politics, he said.

During the debate Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne walked out of the House protesting against the denial of permission to him to deliver his speech at the allocated time. Soon after TNA MP A. Vinayagamoorty wound up his speech, the presiding member, the Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu called upon Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda to make his speech.

After MP Vinayagamoorty concluded his speech, the Premier and Minister Devananda stood up. The Premier told the Chair that as had got up first and he should be given the opportunity to speak

or else he would walk away. UNP MP Ajith P. Perera also said that Premier got up first and he should be given the opportunity to speak. However, the Deputy Chairman of Committees called upon Minister Devananda as the next speaker. On hearing that, the Premier walked out of the Chamber.

The recent incidents in Aluthgama and Beruwala were turned into a hot topic on the floor of the House following a special statement by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday requesting the Party Leaders to meet urgently to find a solution to the situation. He requested the Chair to summon an immediate Party Leaders' meeting to discuss the issue. Wickremesinghe told the House that a comprehensive report on the recent incidents at Beruwala and Aluthgama should be made available. He attempted to portray that the communalism ignited large scale damage to property and caused loss of lives.

Responding to the Opposition Leader, Prime Minister Jayaratna said that investigations are being conducted by the CID and the Colombo Crimes Division on the incidents that led to create a tense situation in Aluthgama and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem on Tuesday called upon the Government to take punitive action against those who had been inciting violence against the Muslim community. An irate Minister in his speech accused certain members of extremist Buddhist groups of causing chaos in the country. The Minister who participated in Tuesday's debate on a motion submitted by Government MPs against the UNHRC probe said that the Muslim community is needed a firm assurance from the Government for the safety of Muslims in the wake of the violence unleashed in Aluthgama and Beruwala. He said that those responsible for the attacks should be arrested. Minister Hakeem said he was 'disillusioned and despaired' by the recent events.