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UNHRC sessions open in Geneva tomorrow (14):
Pro LTTE groups push for int’l war crime probe
by Manjula Fernando
Over 15 pro LTTE diaspora groups pushing LTTE ideology of a separate
state will have their representatives in Geneva armed with another short
film highlighting genocide claims, during the crucial UN Human Right
Council 30th sessions which will open tomorrow, September 14.
A source revealed that these groups, posing as neutral human rights
lobbies have planned a massive campaign, demanding an international
probe on Sri Lanka, in place of a domestic mechanism that the US will be
supporting through a new resolution at the upcoming session. The new
‘consensus resolution’, which has alarmed the pro-LTTE diaspora, will be
moved in collaboration with all stakeholders including Sri Lanka on or
after September 30 at the Council.
The Sunday Observer learns that these LTTE groups have already hired
a London based high profile PR Agency, to lead their propaganda
campaign.US Ambassador in Geneva, Keith Harper, reading out a special
statement on behalf of his government on August 24 said, “We plan to
offer a resolution on Sri Lanka to follow up on the new Sri Lankan
government’s efforts to promote reconciliation and accountability,”
“We hope to work collaboratively with the new government of Sri Lanka
and key stakeholders on this text,” Ambassador Harper added. The new
resolution is expected to propose action to follow up on the report of
the OHCHR investigation requested in HRC resolution 25/1 moved by the US
and four co-sponsors in March 2014.
The Ambassador has scheduled an informal meeting on September 17, in
room 24 from 10.00am to noon to drum up support for their latest
resolution on Sri Lanka.
Dismayed
Authoritative sources at the Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the
text of the new resolution is yet to be drafted. This move by the
principal sponsor of the March 2014 resolution had dismayed the
hardliners in the diaspora, springing them into action.
The hired PR agency has already sent out initial flyers, publicising
the short film, ‘Sri Lanka: The Search for Justice’, also by the
director of ‘No fire Zone’. The release stated, ‘the new film –
containing graphic video evidence of war crimes and massacres – is
addressed to members of the Human Rights Council.’
The Agency claimed, the ‘No Fire Zone’ played a key role ‘in
convincing the international community to take action over the Sri
Lankan massacres of 2009, in which tens of thousands of Tamil civilians
died.’ The latest film is expected to create a similar impact on Council
members into backing an ‘international accountability process to ensure
truth and justice in Sri Lanka’.
Director, Callum Macrae is currently on an international preview tour
of the film in five Latin American countries, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay,
Argentina and Mexico. Later it will be previewed in New York, Washington
before proceeding to Geneva for a screening at the Palais de Nation, the
Human Rights Council’s headquarters, according to the organisers.
Among those LTTE diaspora front-runners expected to be present in
Geneva are Fr.Emmanuel of Global Tamil Forum, Suren Surendran of British
Tamil Forum, V. Rudrakumaran of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam,
Gary Anandasangaree of the Canadian Tamil Congress and Ranjan Sri Ranjan
of the National Council of Canadian Tamils.
Sources said these activists will engage in one-on-one meetings with
important stakeholders on the sidelines of the sessions to garner
support for their call.
In contrast, to this aggressive campaign, the Sri Lankan Government
has not set much importance to its team to the Human Rights Council this
time, apparently encouraged by the shift in attitude towards Sri Lanka
by the international community and the US after the January 8 elections.
The official delegation from Colombo to Geneva will comprise Foreign
Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Justice Minsiter Wijedasa Rajapakshe and
Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando. The Minister will be in
Geneva from September 13 to 14.
The Attorney General was not asked to nominate an expert from his
Department to the delegation this time. Earlier, a legal expert from the
AG’s Department was an integral part of Sri Lanka’s Geneva team.
“The new government has embarked on a completely different approach
in Geneva, whereas the former government struggled to defend its own
human rights record, the current government will defend human rights
like any other country before the HRC,” a senior foreign official said.
The official added that Sri Lanka did not transpire in the HRC agenda
during the March or June sessions this year, which was a positive
development.The government did not block a move by a TNA group led by
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam to carry out a signature campaign in the
Northern province demanding an international accountability mechanism
and also the planned activities of Sri Lankan civil society groups’
there.
“We are yet to decide if the Foreign Minister will proceed to Geneva
to take part in the discussion on the report or a special envoy will be
appointed for this task,” the official said. Minister Samaraweera is
scheduled to be in New York with President Maithripala Sirisena by the
time the report of the High Commissioner of Human Rights is presented
for discussion in the Council on September 30.
There is also the possibility of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative
in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasingha to be called on to represent Sri Lanka’s
interests on September 30.
[The PR push]
The following are excerpts of a letter sent by an international PR
company regarding a new documentary film on human rights violations
during the May 2009 war.
From:Sophie Toumazis
Date: 9 September 2015 at 19:12
Subject: New short film ‘Sri Lanka: The Search For Justice Let Them
Be Heard – from team behind Emmy-nominated documentary ‘No Fire Zone’ –
calls for international accountability process over the Sri Lankan
massacres of 2009
Hello,
I’m getting in touch to let you know that the team behind the
controversial Emmy-nominated feature documentary ‘No Fire Zone’ –
credited with playing a key role in convincing the international
community to take action over the ‘Sri Lankan massacres of 2009’, in
which tens of thousands of Tamil civilians died – have today launched a
new short film, ‘Sri Lanka: The Search For Justice’.
The hard-hitting half-hour long video coincides with the long
anticipated publication of the international war crimes investigation
into the massacres, ordered by the United Nations Human Rights Council
18 months ago in Geneva. It will be made live to an international public
today – initially in English and Spanish, with translations in Tamil,
Sinhala, French and Hindi to follow online in the next few days. (See
links below).rassment by security forces.
‘Sri Lanka: The Search For Justice’ is currently being taken on an
international preview tour through five Latin American countries –
Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Mexico – by ‘No Fire Zone’
director Callum Macrae. He will then travel to the United States to
screen the film and meet with politicians, government officials and
human rights activists in both New York and Washington. From there he
will take the film to Geneva, where it will be screened in the Palais de
Nation, the Human Rights Council’s headquarters.
Last month the United States Government caused alarm among Tamil
groups and human rights activists alike when it announced that it will
seek to present a consensus resolution on Sri Lanka to this month’s
Human Rights Council jointly with the Government of Sri Lanka. However,
the Government of Sri Lanka’s refusal to accept anything other than a
domestic inquiry has led to fears that the Council itself might be asked
to endorse a domestic process (with some technical assistance from the
UN).
Such a proposal would run directly counter to the wishes of the
victims. The English version of Sri Lanka:
The Search for Justice can be seen on: https://vimeo.com/137574446
The Spanish version of Sri Lanka: The Search for Justice can be seen
on: https://vimeo.com/137683777
Watch the trailer for ‘No Fire Zone’ on : www.nofirezone.org
To interview Callum Macrae contact him directly on [email protected]
or +44 (0) 7860 256 127.
Let me know if you’d like any more information or imagery.
Best wishes,
Sophie
tpr media
communications agency
www.tpr-media.com |
