Equal rights for all:
UN Secy. Gen. endorses President’s stance
by Shirajiv Sirimane in Kandy
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon endorsed the stance
taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in bringing the country together
and ensuring the equal rights of all citizens irrespective of their
racial and religious differences.
The UN Chief was speaking to the press at the Queens Hotel, Kandy
after his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s
House in the Hill Capital. Ban Ki-Moon said that he was happy with the
discussion he had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he also shared
the views expressed by the President in finding an early settlement to
the crisis in the country by uniting all people with equal rights.
Commenting on the end of the LTTE terrorism he said that the outfit
was very unfair by keeping the innocent civilians as human shields in
the war-torn areas. The UN Chief also said that extra care should be
taken for the welfare of the internally displaced children, pregnant
women and the elderly persons.
He also added that the Government has assured him that before the end
of this year 80% of IDPs would be settled in their original places.
Elaborating further on the settlement of the IDPs in their original
places the UN Chief underlined that de-mining should be given priority
before any kind of resettlement of the IDPs.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama also accompanied Ban Ki-Moon at
the press briefing and categorically said that the Sri Lankan Security
Forces carried out the war against terrorism without leaving room for
any human rights violations.
He also said that the Government would now focus on finding a
political solution for the ethnic strife and it was happy to see that
almost all the political parties have rallied around the Government on
reaching a political settlement.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Bank Ki-Moon toured the Menik Farm
Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Vavuniya and spoke to several
displaced civilians, verifying their welfare.
He spent 20 minutes walking through the camp. He also walked into a
makeshift clinic where he saw around 100 elderly patients, some with
gaping wounds who had been caught up in the conflict. Commenting on the
IDP camp, he said that there were huge challenges that can only be
overcome by strong support from the international community.
Ban Ki-Moon added that the security put up in the IDP Camp was not
meant to hold back the IDPs, and efforts were being made to resettle and
reintegrate them.
The UN Chief assured that he would mobilise UN agencies and
international, non-governmental organisations to help with the
resettlement process.
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