Malaysia, China support Sri Lanka in bid to stop UN inquiry

GENEVA: Sri Lanka has marshalled its allies to try to quash Western censure of alleged human rights abuses committed during its final phase of war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, diplomats said Friday.

Colombodeclared total victory over the Tigers on Monday after cornering them in the northeast of the island and killing off their leaders and remaining fighters in a climactic battle.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay last week backed calls in the West for an independent inquiry into possible war crimes in the tiny zone she said may have become a “killing field”.

Fending off outside criticism, Sri Lanka today presented to the UN Human Rights Council a draft resolution stating the “principle of non-interference” in internal matters and respect for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

The draft was backed by 12 countries: China, India,Pakistan, Bahrain, Bolivia,Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia,Malaysia, Nicaragua, the Philippinesand Saudi Arabia.

Western diplomats, who are also preparing a resolution to be presented at a special Council session on Sri Lanka on Tuesday, said Colombo’s developing country allies were likely to band together to deflect serious scrutiny of its record.

“No matter how much we would like to have a UN investigation, it wouldn’t fly with the other countries,” a European diplomat told Reuters.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking to a rally in Colombo, brushed off Western calls for a war crimes probe into acts by government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the final months of war.

The United Nations said this week that the conflict had killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people since erupting into full-scale civil war in 1983. The toll includes unofficial and unverified tallies showing 7,000 civilian deaths since January.

Colombo’s draft welcomes the end of hostilities and the “liberation by Sri Lanka’s government of tens of thousands of its citizens that were kept by the LTTE against their will as hostages”, as well as the government’s efforts to bring peace.

It “commends” the government’s measures to address the urgent needs of internally displaced persons.”

Nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians, who followed or were taken by the Tigers as the military relentlessly cornered them, are now in crowded camps after fleeing in the final months.

Aid groups say that Sri Lankan authorities prevented access to the conflict zone and hampered the entry of life-saving medical supplies and evacuations of wounded people.

Geneva-based monitoring group UN Watch denounced Sri Lanka’s text as “an outrageous abuse and show of contempt”.

“Sri Lanka does not deserve to be praised, but rather condemned for blocking humanitarian emergency relief to thousands, (and) creating conditions leading to the spread of diseases,” its executive director Hillel Neuer said.

European states led by Switzerland tried on Friday to hammer out a separate resolution to be submitted to the forum. “Our group is striving for a consensual text,” a diplomat said.

Their draft, obtained by Reuters, calls on Sri Lanka to “investigate all allegations” and bring to justice perpetrators of violations including hostage-taking, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions.

The Council meeting, being held at the request of the European Union and others, is likely to stretch into Wednesday. – (The Malaysian Insider/Reuters)

Comments:
May 23, 2009 09:11 am

Is there any possibility to leave the UN & commonwealth memberships, before they cancelle like Pakistan. Useless UN, dress of western dictators & colonialism, What did they do in Iraq overthrew power of Saddam by US? stii UN unable to bring peace for Iraq, Afganistan, Gaza, Israel-Palastine. Why did they elected Ban-Ki Moon? to threatten to North Korea. If UN interfears to our internal matters and doesn´t respect for its sovereignty useless to being in his membership. Beter to Sign defence aggreements between, India, China & Russia who has the veto power & military strength.

Jagath
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May 23, 2009 08:21 am

First of all, thank you very much to all the nations who have supported Sri Lanka during these difficult times and especially to the nations who have the wisdom and courage to back Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council on this issue. When has it ever happened that the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to rescue civilians had then been accused of human rights violations by a UN Council in return? The countries that support Sri Lanka see this scenario as a strong piece of evidence among other reasons to stand by Sri Lanka. The countries manipulated by Ms. Pillai, who are trying to bring these charges against Sri Lanka are nothing but a group of nations who have hidden agendas. They wish either to reprimand Sri Lanka for personal reasons (since they are connected to LTTE or Tamil Diaspora) or to send a message to strong, up and coming Asian nations such as India and China who are a direct threat to some of these long established western nations, politically, economically and militarily. These type of games have been played in the international scene for hundreds of years and the Asian countries who are new to this game, are getting better and better at playing and winning these bouts – just like cricket. Who ever thought that Sri Lanka would have beaten Australia in a world cup final? So, why should it be any different in a political chess game?

Nihal
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May 23, 2009 06:59 am

Objective of war crime charges against Sri Lankan leaders are two fold. 1. Prevent post LTTE reconciliation 2. Initiate ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka like 1983. This was revealed in recent meeting with LTTE (International) leaders and some European ministers and UN staff. They believe this is final requirement for Ealam. What are there justifications? In case IC and UN able to come against Sri Lankan leaders for war crime charges, then angry Sinhalese people may attack Tamils in Sri Lanka. This may help to next round of ealam dream. All Sri Lankan must act with Vigil.

SM Gamage
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May 23, 2009 05:13 am

N.Pillei, Why do not you inquire about killing of over 150 children in Afaganistan by USA. Why, you do not have mouth?

charlie
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May 23, 2009 03:27 am

Navy Pillay in the payroll of Diaspora. May have relations supporting the LTTE. Lets have some one non Tamil to conduct investigations which any way going to be a waste of time. Thanks to the countries backing Sri Lanka. They are true Friends.

Michael De Silva - Melbourne
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May 23, 2009 03:20 am

UNHC for HR, Navi Pillay is a pro-LTTE Tamil woman who has been against Sri Lanka for a long time. She is the first UN official to mention the "war crimes" against Sri Lanka when SL Army encircled the Tamil Tiger terrorists in Mullathive at the beginning. She is heavily lobbied by the pro-LTTE forces in UK, US and elsewhere. She has a hidden agenda, that is to tarnish Sri Lanka, and keep the Eelam dream alive. This woman can never be trusted. She is an enemy of Sri Lanka... These are the pro-LTTE vultures in the UN that GOSL must be fully aware of..

Nihal Perera
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May 23, 2009 02:40 am

FIRST THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR FRIENDLY NATIONS,China, India,Pakistan, Bahrain, Bolivia,Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia,Malaysia, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia WESTERNERS.... SIMPLY AS THIS , GO TO HELL WITH PRABHA, IT´S GOOD FOR YOU TO KILL SO MANY IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND JAPAN, SO WE DIDN´T KILLED CIVILIANS, WE DETROYED THE LTTE TERRORIST GROUP.. IT´S GOOD FOR THEM TO GO TO OTHER NATION AND START KILLING , SO WE DO NOT HAVE RIGHTS TO DESTROY THE TERRORISTS IN OUR OWN BACK YARD, WHAT A TWO FACE COWARDS ARE YOU? HOW MUCH HAVE YOU TAKEN THE BRIBE FROM LTTE.... GO TO HELL, YOU ALL, IF YOU TELLING IT´S A KILLING FIELD, WATCH THE KILLING FIELD MOVIE, WHO´S TALKING, WHO KILLED WHO? DON´T POINT YOUR FINGER TO OTHERS, 4 FINGERS POINTING BACK AT YOU.. HEY PILLY,.. PONGA PONGA TO HELL PILLY.... LTTE

LALANI
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May 23, 2009 02:39 am

Why this western world so worried about Sl ? What Bush did to Irak and Sadam husain ? Still inersent irakers dying but All this humen rights and UN chatters are silent. Sri lanken ppl can stand their own feet. They dont scared or respecet to western any more.

shani
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May 23, 2009 01:25 am

Whole world should know that Navy Pillay is a racist tamil who has vested interest. Stop bulling the peace loving world from this currupts.

J. Pathirana
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May 23, 2009 01:17 am

We are greatfull to those 12 countrys they are friends indeed friends in need

Hafeel

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