Mangala defends Resolution 30/1

While defending the co-sponsored Resolution 30/1, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday criticised SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s statement dismissing Sri Lanka’s commitments to Sri Lankan citizens on human rights, rule of law, and processes for truth-seeking, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence including Resolution 30/1.

He said in a statement, “I thought that it was my duty to remind the citizens of our country about the history of how, during the Rajapaksaera, we erred in dealing with our conflictridden past, isolating our country on the international stage and how we regained our stature following the January 2015 Presidential Election by reasserting our sovereign right to deal with our own issues locally.”

He said, even though the then government made joint statements with the Secretarygeneral of the United Nations in 2009 on the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka’s international obligations, it failed to address the grievances of citizens of all communities in our country as undertaken in May 2009.

“As you all would remember, President Rajapaksa appointed the ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’. Yet, implementation of its recommendations was ignored. Then, yet another Commission titled the ‘Presidential Commission to Investigate Complaints Regarding Missing Persons’ (Paranagama Commission) was appointed. Non-implementation of recommendations of the Presidential Commissions appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa resulted in the erosion of trust and confidence resulting in a series of resolutions in the Human Rights Council on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka in 2012, 2013, and 2014,” it said. He said the Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka was due in March 2015, and further strictures including targeted measures on individuals were expected following the release of the Report. “It was in this backdrop that the Government, following the Presidential Election on January 08 2015, based on the mandate received from the voters to implement the 100 Day Programme, presented its own proposals and co-sponsored Resolution 30/1 to regain and reassert Sri Lanka’s sovereign right to solve its own problems locally, so that space for any further international action or strictures would not be open.

It is as a result of this resolution (30/1) that prospects for international action initiated through resolution 25/1 of March 2014 and the OISL (OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka) that was adopted during President Rajapaksa’s regime was effectively halted. It is important to remind everyone that it is only if we as a responsible and sovereign nation fail to act that we place our citizens in grave peril by allowing space for others to step in, and international action as well as universal jurisdiction to apply.

If you look at the content of Resolution 30/1 carefully, you will understand the objective of the reconciliation agenda which contains a series of measures covering reconciliation, rule of law, security and confidence-building that is necessary for long-term development of our nation.

Many of these measures have been implemented, These measures include: creating institutions to ensure the rights of victims as well as the future safety, security and well-being of all citizens; judicial independence so that we can all live, work, and prosper together in dignity; and addressing shortcomings so that everyone can enjoy peace in their own lands and houses.

It is important to remind everyone that it is only if we as a responsible and sovereign nation fail to act that we place our citizens in grave peril by allowing space for others to step in and international action as well as universal jurisdiction to apply