China, Russia commend Lanka; UK, US urge probe
While several countries including China and Russia commended Sri Lanka at yesterday’s sessions at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, for the progress it had made, the United Kingdom and the United States called for an immediate independent
Oman, Pakistan, Venezuela, Sudan, UAE, Russia, China, and Vietnam commended Sri Lanka
investigation into alleged war crimes probes and human rights violations.
During the review, Oman, Pakistan, Venezuela, Sudan, UAE, Russia, China, and Vietnam commended Sri Lanka for the progress it had made in many aspects of Human Rights and urged the International Community to provide the country with more time and space. Minister Samarasinghe said of the 204 recommendations Sri Lanka had accepted 110 and left 3 for further examination while 91 were rejected.
Russia and China speaking during the review commended Sri Lanka for its progressive steps taken towards development and Human rights.
China urged the international community to respect the sovereignty of a state and to look at issues objectively. It also urged nations to desist from interfering with internal affairs of a country. Pakistan said the international community had to recognize that the progress Sri Lanka has made has far outweighed challenges.
“We have to recognize the difficulty faced by Sri Lanka to protect Human Rights, the progress far outweighs challenges, and the international community should appreciate this,” the Pakistan delegate said.
The United Kingdom and the United States however called for an immediate and independent investigation into alleged war crimes probes and human rights violations.
The United Kingdom said the impeachment of the Chief Justice was in contravention of the rule of law.
“No justification has been given to the continuous attack on the independence of the judiciary, the im- peachment of the Chief Justice went against the ruling made by the Supreme Court of the country and contravened respect for the rule of law” the delegate said.
The Deputy Solicitor General in response said, the Supreme Court ruling was given by a “division of the Supreme Court and the matter had now been brought for Judicial review before a full bench of the Supreme Court, which was in fact tasked to review the impeachment process in a holistic and contemporary view” he said. The United States said the non adaptation of LLRC recommendations was of grave concern.
At the conclusion of the representations made by states, the floor was then opened to ‘stakeholders’ who included Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. All groups raised issues regarding the ‘freedom of expression, extra judicial killings, and supersession of journalists and media freedom”. Speaking during the review the Dr. Dr. Kasikulam Manoharan, the father of one of the victims of the 5 students who were shot dead in Trincomalee said he does not have faith in the Sri Lankan judicial system.
“My son was killed on the beaches of Trincomalee and my family was forced to leave Sri Lanka because I saw the injustice of his killing, 7 long years have passed since my sons murder without any justice or decision from Sri Lankan courts” he said.
Speaking during the time allotted to Amnesty International the father urged the International Community to intervene in seeking justice for his sons murder.