UNHRC HAS DOUBLE STANDARDS?
Most Sri Lankans would have welcomed the appointment of Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva as Army Commander. His exploits during the time when terrorist activity was at its peak as reported by the Media was indeed most commendable.it is therefore disappointing that the UN officials, the US, and Canada have expressed their concern and regrets that this appointment was made.their contention is that there has been credible allegations against him of human rights violations.at this juncture let me reproduce article 11 (Eleven) of the Charter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ARTICLE 11 says
1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to the law in a public trial at which he has all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence under National or International law at the time when it was committed nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
In August this year, there were two lone attacks, one in E Paso at a Walmart store and the other in Dayton Ohio, indiscriminately killing 31 people.the killings in Dayton is labeled as racial and in Ohio the reasons are hitherto unknown. In the recent past there has been numerous killings of people said to be protagonists of White supremacy.there were also incidents in schools when students shot and killed fellow students. Did the UNHRC condemn these acts as innocent civilians in the United States are unable to live without fear of terrorist attacks or attacks from individuals with deranged minds.the reason for this without question is the unrestricted Gun Policy in the US. The UNHRC must debate and condemn the Gun policy of the United States as it is well known that anyone can purchase a Gun over 18 years in most states without difficulty. Does any other country in the World have such a liberalised Gun Policy and why is it exclusive to the United States?
Is this not a threat to the internal security of a country?
If a country in the so-called third World attempt to have a liberalized gun policy, they would be shot down by the UNHRC. Is the UN and the UNHRC the preserve of the developed world and do they together police the actions of the developing countries?
ANTON ABEYESEKERA