Pillay report next week: Western powers likely to base resolution on it

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, February 23, 2014

President seeks aid from deities while Govt. team discusses possibility of TR with !outh "frica# T$" makes no commitment Ra%apaksa tells ministers to mind their ton&ue# '$P(s no-confidence motion will focus on P) and the heroin imports

Even the help of deities is being sought to defeat the latest United States backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next month !resident "ahinda Ra#apaksa fle$ from Colombo to Nu$ara Eli%a in his &ir 'orce helicopter on 'rida% to take part in a special !oo#a according to Hindu rites (he ten)da% long ritual including the lighting up of the sacrificial fire has been pla%ing out at the private residence of "inister &rumugam (hondaman* leader of the Ce%lon +orkers Congress* at his tea plantation* +avendon Estate Nine Nambudiri ,rahmins have been speciall% flo$n in from -erala in South .ndia to officiate in the ceremonies* costing a lot of mone% Helping in arranging it $as a business$oman from that .ndian state .t $as (hondaman $ho invited Ra#apaksa to the event since he $as also dedicating it for victor% to Sri Lanka in Geneva +hilst in Nu$ara

Eli%a* Ra#apaksa also drove to the !undulo%a ba/aar $here sections of the shops $ere gutted b% fire recentl% due to an electrical short circuit The religious event came as the US and a core group supporting it including Britain and Canada (though not a member of the UNHRC) were loc ed in consultation on the te!t of the draft resolution" #t is being based largel$ on the recommendations of the report to be presented to the Council ne!t wee b$ UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi %illa$" The Sunda$ Times (%olitical Commentar$) last wee revealed e!clusivel$ the recommendations made b$ %illa$" Though a detailed response to her report has been forwarded b$ the &overnment after her report was forwarded for comment' according to diplomatic sources in &eneva' there would be no change in the recommendations she has alread$ made" Her report is to be made public ne!t wee " To the Human Rights Council' %illa$ has recommended to (establish an international in)uir$ mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and monitor an$ domestic accountabilit$ process"* +or those drafting the latest US resolution' this has come to be a tric $ issue" ,hat would form such an (international in)uir$ mechanism* remains the )uestion" -n.going consultations within the core group appear to favour a Special Rapporteur with a specific mandate functioning under the Human Rights Commissioner" #n such an event' another matter that remains to be sorted out is whether or not the words (international in)uir$* warrant specific mention in the resolution" Shaping terminolog$ has become important to win the support of as man$ countries as possible" However' the absence of such a reference would not mean the resolution would not see an international probe" The length$ preamble prefaced man$ times b$ the word (,hereas'* will set out the avenues of a probe that would ma e clear that it is international in character" %illa$ also made /0 different recommendations to the &overnment of Sri 1an a" 2mong them' she made a call (to finalise laws dealing with incitement to hatred' witness protection' the right to information' the criminalisation of enforced disappearances' in line with international standards' and revise e!isting laws to bring them into line with #nternational Human Rights 1aw"* She also called for the repeal of the %revention of Terrorism 2ct" She said perpetrators of attac s on minorit$ groups' media and human rights defenders should be arrested' prosecuted and punished" US 2ssistant Secretar$ of State for Central and South 2sia' Nisha 3esai Biswal' who was in Sri 1an a earl$ this month has also met South 2frican (2bdul 4in)i) and #ndian ( 2so e 5umar 4u er6i) envo$s in &eneva to brief them on issues related to the resolution" This was en route to ,ashington 3C after her visit to Colombo with a stop. over in 1ondon" ,hilst lobb$ing of some member countries of the UNHRC continued this wee ' the &overnment also despatched a delegation to South 2frica (primaril$ in relation to the South 2frican Truth and Reconciliation Commission"* 2n 7!ternal 2ffairs 4inistr$ (724) statement in Colombo on the eve of the delegation8s departure said the two.da$

visit was with the (aim of understanding the manner in which that e!ercise can help Sri 1an a8s own reconciliation process' following the defeat of terrorism"* The delegation was led b$ 4inister Nimal Siripala de Silva and included 4inister 3ouglas 3evananda' 3eput$ 4inister +ais9er 4usthapha' 724 4onitoring 4% Sa6in de :ass &unawardena' and Sri 1an a +reedom %art$ (S1+%) Batticaloa organiser 2run Thambimuttu" ,hilst the delegation was in %retoria' 7brahim 7brahim' South 2frica8s 3eput$ 4inister of #nternational Relations and Co.operation' told the BBC Sinhala service Sandesha$a; (The visit b$ the Sri 1an an delegation is on their re)uest"* He said (the$ are coming to share our e!perience* and added that (co.operation of both the &overnment and the TN2 is needed to resolve the problem"* 7brahim has visited Sri 1an a in the past months for tal s with government leaders on South 2frica8s offer of help set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission" His remar s ma e clear that the initiative' after %resident <acob =uma8s State of the Nation address to the South 2frican %arliament last wee ' was entirel$ from Colombo" =uma announced that C$ril Ramaphosa' :ice %resident of the 2frican National Congress (2NC)' would be the special envo$ for Sri 1an a and South Sudan on peace and reconciliation issues" U%+2 &overnment sources sa$ the delegation8s visit would bolster Sri 1an a8s position at the UNHRC that measures towards reconciliation have in fact been ta en with the &overnment giving consideration to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)" 7brahim was also )uoted as sa$ing that South 2frica has not ta en a decision still about voting in &eneva" The BBC8s Sinhala service widel$ broadcast in 2sia had a >?2 with Tamil National 2lliance (TN2) %arliamentarian 4"2" Sumanthiran" #t said; Sumanthiran; The Sri 1an an &overnment ta es part in various process and then leaves them" Now with the impending resolution in &eneva the &overnemnt is tr$ing to show interest in the South 2frican efforts in reconciliation and show to the international communit$ the$ are een on reconciliation" BBC; There is an invitation to the TN2 as well from South 2frica" ,ill $ou ta e part@ Sumanthiran; #f we get such invitation we can discuss" ,e have not discussed this and we have not ta en an$ decision" BBC; 3o $ou sa$ that the visit to South 2frica is an attempt to reduce the strength of the resolution Sumanthiran; Aes' that8s what we sa$" BBC; Aou sa$ the purpose of the visit is to dilute the proposed resolution against Sri 1an a" #n that case do $ou also sa$ South 2frica is also involved in it@ Sumanthiran; No' # do not sa$ that" BBC; ,hen we spo e to South 2frican 4inister 7brahim 7brahim' he said that an internal solution would be better than an international solution"

Sumanthiran; Aes' if such solution could be brought about' it would be better" But we do not see an$ such solution coming" BBC; 3o $ou believe that the intervention of South 2frica would be a success@ Sumanthiran; ,e will support an$bod$8s intervention as we believe that a solution is necessar$" However we will not allow an$thing to harm our communit$" The upcoming US resolution was also discussed at a +rida$ night meeting of the Tamil National 2lliance (TN2) parliamentar$ group" TN2 parliamentarian 4"2" Sumanthiran briefed members about his meetings with Colombo.based diplomats" <affna 3istrict 4% Suresh %remachandran raised issue over resolutions being moved b$ the Northern %rovincial Council" He said some of them could be be$ond the brief of the N%C and as ed that some safeguards be adopted" He proposed an 2dvisor$ Committee to go into such resolutions before the$ were moved" #ssues at different local bodies in the North were also discussed" He also raised the issue of the &overnment not compl$ing with different assurances given to them" TN2 leader Ra6avarotha$m Sampanthan told the Sunda$ Times that the setting up of a TRC' as part of reconciliation' (was mooted two $ears ago" Both the &overnment and the TN2 delegations visited South 2frica" Aet' the &overnment did not show an$ interest"* He said that the TN2 is (supportive of an initiative to set up a TRC* and added that (at the same time not a limited one to enable the &overnment to overcome its present predicament" #t must be a comprehensive process" #t must address the root cause of the conflict" #t must address the ground situation where since the end of the war' there are several urgent and unacceptable actions ta en b$ the &overnment' in relation to land' both state and private" #t must address the )uestion of accountabilit$ so that the truth can be ascertained and there must be an acceptable solution"* 7ven the main opposition United National %art$ (UN%) is not in favour of a TRC" #ts leader Ranil ,ic remesinghe told a meeting of part$ seniors this wee that the &overnment should first implement the recommendations of the 1essons 1earnt and Reconciliation Commission (11RC)" (#t (&overnment) will also have to restore the /Bth 2mendment to the Constitution and allow the passage in %arliament of the private member8s motion setting out guidelines for the impeachment of <udges'* he added" The <anatha :imu thi %eramuna (<:%) also distanced itself from the TRC" #ts %ropaganda Secretar$ :i6itha Herath said' (Soon after the separatist war ended in 0CCD' it was the <:% which made a proposal that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be set up" #t is almost five $ears now" The &overnment has ta en much too long a time on this" However without an$ further dela$ it can start the process" #f the &overnment had acted on this earlier' the people who suffered from the war would have won some relief" ,e would not be under international pressure" #t seems the &overnment has now gone to South 2frica as it is under pressure" 7ven if it appoints a TRC' it should be able to complete the process in si! months" -therwise the problem will be aggravated and we will be under more international pressure"*

The &overnment8s delegation to the UNHRC is $et to be finalised" The onl$ certaint$ is the fact that 7!ternal 2ffairs 4inister &"1" %eiris will head it" -thers are $et to receive %residential approval" Thus %residential spo esperson 4ohan Samarana$a e8s announcement last wee that 4inister 4ahinda Samarasinghe would be a member remains unconfirmed" Samarasinghe' who is also the %resident8s special envo$ on Human Rights' and a veteran of UNHRC sessions in &eneva having ta en part on si! previous occasions' if included' would serve as onl$ a member" He had previousl$ headed Sri 1an a delegations" Highl$ placed &overnment sources believe Samarasinghe was li el$ to be called upon to represent Sri 1an a at the #nter. %arliamentar$ Union 2ssembl$ in &eneva from 4arch /E to 0C" The sessions will see a general debate on The #%U at /0F as well as hear a report of the Standing Committee on United Nations 2ffairs" %resident 4ahinda Ra6apa sa has been livid with some of the ruling part$ members who spo e disparagingl$ about the &overnment" (Tharange$ paavadena e a navaththala' %a sha$e pavaadeema navaththanna i$anna (Halt the issue of betra$ing the game and put a stop to the part$ being betra$ed)'* he told 4inisters at Thursda$8s wee l$ ministerial meeting" The remar s came when Sports 4inister 4ahindananda 2luthgamage moved a proposal to ma e Gmatch fi!ing8 an offence" Ra6apa sa has been eeping a close tab on ministers and officials8 comments on the upcoming events in &eneva' both in public and in private" So much so' some ministers have turned down re)uests from ,estern diplomats who want to discuss matters related to the latest US resolution" The ministers also discussed what the$ believe is a disturbing situation" This was after 2griculture 4inister 4ahinda Aapa 2be$wardena said that padd$ prices were increasing" He said the %add$ 4ar eting Board had released its buffer stoc s to ensure there was a stable price in the mar et for different varieties of rice" Ra6apa sa noted that it was a good development for farmers" Consumer 2ffairs 4inister <ohnston +ernando was to complain that some newspapers were accusing him of not releasing sufficient stoc s" He was of the view that the situation would have to be carefull$ anal$sed and decisions ta en" Ra6apa sa was to sei9e the opportunit$ to warn ministers to be careful when the$ ma e speeches on matters relating to the cost of living" The$ should refrain from ma ing remar s that would place the U%+2 &overnment in a compromising position" (Aou all sa$ that vegetable prices have come down or such things'* he pointed out" Ra6apa sa was also livid when he spo e at the opening of the annual 3e$ata 5irula (national e!hibition and development programme'* this time in 5uli$apiti$a" This is the fifth in the series with the previous ones in %alle ele (0C/C)' Buttala (0C//)' 2nuradhapura (0C/0) and 2mpara (0C/H)" Ra6apa sa said in a nationall$ televised speech; (-ur development wor is seen with 6ealous$ b$ some" ,hen we defeated the terrorists at one time the$ said though we defeated terrorism we do not now how to develop the countr$" Now the$ sa$ what is the use of ma ing roads as it is a waste of mone$ or that commissions are being made" The$ sa$ these things with 6ealous$ and

hatred" 7ver$ $ear in 4arch the$ sa$ that the econom$ has failed" The$ repeat this ever$ si! months" The$ sa$ economic sanctions will be enforced" The$ want to stop the development process" The$ should remember that it is the countr$ that gets destro$ed" #t is a loss to the countr$ where the$ were born and where the$ were educated" Those who would be fooled are those who betra$ the countr$" ,e have proved to the world that this is not a failed state and that we have made achievements" The UN has positivel$ accepted these achievements" The +ood and 2griculture -rganisation accepts that the status of +ood Securit$ in Sri 1an a is at a high standard" The UN High Commissioner for Refugees too is pleased with our wor " The ,orld Health -rganisation and the United Nations 3evelopment %rogramme also accept our success" The$ give us a good certificate regarding improving the literac$ rate' reducing povert$ and regarding the attention on children" Aou cannot improve a countr$ without facing challenges" Remember that Sri 1an a will rise while facing challenges" 2s we become a powerful nation in 2sia we will face more challenges" ,e will face them" #f $ou need to avoid them we will have to live in a dar era li e in the past b$ postponing solutions to issues" ,e have chosen the difficult path"* The programme is accompanied b$ a 3e$ata 5irula 4obile Service where 3ivisional Secretaries and &rama Niladaris' representatives of 4inistries' 3epartments and agencies began moving from village to village since <ul$ /' last $ear" The$ covered some 0'BH/ villages to identif$ local development pro6ects" The$ include drin ing water suppl$' rural electrification programmes' small irrigation schemes and rural roads" 2bout Rs" /CC million had been allocated for conduct of the event" 3iverting attention from &eneva this wee was the UN% which handed in a motion of No.Confidence on the &overnment on +rida$" Contrar$ to earlier e!pectations' it was focused onl$ on matters relating to Sri 1an a8s biggest ever drug bust I the discover$ of heroin concealed in s$nthetic tins pac ed in a container" Though it was weighed at 0E/ ilogrammes' the &overnment 2nal$st said without the pol$thene wrapping it had a net weight of 0J/ ilogrammes carr$ing a street value of more than Rs" 0"J billion rupees" The importer of the container had obtained a letter from 5eerthi Sri ,eerasinghe' Co.ordinating Secretar$ to %rime 4inister 3"4" <a$aratne' to clear the cargo without the pa$ment of demurrage" Here is the full te!t of the motion; ,hereas the 4edia reported that %olice investigations in 2fghanistan' %a istan and #ndia and other countries have revealed the e!istence of an international drug cartel operating across South 7ast 2sia and the &ulf coast' and ,hereas the investigations have also revealed that 2fghan manufactured heroin is (/) brought into %a istan and then directed to Sri 1an a (0) brought into %a istan and #ndia through the %un6ab border and finall$ to Sri 1an a ma ing Sri 1an a the focal point for distribution of heroin to other parts of South 2sia' and (,hereas this drug cartel has become a threat to the well.being of the region' and

,hereas the investigations have revealed the involvement of %a istani' #ndian and Sri 1an an nationals in this s$ndicate' and (,hereas these drugs are available in ever$ noo and corner of Sri 1an a resulting in increasing consumption of heroin b$ $oung people' and (,hereas 5umaran %athmanathan who is wanted b$ the #nterpol for the assassination of %rime 4inister Ra6iv &andhi and reported to be involved in drug smuggling' lives in Sri 1an a under the protection of the &overnment' and ,hereas in 2ugust 0C/H' the Coordinating Secretar$ to the %rime 4inister had issued a letter to the 4anager' 7ast 2sia &atewa$ Terminal re)uesting him to release a container which turned out to contain narcotic drugs' and ,hereas the Coordinating Secretar$8s complicit$ in this transaction is evidenced b$ his resignation dated Dth 3ecember' 0C/H' and (,hereas the &overnment has failed to coordinate with the authorities in #ndia and %a istan in regard to eliminating this s$ndicate' and (,hereas the &overnment has failed to ma e a full in)uir$ into the detection of vast )uantities of drugs smuggled into the countr$' and (,hereas no meaningful measures are being ta en to eradicate the distribution of drugs within Sri 1an a' and ,hereas it appears that the government is unwilling to control and curb this menace' and (,hereas this menace appears to be continuing unabated as seen b$ some recent reports of containers being released without chec s' and (,hereas this will result in disastrous conse)uences to the social and economic fabric of this land which boasts of a proud histor$ of over 0FCC $ears' and ,hereas if this continues' the future of this countr$ would be in peril ma ing Sri 1an a a narcotic state' (This House resolves that it has lost confidence in the abilit$ of the &overnment to secure and promote the welfare of its citi9ens"* Though the resolution is somewhat late' it will still draw attention to the smuggling scandal" The %olice Narcotics Bureau (%NB) is onl$ pursuing the drug smuggling and related aspects of the detection" The role of the %rime 4inister8s -ffice (%4-) in the e!ercise is not being pursued after the %rime 4inister8s son' 2nuradha in a length$ statement claimed responsibilit$ for directing Co.ordinating Secretar$ ,eerasinghe to issue the letter" He claimed he did so on his own accord" #n the light of this' no statement was obtained from the %rime 4inister" +or this purpose' no other %olice investigative arm was also assigned" Now %olice narcotics sleuths and their counterparts in the Customs will visit %a istan again ne!t wee " Their mission is to see the help of the 2nti.Narcotics +orce in %a istan to unravel the networ responsible for smuggling heroin into Sri 1an a" #n a related development' %remier <a$aratne

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa being welcomed by Kandyan Dancers when they arrived at the Deyata Kirula e hibition in Kuliyapitiya! Pic by "ayamal #handrasiri

at long last e!tended an apolog$ to the <athi a Hela Uruma$a (<HU) leader' :en" -malpe Sobhita Thera" #f he refused to do so in the presence of %resident Ra6apa sa' when he met a delegation from the <HU at GTemple Trees8' he did so after his son 2nuradha mediated on his behalf" This is particularl$ after the <HU threatened to sue %remier <a$aratne for calling its leader a (cheevaravadhari$a* (a man in robes) for a billion rupees" 2nuradha appealed to 4ost :enerable Napana %emasiri' 4aha Na$a a Thera of the Ramanna Ni a$a to mediate an apolog$" He gave the prelate a written letter from %remier <a$aratne re)uesting forgiveness" Based on that' the 4aha Na$a e wrote to :en" -malpe Thera who said he would humbl$ accept the apolog$" ,ith that' at least the <HU has resolved the issue over what it deemed was a derogator$ remar " ,hat its stance on the actual involvement of the %4- in the heroin smuggling attempt (which was overshadowed b$ the slur on its leader) is un nown" 2s the <HU is contesting the forthcoming provincial elections' it ma$ want to eep its mouths shut without sa$ing an$thing that would embarrass the U%+2" However' the UN%8s :ote of No.Confidence will now resurrect the issue and the &overnment will be compelled to provide answers in %arliament to the man$ )uestions raised" UN%8s %olitical 2ffairs 3irector 4angala Samaraweera told the Sunda$ Times' (the idea to move this motion originated from the &overnment benches" ,hen tal ing to us in the lobb$' some ministers and 4%s as ed us what we are doing about the damning heroin smuggling issue" So we have now placed the motion though we now those who wanted it will not vote for it"* -n an earlier occasion' however' Samaraweera defended %remier <a$aratne arguing that letters to waive demurrage were a routine e!ercise" He told %arliament that he' when he was 4inister of %orts' had heeded such re)uests from even %resident Ra6apa sa" However' Samaraweera is now a signator$ to the motion" Come ne!t wee and the official report to the Human Rights Council from Human Rights Commissioner Navi %illa$ will become public" This is 6ust da$s ahead of the Council sessions that begin on 4arch H" #t will set the tempo for the third US resolution" Set to counter the main elements in the report is the leader of the Sri 1an a delegation' 7!ternal 2ffairs 4inister %eiris" He will address the 0Fth sessions on 4arch F" Nevertheless' some of the critical )uestions would remain" 4ain among them is the inabilit$ of his own 4inistr$ in conducting the countr$8s foreign polic$ efficientl$' something that would have prevented some of the harsh criticism Sri 1an a is facing in the world toda$"