On Sri Lanka, UN Ban & Taranco Meet

Samaraweera, Kohona, Readout

By Matthew Russell LeeUNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- After Sri Lanka's new
government spoke of doing another local investigation into war crimes in 2009, and asking for
a suspension of the UN Human Rights Council process, Inner City Press on February 13 went
to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera's meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
No other media at the UN attended; only the UN's own in-house UN Photo and UN TV. But
accompanying Mangala Samaraweera were outgoing Ambassador Palitha Kohona and
others. Video here.
Ban Ki-moon, before Inner City Press was whisked out of the meeting, told Mangala
Samaraweera he had met him after the tsunami - that is, when Ban was a South Korean
diplomat.
When, two hours later, Ban's office put a read-out, the issue of Sri Lanka's request to defer the
Human Rights Council report was not mentioned. The full text:
"The Secretary-General met with the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr.
Mangala Samaraweera, and discussed cooperation between the UN and the new Government of
Sri Lanka.
"The Secretary-General expressed his support and encouragement to the new Government in its
important efforts in the first 100 days. The Minister of External Affairs and the SecretaryGeneral addressed critical priorities for Sri Lanka, including especially human rights,
accountability and reconciliation. In regard to the latter, the Secretary-General noted the UNs
peacebuilding programmes and affirmed continuous support of the Organization to Sri Lanka
and its people."

This UN is UNtransparent - the US at least acknowledged that the issue came up in Mangala
Samaraweera's meeting with John Kerry, and passed the buck to UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights Prince Zeid.
Earlier in the week, the UN's Oscar Fernandez Taranco met the US State Department's Nisha
Biswal. Inner City Press asked if it was about Bangladesh, and was told, "in part." Taranco was
at Ban's meeting with Samaraweera, here. So was Sri Lanka and the deferral request the other
part? Watch this site.
Back on February 12 Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman
for the UN's position.Video here.

Object 1

First, Inner City Press asked whether Sri Lanka's Palitha Kohona is leaving the UN:
Inner City Press: yesterday, he met with Ambassador Kohona of Sri Lanka. I couldn't tell if
that was a farewell call or not.
Spokesman Dujarric: It was indeed a farewell call.
Inner City Press: And did the issue of not pursuing the Human Rights Council investigation
into Sri Lanka arise?
Spokesman Dujarric: It was, indeed, a farewell call. I mean, the Secretary-General's position
on the, on the human rights investigation is unchanged. He's obviously aware that the new
administration is considering setting domestic accountability mechanisms and will be carefully

assessing these developments. The Secretary-General has stressed the importance of Sri Lanka
establishing credible mechanisms that meet international standards. Advancing accountability,
like other parts of the post-war agenda in Sri Lanka, will lay the basis for the country to make
further progress on peace, democracy and development. The UN stands ready, as always, to
support Sri Lanka's efforts to address the post-war agenda as we have consistently affirmed.
It's a question that when raised, here, to the US State Department went so far unanswered.
New foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera is set to meet with Ban on February 13. Watch
this site.
Back on January 12 the UN said that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made this call:
"The Secretary-General congratulated President Sirisenas election and the successful
conclusion of the presidential election. The Secretary-General and President Sirisena discussed
the Presidents 100-day plan and Sri Lankas post-war agenda. The Secretary-General affirmed
continuous support by the UN to Sri Lanka."
That is, the UN's read-out of Ban's call had no mention of accountability or of the UN Human
Rights Council inquiry into the bloodbath on the beach in 2009. We'll have more on this.
After Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat but before 10:30 pm on January 8 in Washington,
US Secretary of State issued a statement, below.
Inner City Press published it, and asked the UN for its comment. Told to expect one in the
AM, New York time, Inner City Press noted, the earlier the better. Twelve hours later, there was
nothing.
So Inner City Press asked again at the noon briefing on January 9, after new President
Sirisena's inauguration. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN welcomes the
transfer of power, then later in the briefing read out this statement:
"The Secretary-General congratulates the people of Sri Lanka on the successful conclusion of
the presidential election, and welcomes the constitutional transfer of power.
"The Secretary-General applauds the Sri Lankan Elections Commission for its professionalism
in ensuring a peaceful and credible election. He also commends the efforts of the candidates,

including in particular outgoing President Mahinda Rajapaksa, law enforcement agencies and
civil society for upholding and respecting democratic governance.
"The Secretary-General looks forward to working with President Maithripala Sirisena and the
people of Sri Lanka. He affirms the continuous support of the United Nations for development,
reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability in Sri Lanka."
Inner City Press immediately asked Haq if what this reference to accountability portends for
the UN inquiry into the events in 2009. We'll have more on this.
Amnesty International has said that "Sri Lanka has for years resisted all international efforts to
investigate the conflict years, and instead relied on domestic investigation bodies that toed the
government line. This has to end the new government should cooperate fully with the UN
investigation.
Watch this site.
In other possible routes to accountability, talk of seeking justice in US courts as to several
joint American citizens in Team Rajapaksa - or on the team during the 2009 "Bloodbath on the
Beach" -- has picked up. Some team members have reportedly already left the country: we'll
have more on this.
Posted by Thavam