"Special Panel on Sri Lanka uncalled for and unwarranted" -
President to Ban Ki-moon
"Act in keeping with principles of UN Charter
on non-interference"
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out that the
intention of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of
experts to advice him (i.e. the SG) on Sri Lanka is totally uncalled for
and unwarranted.
In a telephone conversation between the President and
the UNSG yesterday (March 05, 10), arising from a letter written by the
UNSG on February 25, President Rajapaksa was emphatic on this position.
He said it was both unprecedented and unwarranted as no such action had
been taken about other states with continuing armed conflicts on a large
scale, involving major humanitarian catastrophes and causing the deaths
of large numbers of civilians due to military action. The UNSG was told
that Sri Lanka had concluded its armed conflict with the most ruthless
terrorist organization in the world, more than nine months ago, and was
in process of working towards further strengthening of national
reconciliation.
The President also said that the implementation of
such an intention would certainly be perceived as an interference with
the current general election campaign being held island wide; where the
people of the North and of the East who were not free to participate in
such elections earlier were being given the opportunity to do so,
respecting the highest standards of democracy. President Rajapaksa
recalled how interested forces attempted such interference, including by
trying to draw in the UN and other bodies in the recently concluded
Presidential Election too, which has been internationally accepted as
being peaceful, free and fair.
The UNSG was told that the allegations about Sri Lanka
were motivated misrepresentations by apologists of the LTTE, and by some
Non-Government Organizations that due to being so misguided or
otherwise, were clearly working on agenda that was directed against Sri
Lanka. There are also sections of the western world being increasingly
subjected to electoral pressure by the same apologists of the LTTE, the
President said.
The President informed the UNSG that he had already,
as a further measure of reconciliation, appointed a special committee to
study and report on the lessons from the conflict situation that
prevailed in some parts Sri Lanka. The President and also drew the
attention of the UNSG to the panel of eminent persons already working on
the allegations of human rights violations and other charges reported by
the US State Department, as well as the action by UN Rapporteur Philip
Alston on the much disputed Channel 4 video on Sri Lanka.
President Rajapaksa reiterated to the UNSG that any
appointment of such a panel as intended, would compel Sri Lanka to take
necessary and appropriate action in that regard. The President stressed
that Sri Lanka looked forward to treatment as per the United Nations
Charter that provides for equal treatment to all Members of the United
Nations, while respecting the principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of States.
The discussion concluded with the President stating
that he would shortly be addressing a letter to the UNSG, further to
this telephone discussion. Courtesy : Presidential
Media Unit | 
