Sri Lanka armed forces commemorated the first anniversary of the victory over LTTE terrorists with a special parade at Galle Face Green, Colombo and a salutation ceremony opposite the War Heroes Memorial at Parliament Grounds, Sri Jayawardhanapura, Kotte.
A host of international figures, including a US war crimes investigator, landed in Sri Lanka for visits expected to focus on alleged atrocities committed during the country's civil war. As the separate US, Japanese and United Nations officials arrived in Colombo, the government furiously denied that any war crimes were committed during the final months of fighting last year.
The US embassy in Colombo said the two advisors had been sent by President Barack Obama to discuss issues including the military offensive that ended the decades-long war with separatist Tamil rebels in May 2009.
Samantha Power, special assistant to the president on multilateral affairs and human rights, and David Pressman, national security council director for war crimes and atrocities, will hold four days of meetings in Sri Lanka. The embassy said the visit followed last month's meeting in Washington between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris. The US has been pressing for an independent war crimes investigation into the final phase of fighting that ended with the Tamil Tigers' defeat.
Sri Lanka this week is also hosting two other international envoys to discuss peace and reconciliation and alleged human rights abuses during the war.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon's top political adviser, Lynn Pascoe, and Japan's special envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, were also due for talks with Sri Lankan officials.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said those making war crimes allegations had failed to prove their claims. "I challenge them to produce evidence," he told to media. "There is no point in giving photographs and videos to the media. We have an established legal system. Use it."
Both Pascoe and Akashi are expected to push Sri Lanka to improve ethnic reconciliation a year after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) guerrillas, who were fighting for a Tamil homeland.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A panel to advise the United Nations on human rights issues arising from the civil war in Sri Lanka could be in place within days. The announcement came from the UN's head of political affairs, Lynn Pascoe, after a two-day visit. The Sri Lankan government is opposed to the panel, which would advise UN chief Ban Ki Moon on moves to address the grievances that fuelled the conflict.
Mr Pascoe praised government efforts to resettle Tamils displaced by war. The UN intends that the human rights panel will advise its chief Ban Ki Moon on issues and standards of accountability arising from the 37-year conflict with the Tamil Tigers, which ended last year.
There was an urgent need to take steps towards political reconciliation, Mr Pascoe said. "Bitterness and divisions that took decades to accumulate will not dissolve overnight in Sri Lanka," Mr Pascoe said. "But now is the time to make major efforts to begin healing these wounds. The end of the conflict must be followed by a political solution that addresses the issues and grievances that fuelled the war."
But Mr Pascoe had praise for the authorities on another difficult theme, the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Tamils displaced by the war.
Fresh from a visit to northern regions where people are only now returning home, he said children were attending school and people had food and access to basic healthcare.
News, Views & Entertainment
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
POLITICAL BULLETIN - June 3 - June 9
The Sri Lankan government has issued a new deadline to resettle tens of thousands of conflict-displaced still living in camps. It plans to resettlement to be completed by August 31st.
More than 60,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) continue to live in three government camps, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says.
“There was a previous deadline of April but that was not feasible,” the new Minister of Resettlement, Milroy Fernando said, describing the process as a “top priority” for the nation.
Among his ministry’s top priorities was to go beyond resettlement and initiate livelihood support mechanisms for the displaced, he said.
“To facilitate resettlement, the de-mining process too is being expedited. People are so keen to return home. But as a responsible government, we simply cannot allow people to return to their original villages before the completion of the de-mining work. People are very eager to go back to their own villages but we prevent those wanting to return to areas that are still uncleared,” he said.
Under the World Food Programme (WFP), IDPs are provided with food relief for six months from the date of return, while UNHCR provides a shelter grant of US$220 paid in two instalments.
More than 236,000 people have returned home or are staying with host families a year after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 9th IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is scheduled to be held in Singapore from 4th to 6th June 2010.
During the meeting, Prof. Peiris is scheduled to make a statement on “Counter-insurgency and strengthening governance – Sri Lankan perspective on the challenges of reasserting control and governance in formerly LTTE held areas.”
The Shangri-La Dialogue was initiated in 2002 in response to the need for a forum where the Asia-Pacific’s Defense Ministers could engage in dialogue aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation. It is an annual gathering organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London and includes the participation of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, UK, US, Vietnam.
The Sri Lanka delegation led by Prof. Peiris also includes Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunathilake, the Army Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya and other senior officials.
In reference to the attack Gaza by Israel forces, the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said Sri Lanka deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from this operation noting that indiscriminate use of force to prevent the carriage of supplies for people under occupation is condemned.
“The reports of attacks during the Israeli military operation on boats carrying supplies for Palestinian people in international waters off the coast of Gaza have caused grave distress to the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. The Government and the people of Sri Lanka extend their sympathies to the families of the victims and injured. Sri Lanka calls for expeditious action to relieve the sufferings of those who are affected by the attacks,” the External Affairs ministry said.
Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peris, has won America’s support to Sri Lanka’s reconciliation efforts, which has been commended by no less a person other than Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.
Hillary Clinton indicated that America whole-heartedly supports the appointment of the Reconciliation Commission by Sri Lanka and is ready to provide further support if necessary.
Secretary Hillary Clinton emphasized that, “It’s a commission on lessons learned and reconciliation. The end of the conflict in Sri Lanka is, as the minister said, a promising opportunity to move forward on ensuring greater respect for the human rights of all Sri Lankans.“
She further added, “Experience in other countries has shown that such a commission that has the credibility and legitimacy within the country has a valuable role in advancing accountability. And we are very supportive of the approach taken by the Sri Lankans. We, of course, will continue to work with them and to observe this commission. We expect that it will be given a broad enough mandate with the resources necessary to be able to follow the trail of any evidence that is presented.”
In a statement issued afterwards she further said, The United States has long been a friend of Sri Lanka. Our countries share a history of democratic institutions, and we have an active USAID program that has invested more than $1.9 billion in Sri Lanka since 1956 and is currently helping to create new opportunities for people who were displaced by the conflict. Since the LTTE terrorist group was defeated one year ago, USAID has rebuilt or repaired seven schools and a hospital damaged by the conflict, launched public-private partnerships in northern and eastern Sri Lanka to create the equivalent of 5,000 full-time jobs in former conflict zones, supported work training for young people to spur economic development, and provided extensive aid and assistance to internally displaced people seeking to return home. The United States will continue to provide Sri Lanka with humanitarian and de-mining assistance to help heal the wounds of war and bring lasting peace and prosperity to the country.
We also discussed the issue of internally displaced persons with the minister. There has been tremendous progress and many thousands and thousands of such internally displaced persons have returned home. And we discussed the need to continue the safe, dignified and voluntary return to homes. Sri Lanka has made progress, and we will continue to support efforts to safeguard the rights of IDPs and complete their relocation.
More than 60,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) continue to live in three government camps, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says.
“There was a previous deadline of April but that was not feasible,” the new Minister of Resettlement, Milroy Fernando said, describing the process as a “top priority” for the nation.
Among his ministry’s top priorities was to go beyond resettlement and initiate livelihood support mechanisms for the displaced, he said.
“To facilitate resettlement, the de-mining process too is being expedited. People are so keen to return home. But as a responsible government, we simply cannot allow people to return to their original villages before the completion of the de-mining work. People are very eager to go back to their own villages but we prevent those wanting to return to areas that are still uncleared,” he said.
Under the World Food Programme (WFP), IDPs are provided with food relief for six months from the date of return, while UNHCR provides a shelter grant of US$220 paid in two instalments.
More than 236,000 people have returned home or are staying with host families a year after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 9th IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is scheduled to be held in Singapore from 4th to 6th June 2010.
During the meeting, Prof. Peiris is scheduled to make a statement on “Counter-insurgency and strengthening governance – Sri Lankan perspective on the challenges of reasserting control and governance in formerly LTTE held areas.”
The Shangri-La Dialogue was initiated in 2002 in response to the need for a forum where the Asia-Pacific’s Defense Ministers could engage in dialogue aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation. It is an annual gathering organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London and includes the participation of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, UK, US, Vietnam.
The Sri Lanka delegation led by Prof. Peiris also includes Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunathilake, the Army Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya and other senior officials.
In reference to the attack Gaza by Israel forces, the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said Sri Lanka deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from this operation noting that indiscriminate use of force to prevent the carriage of supplies for people under occupation is condemned.
“The reports of attacks during the Israeli military operation on boats carrying supplies for Palestinian people in international waters off the coast of Gaza have caused grave distress to the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. The Government and the people of Sri Lanka extend their sympathies to the families of the victims and injured. Sri Lanka calls for expeditious action to relieve the sufferings of those who are affected by the attacks,” the External Affairs ministry said.
Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peris, has won America’s support to Sri Lanka’s reconciliation efforts, which has been commended by no less a person other than Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.
Hillary Clinton indicated that America whole-heartedly supports the appointment of the Reconciliation Commission by Sri Lanka and is ready to provide further support if necessary.
Secretary Hillary Clinton emphasized that, “It’s a commission on lessons learned and reconciliation. The end of the conflict in Sri Lanka is, as the minister said, a promising opportunity to move forward on ensuring greater respect for the human rights of all Sri Lankans.“
She further added, “Experience in other countries has shown that such a commission that has the credibility and legitimacy within the country has a valuable role in advancing accountability. And we are very supportive of the approach taken by the Sri Lankans. We, of course, will continue to work with them and to observe this commission. We expect that it will be given a broad enough mandate with the resources necessary to be able to follow the trail of any evidence that is presented.”
In a statement issued afterwards she further said, The United States has long been a friend of Sri Lanka. Our countries share a history of democratic institutions, and we have an active USAID program that has invested more than $1.9 billion in Sri Lanka since 1956 and is currently helping to create new opportunities for people who were displaced by the conflict. Since the LTTE terrorist group was defeated one year ago, USAID has rebuilt or repaired seven schools and a hospital damaged by the conflict, launched public-private partnerships in northern and eastern Sri Lanka to create the equivalent of 5,000 full-time jobs in former conflict zones, supported work training for young people to spur economic development, and provided extensive aid and assistance to internally displaced people seeking to return home. The United States will continue to provide Sri Lanka with humanitarian and de-mining assistance to help heal the wounds of war and bring lasting peace and prosperity to the country.
We also discussed the issue of internally displaced persons with the minister. There has been tremendous progress and many thousands and thousands of such internally displaced persons have returned home. And we discussed the need to continue the safe, dignified and voluntary return to homes. Sri Lanka has made progress, and we will continue to support efforts to safeguard the rights of IDPs and complete their relocation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)