Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under attack for alleged rights violations during the military campaign against Tamil Tigers, has hit out at the UN saying his country has become an “unfortunate victim” of “ill-conceived agendas” of some in the Human Rights Council.
“There is an obvious lack of balance and proportion in the manner in which my country is being targeted today disregarding these significant achievements,” Rajapaksa said.
“This is in sharp contrast with the approach to deeply disturbing situations involving humanitarian emergencies elsewhere,” he said yesterday while addressing the 69th General Assembly of the UN. “Post-conflict Sri Lanka has also become an unfortunate victim of ill-conceived agendas of some in the Human Rights Council, who pay scant regard to the substantial progress achieved by Sri Lanka, in reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation within a short span of 5 years,” Rajapaksa said.
Rajapaksa’s government since 2012 was the subject of three US-sponsored consecutive United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions over its human rights accountability record.
The last resolution called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes by Lankan troops towards the end of the country’s civil war against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 which the government has publicly vowed to resist.
“The role of the UN in advancing international peace, security and prosperity is crucial in the contemporary world,” Rajapaksa said.
“However, in order to gain the confidence and goodwill of the international community as a whole, one of the essential requirements is consistency of standards across the board without any perception of selectivity or discrimination,” he said. “It is in this context that the current functioning of the system needs fresh examination in order to enhance its credibility,” he added. Alleging that the UN system had been politicised, Rajapaksa said for multilateralism to remain relevant and effective, reform of institutions concerned is essential.
“To be successful, this process must involve depoliticisation of the UN systems and mechanisms and they must stop being hostage to different forms of funding,” Rajapaksha said. “UN bodies must find ways to work with governments through dialogue, greater understanding of situations and cooperation including assisting to strengthen national institutions,” he added.
“This approach, instead of strong arm tactics, must form the heart of multi-lateral diplomacy, in the search for sustainable solutions to global challenges,” he added. (IANS)