geneva process moving to new level despite high cost pr campaign

8/13/2019 Geneva Process Moving to New Level Despite High Cost PR Campaign

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Geneva process moving to new leveldespite high cost PR campaign

Sunday, February 09, 2014

US resolution likely to be with provision for probe by Special Rapporteur, as battle for UNHRC votes continues Firm hired by Cabraal tells Congress members that

anka wants closer ties with US than with China! is it a foreign policy shift" New #$% leader re&ects moves for common opposition front, while UN%'s internal conflictworsens over nominations

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Though in panic mode over the UN Human Rights Council sessions inGeneva next month, there is at least one issue less for the UPFAGovernment to orr! a"out # the move to form a common opposition frontto ta$e it on%We are not looking for a government change. Nor are we looking for an common gro!ndwith the "nited National Part ("NP)#$ the %anatha Vim!kthi Peram!na (%VP)&s new leader'n!ra !mara issana ake told the *!nda +imes. ,t is the "NP that has to answer for thec!rrent sit!ation in the co!ntr #$ he charged. issana ake said the %VP did not e-pect to ringchange soon and added that we need to strengthen o!r mem ership at the grassroots level toreplace the present s stem of governance.$+hat# in effect# p!ts paid to efforts the main opposition "NP to rope in the %VP# the leadingopposition political part in the so!th after it# to a /oint front ased on an agreed programme ofwork to challenge the Government. !ring informal contacts# those speaking for the "NP haveso!ght a common effort to change the Presidential s stem of governance# restore independenceof the /!diciar and com at corr!ption that has reached h!mongo!s levels. +his will mean the%VP will also not s!pport the main opposition&s rather half0hearted efforts to move a vote of noconfidence on the Government.
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+he 120 ear0old issana ake was!nanimo!sl elected leader at the

part &s ann!al convention last week.+here is a message for other

political parties over how he was picked. ,t ecame p! lic onl last*!nda . +he 3entral 3ommittee ofthe Part confirmed three monthsago that he wo!ld e the leader andit remained a closel g!arded secret.+hat even st!mped a one0time %VPstalwart and now the National4reedom 4ront (N44) leader#5inister Wimal Weerawansa. 'we site known to e r!n himdeclared that there was a t!ssle

etween 'n!ra !maraissana ake and trade !nion leader#

6al antha for the leadership prompting a string of media reports.+he one0time revol!tionar waswrong after all. 7e can no longer

oast of having insiders who keephim riefed.

issana ake replaced *omawansa'merasinghe# who was once mostwanted in *ri 6anka and domiciledin 8ritain since 9 ; after the %VP&sa ortive second !prising of that

period. ' senior %VPer# who praisedthe latter&s role# told a *inhala weekl that 'merasinghe# who ran the part from there# had senteno!gh fa-es to fill a small room. issana ake is known for his co!rageo!s e-pos!res inParliament of corr!pt activit and wrong doing. 7e has een compared in the mo!ld of the old*ama *ama/ist parliamentarians of the cali re of r. N.5. Perera# r. 3olvin R. de *ilva and8ernard *o sa and was welcomed in the 7o!se this week with pla!dits from oth Governmentand mem ers and repeal the Prevention of +errorism 'ct. Needless to sa #almost ever single s!ch iss!e is what the "NP also wants to p!rs!e.


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highest levels of the Government to a Grama *evaka it has now ecome a c!lt!re. ?arlier# towin a pro/ect @ per cent of A!alifications and 9@ per cent of political infl!ence were reA!ired.

Now# it is the other wa aro!nd#$ he said. 'ssets of those who have ecome rich thro!ghcorr!pt and illegal means sho!ld e investigated. ,f the are proven# the sho!ld e ret!rned tothe people#$ he added.+he "NP seems read to go it alone. We are !ilding o!r grassroots level organisations. Wewill intensif o!r campaign# among other matters# to a olish the presidential s stem and alsoe-pose corr!ption. We will go ahead on o!r own#$ the "NP&s national leader RanilWickremesinghe told the *!nda +imes. 7e said ahead of a private visit to ,ndia that thecomm!nications machiner of the part was eing strengthened towards this p!rpose.

+he remarks came as the part was em roiled in a controvers once again# this time over theselection of candidates for the *o!thern and Western Provincial 3o!ncil elections. ,t has seenthe resignation of parliamentarian Ravi ar!nana ake from the Nominations 8oard /!st whenit had completed its f!nctions. 3olom o 5a or '.%.5. 5!Bammil&s wife# 4ero!Ba# a candidateaspirant for the Western Provincial 3o!ncil# also resigned from the over0tho!sand strong

?-ec!tive 3ommittee. !ring a telephone call# 5a or 5!Bammil castigated the "NP6eadership 3o!ncil (63) 3hairman ar! %a as!ri a for letting him down.$ %a as!ri a hadreplied that he s!pported 4ero!Ba&s case. What is the !se of s!pporting if o! cannot deliver#$e-claimed 5!Bammil who thereafter anged the telephone receiver. 5!BBamil also sackedfrom the 353 an official who has een appointed to co0ordinate official matters with "NPleader Wickremesinghe. ' report on these developments appears elsewhere in this newspaper.

+he opposition parties have shied awa from informal approaches the "P4' to forge a ipartisan response at the "N7R3 sessions in Geneva as we said last week. 7ence# theGovernment has intensified efforts on its own. 5inisters are contin!ing to lo mem erco!ntries of the "N7R3. +he latest to e assigned are 5inisters W. .%. *eneviratne to5orocco and inesh G!nawardena to 'lgeria# oth mem ers of the "N7R3.

Peaceful transition: The JVPs leadershi chan!e fro" So"a#ansa$"arasin!he %&' to $nura (u"ara )issanay*e %+' sends a o#erful


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"essa!e to other arties $lso in the icture is JVP -eneral SecretaryTil.yn Sil.aPresident Ra/apaksa will also speak to some "N7R3 mem er0state leaders when he travels to6ondon ne-t month. 7e will take part in the 3ommonwealth a events on 5arch 9@ as 3hair0in0C mem er0nations gro!p of e- 8ritish colonies. 8ased on the =@91 themeD3ommonwealth +eam#$ it is to incl!de the iggest m!lti0faith cele ration in 8ritain.'ccording to the 3ommonwealth *ecretariat# it will take the form of an ho!r long service atWestminster ' e # feat!ring a mi-t!re of testimonies# readings# h mns and m!sical

performances. ,t will e attended E!een ?liBa eth ,,# 7ead of the 3ommonwealth# andsenior politicians# 7igh 3ommissioners# 3ommonwealth dignitaries and !p to =@@ other V,Ps.,t is also to e attended more than 9#@@@ schoolchildren# with =#@@@ people present in total.+he 3ommonwealth *ecretar 0General will host a reception attended +he E!een andrepresentatives of the >C mem ers of the 3ommonwealth at the 3ommonwealth *ecretariat in5arl oro!gh 7o!se# 6ondon. 'head of the visit to 8ritain# President Ra/apaksa will also!ndertake an official visit to 5 anmar.

,n New elhi a week ago# ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inister G.6. Peiris spoke with diplomats of"N7R3 mem er co!ntries which do not have resident missions in *ri 6anka. etails of histalks with ,ndian ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inister *alman h!rshid have emerged now. Peiris tookconsidera le time to pitch *ri 6anka&s case emphasising on the implementation of most

proposals of the 6essons 6earnt and Reconciliation 3ommission (66R3). 7e said *ri 6ankareA!ired more time to implement the remaining ones. ' so!rce familiar with the talks said

h!rshid listened to Peiris intentl !t made no remarks. When the *ri 6ankan ?-ternal 'ffairs5inister had finished# h!rshid had politel declared that the Government of ,ndia had still notdecided on its position vis0F0vis the "N7R3 sessions ne-t month. 7e added that s!ch adecision was to e taken onl da s ahead of the event. h!rshid&s response that no decision has

een made itself is a sn! to Peiris. +he message is that the Government of ,ndia will not ack *ri 6anka despite his latest appeal. +hat was wh h!rshid remained non0committal anddiplomaticall dismissed Peiris& pleas remaining silent.

6ike Peiris# Presidential *ecretar 6alith Weerat!nga who was in Washington 3 to lo *ri6anka&s case ret!rned to 3olom o earl this week. 's revealed in the *!nda +imes (Political3ommentar ) of %an!ar =2 it was the "* p! lic relations and lo ing firm +hompson'dvisor Gro!p (+'G) that was responsi le for the first part of his engagements. 4or thatWeerat!nga was /oined 3entral 8ank Governor Nivard 3a raal# who has hired +'G. +hoseengagements incl!ded meetings with *enate 4oreign Relations 3ommittee 3hairman 8o5enendeB and 7o!se of Representatives 4oreign 'ffairs 3ommittee 3hairman ?d Ro ce.Weerat!nga also held meetings with select mem ers of 3ongress. +hese were arranged aone0time minister of a friendl *o!th 'sian co!ntr . 7e had also flown to the "* capital. 4orthis# Weerat!nga was /oined *a/in de Vass G!nawardena# 5onitoring 5P for the 5inistr of?-ternal 'ffairs. 6etters written to 3ongress mem ers +'G give an insight on the "P4'Government&s strateg for Geneva and la are the contin!ing ineffectiveness of the *ri 6anka?m ass in Washington 3. 7ere is the f!ll te-t of one s!ch letter:

+7


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3ongresswoman Gwen 5oore==1> Ra !rn 7o!se 9> ear 3ongresswoman 5oore:Ne-t +!esda # %an!ar =;# we invite o! to meet two disting!ished *ri 6ankan g!ests here on3apitol 7ill regarding the international significance and importance to 'merica of events in *ri6anka. Visiting will e: 5r. '/ith Nivard 3a raal is Governor of 3entral 8ank of *ri 6anka# their eA!ivalent of o!r4ederal Reserve * stem.5r. 6alith Weerat!nga is Permanent *ecretar to the President of *ri 6anka# 5ahindaRa/apaksa# their eA!ivalent of 3hief of *taff to the President.+he are here to meet with 5em ers of the 3ongress and others in Washington# to improvethe !nderstanding and relations etween o!r co!ntries.'s ill!strated on the attached map from 7ofstra "niversit # the island nation of *ri 6anka isastride the main maritime trade ro!tes of the ,ndian


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6ocations$ incl!ding *ri 6anka. ,t is from the 7ofstra "niversit # a private instit!tion in 6ong,sland# New ork. ' firm hired at a monthl cost of "*I 22#@@@ (more than Rs. ;.> million)ever month 3entral 8ank Governor 3a raal# is ignorant of some asic facts. +'G hasreferred to Weerat!nga as Permanent *ecretar .$ Weerat!nga is Presidential *ecretar .5oreover# in the precedence ta le the *ecretar to the President is a ove the Governor of the3entral 8ank. 7owever# +'G has changed not onl *ri 6anka&s name to *ir 6anka$ in someinstances# !t also the co!ntr &s official precedence ta le to place Governor 3a raal on top. 'twhose instance did it do soJ Wh were the not checked efore the firm# doing the work of the*ri 6anka ?m ass for a monthl fee# was allowed to circ!late itJ ,f it was not possi le for3a raal himself to check on them from 3olom o# it seems the ?m ass in Washington 3 was!na le to even do that little it.


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reconstr!ction of three school !ildings in the NorthJ +his was revealed e-cl!sivel in the*!nda +imes (Political 3ommentar ) last week. +he proposal co!ld ver well have een re0ro!ted thro!gh either the 5inistr of ?-ternal 'ffairs or the 5inistr of efence and "r an

evelopment since the offer is free of cost. ,n marked contrast# !nsolicited proposals worthmillions and millions of dollars from 3hinese companies are eing approved ever month. ,nalmost ever instance# s!ch pro/ect proposals placed efore ministers for approval do note-plain how these enormo!s amo!nts of mone to e orrowed wo!ld e repaid. Nor do thegive a reakdown of how the mone s o tained are to e !tilised. 5inisters dare not speak !p.Re0pa ments with interest total vast amo!nts of mone and wo!ld have to e made forgenerations to come !nless the co!ntr is mortgaged& to 3hina some other wa .

,n a 1=0page note handed over to those he met# Weerat!nga# who also heads a Presidential +ask4orce# gave more details of how the 66R3 proposals were eing implemented. With regard tothe alleged war crimes# the report notes: 'llegations of s!mmar e-ec!tions of capt!red

persons are eing investigated the 'rm 3o!rt of ,nA!ir # thro!gh a comprehensive proced!re involving interviewing all relevant 4ield 3ommanders and potential witnesses.

Potential witnesses# once identified# will e formall called as witnesses to the ,nA!ir .4irst Part of the 3o!rt of ,nA!ir # i.e. allegation with regard to civilian cas!alties# concl!ded in4e r!ar =@9C. ,nA!ir concl!ded that instances of shelling referred to in the 66R3 Reportwere not ca!sed the *ri 6anka 'rm and civilian cas!alties might have occ!rred d!e to!nlawf!l acts the 6++?. +hese acts incl!de targeting civilians fleeing to the safet of 'rmheld areas and likel ro!tes of escape# dropping of artiller ro!nds fired ill0trained 6++?g!nners on to civilian concentrations etc.

'n person affected shells and had applied to the R?P,' for compensation has eengranted redress. Whoever in/!red or disa led d!e to war is entitled to appl for compensation

on s! mission of a medical report iss!ed a Government octor.$ +he 1= page report hasalso now een posted on the we site llrcaction.gov3ontrar to claims in the "nited *tates capital that the "P4' Government&s thr!st is to restorestrong relations# this week too witnessed a different mood locall .

here was strong criticism of the "*. President 5ahinda Ra/apaksa directed veiled criticismwhen he addressed the nation at +!esda &s 22th anniversar ,ndependence a ceremonies in

egalle. 7e declared# ?ver powerf!l co!ntr sho!ld realise the diffic!lt in defeatingterrorism.$ 7ere are relevant e-cerpts: +hree decades of s!ffering ended on 5a 9 # =@@ .*ince then there has een no om e-plosion or shooting terrorists. 'nd no white flags ofmo!rning in o!r villages. ,t is necessar for the people in the North to e aware that certainforeign forces are attempting to !se them as h!man shields. +he invaders alwa s came to o!rco!ntr shedding oceans of crocodile tears. +he interfered in these co!ntries p!tting forwardclaims to protect h!man rights# esta lish democrac and the r!le of law. ?ver powerf!lco!ntr sho!ld realise the diffic!lt in defeating terrorism.

What we faced was a more serio!s and r!tal challenge than the ever faced. +he difference etween them and !s was that we instr!cted the sec!rit forces to give the highest priorit to protect the lives of civilians. +hose powerf!l co!ntries took >@ to 9@@ ears for reconciliation


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after civil wars. We have to ask the world whether there is an co!ntr that has progressed som!ch on the path of reconciliation in /!st fo!r ears.

We see the !se of information provided those who are committed to separatism and thosewho were defeated the people to level charges of war crimes and other alleged offencesagainst *ri 6anka as a grave offence. , see the attempts to level charges of war crimes against

!s in Geneva toda as the tri!mph of those who are not in favo!r of peace. +his seeks to drivefear into people and nations committed to peace and working to safeg!ard a co!ntr &sindependence and freedom. +hese are not fo!nded on peace# fair pla or /!sticeOOO. We *ri6ankans who were orn in this co!ntr have to recall the itter memories of the past when

aseless allegations are levelled against !sO..$

Nevertheless President Ra/apaksa was conscio!s of a core iss!e in the previo!s two "*resol!tions over reconciliation. 7is aides tracked down +amil National 'lliance (+N') leaderRa/avarotha am *ampanthan to a ho!se in 3hennai on Wednesda . 6ater the connectedRa/apaksa on the telephone. +he President wished him happ irthda # inA!ired a o!t hishealth and asked him to meet him when he ret!rns to 3olom o. +he +N' leader is on a privatevisit for medical reasons. Ra/apaksa is to talk to him once more a o!t the prospects of +N'&s

participation in talks towards reconciliation.

%!st da s after his ret!rn to 3olom o from the Washington visit# Weerat!nga fig!red in ,+N&stalk show oramadalawa (Gatewa ). efence *ecretar Gota a a Ra/apaksa was among thosewho took part. 7ere are translated highlights of what he said:What , felt d!ring m visit to Washington and Geneva was that the tend to press!rise !smore# eca!se we achieved peace witho!t an assistance or permission from them. 8!t there isa controvers within the international comm!nit in the process over resol!tions against *ri6anka. +he opinion of most of the mem ers in the "* *enate and the 3ongress was that

'merica is not in a position to A!estion *ri 6anka a o!t the h!man rights violation since thethemselves co!ld not properl esta lish those rights after 9@@ ears of war.

+he P!rpose of m visit was to rief the international comm!nit a o!t the progress made the Government following the recommendations of 66R3 within 9; months starting from %!l #=@9=. We met 9C@ delegates in Geneva and allowed them to come !p with A!estions. 5speech was onl for =@ min!tes whereas the Permanent Representative (Ravinatha 'ri asinha)and , answered their A!estions for two and half ho!rs.

*ome of the 6atin 'merican and 'sian co!nties as well as most of the 'frican co!ntriesseemed to have appreciated what we said. +he spoke on o!r ehalf at the meeting. 't thatmoment , felt that *ri 6anka sho!ld pro/ect itself as a model in front of the world. +here was noco!ntr which ended a C@0 ear0long conflict with minim!m damage to the civiliansD there is noco!ntr where an 'rm accepted C@@#@@@ displaced persons and then ecame their facilitator.+he sho!ld not e-pect !s to complete the reconciliation process within fo!r and half ears.+here are states that failed to do so even after 9@@ ears. +herefore , e-plained to them thatthe sho!ld look into this matter in a fair perspective.

+he "* still does not give !s a clear pict!re of the proposed resol!tion it has against !s. When


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, spoke to the 'ssistant *ecretar of *tate 8iswal# she was not read to look at the /!stificationof what we sa . +he asked !s to follow the wa the "* acted after World War ,, eingmagnanimo!s and forgive the opponents. , reminded her that we too forgave nearl 99#;C@terrorists witho!t even an trial.

+he ne-t iss!e the have is acco!nta ilit . , e-plained clearl that acco!nta ilit over this

civil war is a matter of C@ ears !t not /!st the one or two weeks of the last stages. No one canremem er the r!talit ro!ght a o!t the ,P 4 (,ndian Peace eeping 4orce) to thisco!ntr for a o!t two ears. ?ver thing incl!ding ,P 4 sho!ld e taken into the acco!nta ilit .(Note: +roops of the ,P 4 were ind!cted to North and ?ast *ri 6anka following the ,ndo0*ri6anka 'ccord of 9 ; to ens!re a ceasefire etween *ri 6ankan troops and separatist g!errillas.+he later ended !p fighting the 6++? !ntil late President Ranasinghe Premadasa ordered theirwithdrawal). , clarified the sensitivities of the reconciliation process. 8eca!se it takes time# twoto three generations# as revealed in researches. *o press!rising *ri 6anka over reconciliationcan onl divide the two ethnic gro!ps even more.

+here might e resol!tions against *ri 6anka efore the 7!man Rights 3o!ncil at the 5archsessions. ,t cannot clamp down an em argo on !s. 7owever# other meas!res s!ch as sending*pecial Rapporte!rs might take place.$

+he latter remark s!ggests that Weerat!nga# like other "P4' leaders# is conscio!s of the passage of the new "*0sponsored resol!tion ne-t month.+he conto!rs of the latest resol!tion are /!st taking shape# according to diplomatic so!rces.


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PR firms. +he A!estion that egs answer is what the 5inister of ?-ternal 'ffairs G.6. Peiris#his 5inistr and *ri 6anka&s diplomatic missions have een doing all these ears.

geneva process moving to new level despite high cost pr campaign

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