Obama urged to SL policy reflecting security, economic interests etc.
In the wake of a group of US Senators calling for the establishment of an independent international accountability mechanism to investigate wartime atrocities as well as other human rights abuses, another group of Senators is proposing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), similar to the one set up by South Africa, to address grievances of those who had been effected by the Eelam conflict.
The first resolution dated February 6 was endorsed by five Senators (Richard Burr, Robert Casey, Patrick Leahy, Sherrod Brown, Barbara Boxer and John Cornyn, while the second resolution was moved by 11 Senators, namely James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), John Manchin (D-West Virginia), Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming).
The counter resolution was submitted on Thursday.
Both groups have urged the Obama administration to adopt, in dealing with Sri Lanka, a policy which reflected respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, as well as economic and security interests.
The counter resolution noted that Sri Lanka was of great strategic importance to the US as well as other ‘significant powers’ and a key US partner in fighting against terrorism and Indian Ocean piracy.An authoritative government official told The Island that Sri Lanka greatly appreciated international support for its ongoing reconciliation process. The official pointed out that a section of the US Senators had taken into consideration the ongoing Sri Lanka-South African efforts to move the domestic process forward.
The counter resolution urged the United States Government and the international community to assist the government of Sri Lanka with due regard to its sovereignty, stability, and security, in establishing domestic mechanisms to deal with any grievances arising from actions committed by both sides during the war.
It encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to put in place a truth and reconciliation commission similar to the one adopted by South Africa to help heal the wounds of war, taking into account the unique characteristics of the conflict and its aftermath. The resolution urged the government of Sri Lanka to improve religious and media freedoms and to bring to justice those responsible for attacks on journalists and newspaper offices as well as places of worship, regardless of religion.
Appreciating Sri Lanka’s efforts to create an environment conducive to conduct first Northern Provincial Council polls last September, the resolution noted the poll resulted in a clear victory for the provincial wing of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
The resolution stressed the importance of giving the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) process to continue, while highlighting key recommendations made by the Commission. (The Island)
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A Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is a great idea. Let us make sure it consists of UN senators ONLY to give it any validity and credibility and, it GOES ALSO TO THE AREAS OCCUPIED BY SINGHALESE AND MUSLIMS WHO WERE SLAUGHTERED BY THE ltte TERRORISTS AND, THEN TO COLOMBO AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW THE TAMIL ”GENOCIDE’ IS BEING DONE AT THE MOMENT IN SRI LANKA.
Yes Indra you are right. Your ‘genocide’ (within inverted commas) perhaps meant the opposite.Although I cannot think of one single word for it let me call it ‘genodevo’ meaning rapid development in tamil ethnicity.My niece who ran into some financial difficulties had three tamil young men vying for the offer of her well developed flat at Moratuwa. She finally sold her flat yday to one of them.That is how Colombo and her suburbs are being ‘ genocided’. Very soon Colombo with the help of our ‘brotheren’ who could wear their cap in anyway would become the Capitol of the eelam.
AUJ,
Why are you living eternally in fear of being swamped by Tamils? It cannot happen. The entire Sinhala psyche is based on fear commencing with Dutugemunu who folded his legs!
AUJ, we are chest thumping Lions, we have no fears whatsoever, we redeemed our tamil bretheren from the LTTE, we are victoriuos because we are a just peoples and believe in just causes.
Comrade Jerome,
You are quite right right my dear friend. We don’t fear not only Tamils but anyone,f or that matter. We are all together as one, Sri Lankans.
Look at my village name, Thani-Polgaha-langa; it is a village in the Ambalantota Division.
“Thani” means “alone” in Tamil. So, our village is “near the Coconut Tree which stands alone”. It does do that. The Coconut tree which stands alone is still there, even today.
The village got its name perhaps a century ago when all “Sri Lankans” were “Sri Lankans” and when any Sri Lankan could choose anywhere to live in the Island of Sri Lanka.
Our village had a significant Tamil speaking population and come 1970, 80, 90, ……, all gone my dear friend.