Sri Lanka would be subjected to ‘universal jurisdiction’ unless allegations were probed – Mangala
Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday warned of dire consequences unless accountability allegations, levelled against Lankan military were properly investigated.
Responding to SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s declaration on Tuesday, Oct 15 that he wouldn’t respect Geneva Resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka on Oct. 01, 2015, Minister Samaraweera emphasized that the country was bound by its own Constitution to ensure equal protection of the law to all.
“Shouldn’t we do justice to all our citizens including our security forces personnel by investigating allegations so that those who may not be guilty of a crime do not have to carry the weight of an allegation with them to the grave? Should we let allegations remain without investigations and make our security forces personnel vulnerable to be subjected to universal jurisdiction? Minister Samaraweera asked in a statement issued yesterday.
Minister Samaraweera challenged Gotabaya Rajapaksa as to how he could dismiss Sri Lanka’s commitments to our citizens on human rights, rule of law and processes for truth-seeking, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence including Geneva Resolution 30/1.
He said: “Gotabaya Rajapaksa also dismissed the need to address the grievances of families from all parts of our country whose loved ones including security forces personnel are missing. With the arrogance of an authoritarian regent, he remarked that the ‘people in the North and East have more important issues: jobs, education, etc, and we can’t hang on to old things; we have to move forward’. By saying that, he claimed that he and he alone knew what was best for each and every individual citizen in this country including how they should think and feel, including in the face of personal tragedy.”
Smaraweera alleged that Sri Lanka had to pay a heavy price for the failure on the part of the previous Rajapaksa administration to deal with our conflict-ridden past. The government irresponsible response to international concerns isolated the country and the situation remained the same until the last presidential poll in January 2015, the Minister claimed.
Referring to a joint statement dated May 26, 2009 made by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General of the United Nations that dealt with Sri Lanka’s responsibility in respect of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, Minister Samaraweera faulted the former administration for not keeping its promises.
(Source: The Island)
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Start digging your own grave. You may need it after the election. Also one for your prime minister Ranil.
Minister Samaraweera’s first duty is to the people of this country, before international bodies.
Yet he appears to remain under a colonial mindset, and therefore vulnerable to outside influences instead of adopting a logical, systematic approach to sorting out our own problems, which should not be beyond the capabilities of a government minister!
Also, his approach has hindered the progress of this country.
Moreover, he points accusations at the military and the previous government, whose efforts finished the war, bringing stability and potential prosperity; something his government has failed to do.
Regrettably, he ignores the real perpetrators of the onset of war; the Tamil Tiger terrorists and a fascist ideology.
Instead, all Tamils are depicted as the sole victims. As a minister, he should realise that war has no real victors; but many losers. It was a course that most Sri Lankans did not want, but thanks to successive governments, they had to endure it for decades.
Casualties of war from all races, ages and genders are important in equal measure.
Minister MS talks about moving on, but he is simply going round in circles and dragging Sri Lanka down with him.
The war ended ten years ago.
Reconciliation has taken on a new meaning. Instead of meaning a united country, it seems to mean accede to the demands of a community who want to divide the country.
Sadly, our ministers like MS are paving the way for this to happen.
When we have leaders with a backbone we will face the so called International Jurisdiction with UK (killing thousands of peasants in Wellassa), UK/France/USA and other Western leaders for killing thousands of Civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, With Saudi Arabia for killing a journalist inside their mission in turkey and atrocities done in Yemen, Israel for killing Palatines, Burma accused killing of Muslims, India for atrocities done in Kashneer, Philipines HR violation for suspected drug addicts, We will face it with the above nations I named. Dear Managal we will have separate investigation for treason for what you did in Geneva signing the HR allegations tabled by USA you joined the accuser and co-sponsored resolution 30/1 even without the knowledge of HE Siisena.
Agreed Mr Amarakoon,
MS should be investigated on grounds of TREASON.
Also, acting on such important matters without the knowledge of the President has serious implications.
And US is no position to lecture us on war crimes!