22 Mar 2012

GENEVA / SRI LANKA HRC

The Human Rights Council today called on Sri Lanka to take credible steps to investigate abuses committed during the final days of its civil war, which ended in May 2009. CH UNTV

Posted at: March 22, 2012 1:40 pm

Duration: 02:48

Available in: SD

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STORY: GENEVA / SRI LANKA HRC
TRT: 2.48
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 March 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, exterior of the Palais Des Nations
2. Pan, Human Rights Council
3. Cutaway, Sri Lanka delegation
4. Wide shot, voting screen 
5. Tilt down and across, voting results, SOUND-UP: "The results of the vote are as follows, yes 24, abstentions 8, no 15." 
6. Cutaways, Chinese delegation, Russian delegation, Cuban delegation
7. Wide shot, Human Rights Council room
8.  SOUNDBITE (English) Eileen Donahoe, United States Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council: 
"Given the lack of action to implement the recommendations of Sri Lankan government's own LLRC, and the need for additional steps to address accountability issues not covered in the LLRC report, it is appropriate that the Human Rights Council consider and adopt this moderate and balanced resolution."
9. Cutaway, delegations 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries: 
"The draft resolution, as presented, seeks to create doubt in a sovereign and independent country's intent, resolve and capacity to implement the recommendations of its domestic mechanism, without according to it a reasonable time for implementation."
11. Cutaway, delegations in Council 
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries:
"We have defeated one of the most ruthless terrorist outfits after 30 years of conflict to free our people. Ironically proponents and sponsors of this resolution are among those who have polarized, who have proscribed the LTTE and who now seek to give comfort to the proxies of this organization. The impact would be to encourage them to resume their activity under the protective umbrella of these countries and undermine a long-standing, well-established democracy such as Sri Lanka. Finally, Madam President, the resolution before this council for consideration is not acceptable to Sri Lanka as the country concerned."
13. Cutaway, delegations in Council 
14. SOUNDITE (English) Francois Roux, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations Office at Geneva: 
"The EU would like to express strong concern over continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against civil society in Sri Lanka as well as in Geneva. Free and unhindered contact and cooperation with individuals and civil society are indispensable for the UN and its mechanisms to fulfil their mandates. If we let such practices of intimidation proceed unnoticed and unaddressed, we risk undermining the current system.
15. Cutaway, Samarasinghe and Sri Lankan delegation

STORYLINE:

The Human Rights Council is calling on Sri Lanka to investigate abuses committed during the final days of the conflict with the Tamil Tigers that ended in May 2009.

The Council voted Thursday in favour of a resolution put forward by the United States (US) that urged the Sri Lankan authorities to initiate "credible and independent actions to ensure, justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans."

Twenty-four Council members supported the resolution, which was presented by the United States, while 15 countries - including China, Russia and Cuba - opposed it. Eight nations abstained.

The Council's action follows a report by a UN team last year that accused the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Tamil Tigers of serious human rights violations during the final days of the conflict.

Sri Lanka established its own inquiry commission – the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission Process - which submitted its report in December.

US Ambassador Eileen Donahue called on the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations of its domestic commission, the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission Process. She said today's resolution was needed in light of Sri Lanka's failure to act on the commission's recommendations and the need for additional steps to address accountability issues not covered in the report.

Sri Lanka's Minister for Plantation Industries and Special Envoy for Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe rejected the resolution, saying it was unacceptable. He stressed it questioned his country's intent, resolve and capacity to implement the recommendations of its domestic mechanism without giving it a reasonable time to do so.

He cautioned that it would provide comfort to the Tamil Tigers – one of the world's "most ruthless terrorist outfits" – and encourage them to resume their activity. The result would undermine Sri Lanka's as a democracy.

In a statement on behalf of the European Union, Belgian Ambassador Francois Roux expressed concern about the continued intimidation of civil society in Sri Lanka and in Geneva. He warned there was a risk of undermining the system if these practices were not addressed.

Sri Lankan Government forces declared victory over the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009 after a conflict that had raged on and off for nearly three decades and killed thousands of people.