Alarm bells in Geneva: Govt.

in hyperactive mode
Indications of tough new resolution on accountability and related issues, Pillay to submit 10,000-word report US war crimes ambassador coming here, followed by new Assistant Secretary of State Nisha esai !iswal New "a#ette notification to stop internal re$olts within local councils% &a$i lashes out at cry-babies and spineless leaders in the UNP

Sunday, January 05, 2014 The Government has gone into hyperactive mode after signals through its own channels indicated that the United Nations Human Rights Councils March sessions may take a serious turn over alleged war crimes and other issues Hectic preparations, a feature absent in the past except a show of strength in numbers in Geneva, are under way. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga will leave for Geneva later this month to brief envoys accredited to the ! there on the progress Sri Lan"a was ma"ing over issues contained in two successive S#sponsored resolutions. Weeratunga heads a Presidential $as" %orce assigned to implement a string of recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and &econciliation 'ommission (LL&') and approved by the 'abinet of *inisters. $his wee", Weeratunga together with &avinatha +riyasinha Sri Lan"a,s +mbassador to the ! in Geneva, met different sta"eholders in 'olombo as part of preparations. -ne such meeting was with retired *a.or General !anda *allawaratchchi, Secretary to the *inistry of Law and -rder to discuss matters relating to the Police. + similar mission is also being underta"en later this month by /xternal +ffairs *inister G.L. Peiris. He will address !ew 0elhi#based envoys of countries which have diplomats accredited to Sri Lan"a but do not have a diplomatic mission in 'olombo. He has ta"en this opportunity to see" a meeting with 1ndian /xternal +ffairs *inister

Salman 2hurshid to discuss bilateral issues and matters relating to the !H&' sessions. 1ndia supported the two successive S#sponsored resolutions. He wants to brief 1ndia on the course of action being ta"en. Some of the envoys Peiris will spea" to represent !H&' member countries such as +lgeria, +rgentina, 3enin, 'hile, /stonia, *orocco, !amibia and *acedonia. Late last year, 45 countries 6 +lgeria, 'hina, 'uba, %rance, *aldives, *exico, *orocco, !amibia, Saudi +rabia, South +frica, *acedonia, 7ietnam, &ussia and the nited 2ingdom 6 were elected by secret ballot for three years beginning 8anuary 4 this year. -ther members of the 'ouncil and the year when their term ends are9 +rgentina (:;4<), +ustria (:;45), 3enin (:;45), 3otswana (:;45), 3ra=il (:;4<), 3ur"ina %aso (:;45), 'hile (:;45), 'ongo (:;45), 'osta &ica (:;45), 'ote d, 1vore (:;4<), '=ech &epublic (:;45), /stonia (:;4<), /thiopia (:;4<), Gabon (:;4<), Germany (:;4<), 1ndia (:;45), 1ndonesia (:;45), 1reland (:;4<), 1taly (:;45), 8apan (:;4<), 2a=a"hstan (:;4<), 2enya (:;4<), 2uwait (:;45), *ontenegro (:;4<), Pa"istan (:;4<), Peru (:;45), Philippines (:;45), &epublic of 2orea (:;4<), &omania (:;45), Sierra Leone (:;4<), nited +rab /mirates (:;4<), nited States (:;4<) and 7ene=uela (:;4<). &app visits Lan"a $he move to turn proactive and conciliatory after adopting a belligerent and confrontational posture in the past, a hallmar" of Sri Lan"a,s fledgling foreign policy, comes amidst a visit to 'olombo tomorrow by Stephen 8. &app, +mbassador#at#Large, -ffice of Global 'riminal 8ustice in the S 0epartment of State. His office in Washington said on %riday that he will meet a >cross section of government officials, political and civil society leaders on a range of issues.? /ven if the official announcement did not give his full title, &app is +mbassador# at#Large for War 'rimes 1ssues and was appointed by President 3arac" -bama. 1n that capacity he advises the Secretary of State, the nder Secretary for 'ivilian Security, 0emocracy and Human &ights and wor"s to formulate nited States policy >on prevention and accountability for mass atrocities.? +mong those &app will meet are 8ustice *inister &auff Ha"eem and +ttorney General Palitha %ernando. President *ahinda &a.apa"sa who left yesterday on a four day visit to Palestine and 1srael has also been mindful of the issues in Geneva. +t the re#scheduled wee"ly ministerial meeting on %riday, he warned the ministers to be extremely cautious over attempts to rouse ethnic tensions. Whichever community was responsible for such actions, he said, the ministers must respond cautiously bearing in mind the religious sensitivities involved. $hey could be reported as attac"s on churches, mos@ues, temples or other places of worship. $he incidents were being Ablown out of proportion, by interested parties to embarrass

the Government, he warned. Whilst in Palestine tomorrow, &a.apa"sa will confer Sri Lan"a,s highest honour on late Basser +rafat, former President of the State of Palestine and 0r. *ahmoud +bbas, the current President. 1n terms of a Ga=ette notification on %riday, both will receive *itra 7ibhushana !ational Honour. >2now Be that His /xcellency the President will personally award this Honour,? said two different notifications.
Education Minister Bandula &a.apa"sa also met a two#member Gunewardene, at the centre of a delegation from the $amil !ational controversy over remar s he made +lliance ($!+) on $hursday to discuss a!out the "ear #ive Scholarshi$ E%am issues related to the functioning of the e%$lains his $osition at a news !orthern Provincial 'ouncil (!P'). His conference last wee & E%amination Government wants to be in a position to 'ommissioner (&M&)&J& *ush$a umara +left, is also in the say that it has fulfilled assurances given $icture& *ic !y Susantha -iyanawatta to the international community over the conduct of provincial elections in the north and that democracy has been restored to the once war#ravaged province. $hough he remains engaged with the $!+, troubles for &a.apa"sa over the !P' are far from over. +dministrative and financial issues formed the core of the discussion. $he $!+ duo, 'hief *inister '.7. Wigneswaran and Parliamentarian *.+. Sumanthiran sought the removal of the Secretary to the 'hief *inister. &a.apa"sa agreed and as"ed the $!+ to come up with its nominee. He said the $!+ could raise financial issues from time to time with $reasury Secretary P.3. 8ayasundera. $he $reasury Secretary and 'abinet Secretary Sumith +beysinghe were present at the discussion.

Sumanthiran told the Sunday $imes, >We informed the President of a number of obstacles faced by the !P'. +mong them was the issue of appointment of officers to the council. $he Governor has to ma"e the appointments in consultation with the 'hief *inister. We also discussed the appointment of the 'hief Secretary. $his needs to be done in consultation with the 'hief *inister and (we also raised) the @uestion of !P' receiving grants. $his includes foreign grants. %or this it was agreed to meet with the $reasury officials and discuss the process of receiving such grants. $he issue of addressing the needs of the displaced people including the widows and orphans and the detainees was also raised.? 1n his customary fashion, &a.apa"sa invited the duo for lunch after the hour#long meeting which began at noon but they politely declined the offer.

+ thorny issue 6 the running conflict between the $!+ and !orthern Province Governor retired *a.or General G.+. 'handrasiri 6 still remains unresolved. However, P%+ sources hinted yesterday that the matter would be resolved much the same way tensions on the two sides were being eased with a >routine? changeover of the military leadership in the north. $he !ew Bear call on the President by the !orthern 'hief *inister '.7. Wigneswaran showed recognition of &a.apa"sa as head of State and indicated a willingness to wor" together. However, the $!+ has refused to participate in the Government,s reconciliation programme, either through the Parliamentary Select 'ommittee (PS') or through tal"s, until the Government ma"es its proposals public. >Bou can reach me at any time. We can resolve issues amicably through dialogue,? &a.apa"sa told the two $!+ leaders. $hat it comes ahead of the !H&',s *arch sessions is not without significance. Heightening the P%+ Government,s concerns are reports it is receiving about a new S resolution co#sponsored by a number of countries including 3ritain. 3ased on claims that the Government of Sri Lan"a has not moved forward on the :;4: and :;4C resolutions to address accountability issues, there are fears that the new resolution would see" to initiate a mechanism for a probe. $hough the real shape and format of such a resolution is not clear, the Government is not ta"ing any chances this time. $his is particularly after it received confirmation from diplomatic channels that a resolution indeed would be moved by the S. $he idea behind the Government move is to re#iterate the official position that the Government has set up its own mechanisms to ascertain fully the circumstances of death or in.ury to civilians. $his is to be one of the ma.or thrusts of Presidential Secretary Weeratunga,s briefings in Geneva. He is to explain that the +rmy 'ourts of 1n@uiry are probing the issue. $his sub.ect, no doubt, will be foremost for +mbassador &app, a lawyer and the third 'hief Prosecutor, among others, in the case against 'harles $aylor, one time Liberian President when he was produced before the 1nternational 'riminal 'ourt. He succeeded Sri Lan"an born 0esmond de Silva, D' who served in the .udiciary in 3ritain. &app is expected to discuss issues related to this matter with Government officials. His office >coordinates .S. Government support for international and hybrid courts that are currently trying persons responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in the former Bugoslavia, &wanda, Sierra Leone, and 'ambodia. 1t also wor"s closely with other governments, international institutions, and non#government organisations to establish and assist international and domestic commissions, courts and tribunals to investigate, .udge, and deter atrocity, crimes in every region of the globe. $he +mbassador#at#Large also coordinates the deployment of a range of diplomatic, legal, economic, military, and intelligence tools to help expose the

truth, .udge those responsible, protect and assist victims, enable reconciliation, and build the rule of law.? &app, his office said, will be focusing on >Sri Lan"a,s .ustice, accountability and reconciliation process.? He last visited 'olombo in %ebruary :;4:. %ollowing &app to 'olombo on 8anuary 4: on a two#day visit is !isha 0esai 3iswal, +ssistant Secretary in the 0epartment of State for 'entral and South +sia. She succeeded &obert 3la"e who was also one time S +mbassador to Sri Lan"a and is currently serving as envoy to 1ndonesia. 3iswal, an +merican 1ndian of Gu.arati origin, is on her first familiarisation visit. 0iplomatic sources said yesterday that she would meet Government leaders and officials to discuss bilateral matters and issues that are now before the !H&'. 0espite criticism in some sections in Sri Lan"a, 3iswal is considered a Aforeign policy star, in the -bama administration. She wor"ed in the presidential election campaign for 8ohn 2erry (now Secretary of State) in :;;5 and the -bama campaign in :;;E. Her swearing in in !ovember showed part of her power base that included 0ennis *c0onough, 'hief of Staff of President 3arac" -bama. + closer loo" at the P%+ Government,s approach to the two successive resolutions at the ! Human &ights 'ouncil in Geneva lays bare an inconsistent and contradictory approach. 1n :;4:, the response was to send more than a hundred delegates at substantial expense to the country,s purse. $his was under the mista"en notion that a greater presence of diplomats, lawyers, .ournalists, religious dignitaries, lobbyists and others would change hearts and minds towards Sri Lan"a. Last year, the head of the Sri Lan"a delegation, *inister *ahinda Samarasinghe, President &a.apa"sa,s special envoy on human rights, made a scathing personal attac" on ! Human &ights High 'ommissioner !avanethem Pillay. $hereafter, the Government relented and allowed Pillay to visit Sri Lan"a. She gave a preliminary account of her visit to the !H&' in September last year and is to present a 4;,;;; word report in *arch. $he mandate to her from the 'ouncil re@uires the High 'ommissioner to present a >FFcomprehensive report followed by a discussion on the implementation of the present resolution at its twenty#fifth session.? $hese sessions begin on *arch C. $he planned visits by Weeratunga and Peiris to present Sri Lan"a,s case this time are by themselves an ac"nowledgement that the previous approaches and initiatives did not produce the desired results 6 with the /xternal +ffairs *inistry playing little or no role. !owhere was the ineffectiveness felt more strongly than in the S capital, Washington 0'. $his is despite the Sri Lan"a /mbassy there having hired the services of two different Public &elations firms not only for propaganda but also for lobbying and fixing various .obs. $his is besides another P& firm being hired by 'entral 3an" Governor +.ith !ivard 'abraal, ostensibly

to promote Sri Lan"an interests. He did succeed in having a couple of by#lined pieces (under his name) inserted in small sections of the S media with the help of this firm. 1n 3ritain, where a group of ruling 'onservative Party *Ps were given free tic"ets and allowances to travel to Sri Lan"a, the /+*,s move also does not appear to have paid dividends. $he 3ritish Government,s position has hardened. 1t remains to be seen how the new approach will wor". 1ssues before the !H&' are not the only sub.ect to draw the Government,s attention this wee". $here were other issues too. Bear %ive scholarship /ducation *inister 3andula Gunawardena,s public announcements that he would do away with Bear %ive scholarship examination from :;4G drew a lot of fla" at the ministerial meeting on %riday. *inister Wimal Weerawansa, "nown to often voice the views of the P%+ leadership, lashed out at *inister Gunawardena for ma"ing a public announcement even before ministers too" a decision on the matter. + day ahead of the meeting too, Weerawansa publicly berated the /ducation *inister for announcing, without referring the matter to the 'abinet. Gunawardena,s explanation was that the !ational /ducation 'ommission (!/') had made a recommendation and he was only announcing that decision. +s on previous occasions, Gunawardena found there was no ministerial colleague to defend him. $hey were all heaping strong criticism on him for unilaterally ma"ing an announcement that brought the Government to ridicule. 1t also drew bitter response from the 8athi"a Hela rumaya (8H ). 1ts Western Provincial 'ouncil *inister daya Gammanpila challenged *inister Gunawardena for a public debate but the minister did not respond. -n the other hand, Gunawardena said some of his colleagues wanted to ridicule him. $he Bear %ive scholarship examination in rural schools is intended to ma"e successful students eligible for admission to national schools in the country. President &a.apa"sa, the master of public relations when it comes to critical or controversial matters, intervened to rule on the issue and shower some praise on Gunawardena. He noted that the *inister need not have made the announcement but praised him for the many worthy things he had done in the education sector. He said that the !/' recommendations could be loo"ed at in :;4< and an appropriate decision ta"en. He said that even if the !/' had made the recommendation, ministers would have to ma"e a decision for it to become effective. >&ecent examination results showed that students in rural schools have fared better than those in some of the leading schools in 'olombo,? declared &a.apa"sa. He said that with the introduction of technology as a sub.ect, there would be more improvements soon. President &a.apa"sa said that *edia *inister 2eheliya &ambu"wella should be as"ed to announce at his regular media briefing after the meeting of ministers

that the 'abinet had not ta"en a decision to scrap the Bear %ive Scholarship scheme. >1f you decide to do that, he will ridicule me. He will place the blame on me,? complained *inister Gunawardena. &a.apa"sa then advised the /ducation *inister also to be present at the media briefing and state his case. However, he did not turn up. Government spo"esperson *inister &ambu"wella admitted that the announcement (by *inister Gunawardena) had created a huge uproar among parents and students. He asserted that the Bear %ive Scholarship scheme would not be scrapped. 3udget defeats +nother issue that has become a cause for concern for the Government is the continuing defeat of budgets at local councils. 1n the vast ma.ority of these councils, internal issues have been the cause. 1n a Pradeshiya Sabha near 'olombo the budget was twice defeated. 1t has transpired that the 'hairman of this local authority had given all the contracts for development wor" to his son and his brother. Similarly, in most of the local authorities the monopoly by the heads had led to anger among other members and even party organisers who are enraged they are unable to ma"e a @uic" buc". 'orruption has reached unprecedented levels in the local authorities. 1n a *unicipal 'ouncil near 'olombo, a resident was as"ed to cough out &s. <;;,;;; to be issued a 'ertificate of 'onformity after he had completed his luxury house. $he owner used political influence to get the certificate, at no cost. 1n a bid to avoid wor" of the local authorities being crippled, the Government has as"ed Provincial 'ouncils, which have over#riding authority over the local councils to introduce regulations. $hese were promulgated by respective 'hief *inisters and Ga=etted this wee". $he regulations said9 >Wherein action has not been ta"en as per provisions of the Local Government +uthorities /lections (+mendment) +ct, !o :: of :;4: to fill the 'hairman,s -ffice that has become vacant or when a 'hairman newly appointed to the vacant position re@uires to present a proposal to the council in relation to adoption of a budget document for :;45, however, lac"s the minimum days to present such proposal to the council compliance to the written law relevant to that, in such case, it is legal to execute certain budget document prepared for year :;45 by the said Pradeshiya Sabha under the approval of the +ssistant 'ommissioner of Local Government of the district where the relevant Pradeshiya Sabha is located.? P' elections +gainst this bac"drop, President &a.apa"sa also chaired a meeting of leaders of all P%+ partners at A$emple $rees, on %riday evening. -ne of the "ey sub.ects of discussion was the upcoming Western and Southern Provincial 'ouncil elections. &a.apa"sa wanted to "now the position of the partners, whether they would be contesting under the P%+ banner or individually. Leaders of three

parties said they would field candidates under their own party name. $hey are the 'eylon Wor"ers 'ongress, the Sri Lan"a *uslim 'ongress and the +ll 'eylon *uslim 'ongress (+'*' is led by *inister &ishad 3athiuddin). &a.apa"sa was strongly critical about the SL*' going it alone at the September :;4C !orthern Provincial 'ouncil (!'P') elections. P%+ General Secretary Susil Prema.ayantha said there was no harm in going their way in the P' polls. He was of the view that it would not .eopardise the P%+ chances. *inister Ha"eem was heard telling his ministerial colleagues on %riday that the SL*',s decision to go it alone for the P' polls was ta"en by the party,s high command. He was to remar" that his party would fully bac" the P%+ at a presidential or parliamentary election. *inister Wimal Weerawansa raised issue over Police arresting haw"ers during the festive season for not having the re@uired authorisation to sell their wares along the roadside from 'olombo to *oratuwa. He charged that over=ealous police officers harassed these haw"ers who were e"ing out a living by selling whatever they could. $he complaint prompted &a.apa"sa to spea" to Police 'hief !.2. 1llanga"oon and direct him that such harassment should stop. !P crisis continues %or the main opposition nited !ational Party ( !P), the troubles seem to be not over altogether. -ne of its seniors and a member of the Leadership 'ouncil, 'olombo 0istrict parliamentarian &avi 2arunanaya"e has ta"en a swipe against the leadership publicly. 1n an interview with our sister newspaper 1rida Lan"adeepa he has charged that the party,s leadership lac"ed >a bac"bone.? Here is the relevant D H +9 D9 Sa.ith (Premadasa) says as three of his demands were not met, he did not agree to the Leadership 'ouncilI +9 What demandsI 1s this the time to place demandsI 1 am not sure why leader &anil Wic"remesinghe spea"s only to Sa.ith and 2aru (8ayasuriya). $hey messed up on what they spo"e. We can,t help that. 0o not bring those things to the party. 1t was the mon"s who dedicated themselves. $hey created a climate where all persons could be brought together. $hey created a situation which was not anticipated. $hat was a benefit to the country. 1 appreciate the service done by them. $hose cry babies who pric" their own eyes and start crying are betraying the party. 1t should stop even now. $here should be a bac"bone to stop these things. 1f there is a problem come to the party and discuss it. We can resolve it. Such @uestions have been discussed at the Wor"ing 'ommittee. $hose @uestions should be discussed within the party and not with rag sheets to sling mud. We have been watching for the last five to six years, they are trying to destroy the party. 1 am not telling these with personal vengeance, but because of the love of

the party. What they are doing is a government contract. D9 Bou earlier mentioned that persons in the party do not have a bac"bone. 1s that valid for !P leader &anil Wic"remesinghe as wellI +9 Bes, Bes. 1t is valid for the leader as well. 1 am not trying to protect any one. 1 am wor"ing on behalf of the party. 1t is because the leader did not control things earlier now harsher methods have to be used. $hat is because there was no bac"bone. 1 say that without fear. $here is no use of pacifying anybody. We are not henchmen of any person. Some tried to pro.ect us as &anil,s henchmen. 1 was the main target of this attac". ntil recently 1 did not have a position in the party.? However, the !P Leadership 'ouncil has already embar"ed on a programme to strengthen the party,s grassroots level machinery. -pposition Leader Wic"remesinghe told the Sunday $imes, >-ur plan of action this year is the resolutions we adopted at our annual convention on 0ecember :4. We will ta"e to the streets and protest against this corrupt Government which has heaped so many hardships on the people.? $he full text of the resolution appeared in the Sunday $imes (Political 'ommentary) of 0ecember 4<. %or President &a.apa"sa and the P%+, the upcoming Western and Southern Provincial 'ouncil elections will be the litmus test of public support, particularly after the latest budget forced a further spiral in living costs. $his is whilst mounting corruption and deteriorating law#and#order situation have become added woes. *ending and doing patch wor" on whatever remains of the country,s foreign policy, a leaderless, lac"lustre /xternal +ffairs *inistry and ineffective diplomatic missions overseas will no doubt be a test of strength for the Government this new year. 1n the hyperactive mode, it will no longer be possible to blame others or paint all of them Ablac",. $hat will not produce results, not even domestically.