Friday, 14 February 2014 00:58
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Warns that Sri Lanka stands on the razor’s edge of devastating international action
Human rights is not alien concept to Sri Lankan people, says main opposition
The main opposition United National Party has warned that the tactics of the Rajapaksa administration has brought the country to the precipice of what it called devastating international action and pledged its full support if the Government would agree to undertake a credible domestic investigation.
The UNP called on the Government to launch an internal inquiry into allegations about the final phase of the war and into LTTE atrocities.
“If the findings of such an investigation reveal that guilt can be attributed, we call on the Government to prosecute any persons who may have been a member of the LTTE at a senior level and ensure they are held accountable for the crimes,” the UNP said, in a clear reference to top Government Ministers and representatives holding positions within the ruling coalition.
“After years of insisting that the Sri Lankan Government carryout a credible internal investigation into the alleged human rights violations, especially in the final phase of the war, the international community seems poised to demand an international investigation. This is a situation which could have been easily avoided,” in a scathing statement about the Government’s poor handling of a major foreign policy crisis.
The UNP said it was President Rajapaksa himself who had pledged to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in May 2009 that he will undertake an internal investigation to look into the alleged incidents in the last phase of the war.
“A mature state does not engage in blanket denial when allegations and aspersions are cast at it. It listens to those accusations, reflects introspectively, and attempts to set the record right as much for its own people, as for international consumption,” the statement said.
“Human rights is not an alien concept for the people of this country, the UNP said, adding that it was in the citizens’ interest that the Government protects inalienable rights.
“How is it an act of treason to demand answers about which of our citizens are buried in those gravesites? Is it an unpatriotic act to ask the Government who killed them? Is it a conspiracy to demand that those responsible for the mass killings are brought to justice?” the UNP questioned.
The UNP said this was not a moment for partisanship. “It is a moment of national crisis. The UNP believes in a Sri Lanka that is unified, democratic and truly free. We have no interest in seeing our nation relegated to the lunatic fringe of the international community, disrespected and looked down upon because of our intractability and refusal to do what needs to be done,” the UNP charged.
