The Island Features Tuesday 13th March, 2012 5 Western powers, NGOs Fisherman’s diesel subsidy want GoSL to welcome amended resolution Official calls new draft ‘Trojan horse’ coupons not honoured by BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO In the run-up to made by the US to possible vote on a US- compel to sponsored resolution accept its original targeting Sri Lanka draft. The US mission — Ranga Bandara towards the end of in went to the fuel stations current United extent of claiming Nations Human that Sri Lanka was were unprece- negotiating with it BY ZACKI JABBAR Rights Council dented and (UNHRC) sessions in regarding the resolu- The government has issued Masses not seen Geneva, the govern- GL tion. The US move diesel and kerosene subsidy were being in any ment is under heavy prompted External coupons to fisherman, but fuel part of pressure to accept an Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. stations do not honour them, repeatedly the amended version of the Peiris to call a meeting of UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara hoodwinked by world. much talked about US reso- all member states of the said yesterday. “If lution. UNHRC in Geneva and The 19th sessions of the reject the US claim. He told a ceremony organised the government elected by the UNP in , to pro- UNHRC, which commenced The government is of on daily to on February 27 will continue the opinion that it would be vide compensation to the family basis... power, till March 23. better to face a vote than of Chilaw fisherman Anthony the UNP Government sources told giving in to unreasonable Fernando who was killed and would The Island that those recipi- dictates of Western powers three of his colleagues who were empower the ents of foreign funds had bent on appeasing voters of injured, when the Special Task fishing commu- launched a fresh campaign Sri Lankan origin living in Force had allegedly fired at the nity as opposed to to convince the government their countries, sources fisher communities February 14, issuing bogus fuel subsidy of the need to agree to the said. 2012 demonstration in Chilaw coupons,” he said while observ- modified draft or face the Minister Peiris is now town, that fuel stations do not ing that the masses were being consequences. Sources said expected to leave for Geneva accept the coupons, since the gov- repeatedly hoodwinked by the that well funded NGOs were on Mar. 16 to spearhead Sri supporting the resolution Lanka’s efforts. He’ll be ernment was not reimbursing government, which was unable to them. moved by their paymasters. joined by President fulfill a host of elections pledges “They are campaigning in ’s spe- For the fuel stations to be that had been made. Colombo and Geneva,” a cial envoy on human rights, reimbursed the government Palitha Ranga Bandara MP, displaying diesel and kerosene subsidy coupons that The country’s fishing senior government official Minister Mahinda should make the necessary finan- had been issued to fisherman, which he said were not being honoured by fuel resources were being gradually said. Those involved in the Samarasinghe. Prof. Peiris cial allocations which it had stations due to the government not reimbursing them. sold to multinational companies campaign would make finan- yesterday returned from failed to do, Bandara said adding (Picture by Sujatha Jayarathne) and Sri Lankans would very soon cial gain at the expense of Saudi Arabia, where he that the coupons had been issued the country, he said. explained to the Saudi gov- a publicity stunt. folks protest of February 14, 2012 be left with only the crumbs, in the aftermath of the killing, to Ministerial sources told ernment measures taken by The UNP’s National Organiser was a spontaneous reaction Gamage observed. pacify the fisherman and also as The Island that in spite of Sri Lanka to address inter- Daya Gamage said that the fisher to the fuel price hikes, which Norwegian accusations that national human rights con- the government had pre- cerns. vented representatives of Meanwhile, Justice Colombo-based NGOs from Minister Rauf Hakeem is joining the Geneva sessions, expected to visit Kuwait on a several leading activists, special mission to brief that Six new including overall coordina- government. tor of CPA (Centre for Sources said that the gov- Policy Alternatives), Dr. ernment and its mission in envoys Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Geneva were in the process Ms Sunila Abeysekera and of consulting member states Ms Nimalka Fernando were of the UNHRC and other present in Geneva. interested parties regarding Sources said that fresh efforts to undermine Norway had raised the issue Sri Lanka’s position. credentials during a meeting between a Western powers had no Four new Ambassadors and two top level GoSL delegation option but to amend the High Commissioners presented cre- and those supporting the US draft, though retaining its dentials to President Mahinda move. right to intervene due to Rajapaksa at the Presidential The government still strong support received by Secretariat yesterday (March 12). believed that there was no Sri Lanka from many coun- They were: Mohamad Sharari El- reason for the US to move a tries as well as organiza- Bakheit El- Fayez – Ambassador of resolution at the behest of tions. The support extended the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, U the Tamil National Alliance by Non Aligned Movement, (TNA), which recognized the Organization of Islamic Myo Lwin – Ambassador of the LTTE as the sole representa- States as well as Russia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, tive of the Tamil speaking China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ioannis E Raptakis – Ambassador of people. Thailand, Egypt, the the Greek Republic, Poldej Worachat – The amended resolution Philippines prompted those The JVP-led All Ceylon Transport Workers’ Union launched a campaign to collect signatures of Ambassador of the Kingdom of was nothing but a Trojan backing the anti-Sri Lanka employees to a petition pressuring the government to increase the basic salary of SLTB workers to Thailand, Samuel K Mbambo – High horse, sources said, while move to change their strate- Rs. 11,730 from Rs 8,430 yesterday opposite the Transport Ministry in Colombo. Commissioner of the Republic of recalling the initial effort gy, they said. Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja Namibia and Robyn Mudie – High Commissioner of Australia. Lanka dismisses US move over alleged rights abuses Colombo, Mar 11 (PTI) Sri the military.“Thamilselvan’s Lanka today dismissed as and Soosai’s families are well Right to development should not be seen unfounded and unfair a US looked after. Their children move at the UN Human attend school. We even cared Rights Council in Geneva to for the parents of censure Colombo over alleged Prabakaran (former supremo crimes against humanity dur- of LTTE Velupillai – Ambassador Kunanayakam ing the final stages of the eth- Prabakaran),” Rajapaksa as divisive concept nic conflict. Gotabhaya said. Thamilselvan was the Rajapaksa, the powerful LTTE’s political commissar Defence Secretary, said the while Soosai was the leader The right to development should not be took place last year when the international the urgent need to make progress in the real- accusations of human rights of the LTTE’s feared sea seen as a divisive concept, but as the means by community commemorated the twenty-fifth ization of the right to development, to over- violations levelled by the Tigers. Prabakaran’s parents which the human person, individually and col- anniversary of the adoption of the United come the obstacles that stand in the way of international community is were provided military lectively, can become the principal actor of his Nations Declaration on the Right to this intrinsic right and to identify concrete unfounded and unfair. accommodation at the end of or her own destiny, said Ambassador Tamara Development. ways and means of putting into practice the Rajapaksa, the younger the conflict. Their families brother of the president were among tens of thou- Kunanayakam. “It was also a year when the world felt the commitments we undertook in adopting the Mahinda Rajapaksa who sands of civilians who Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, who is full force of the multiple global crises and its Declaration.” spearheaded the successful crossed over to the govern- the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka after-effects. I have on several occasions, Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam pre- military campaign against ment control areas from the Mission in Geneva, is also the Chairperson – affirmed the continued validity and modernity sented the Report of the 12th Session of the the LTTE, was addressing a LTTE territory as the war Rapporteur of the Inter-Governmental Open- of the right to development, a fortiori, in the United Nations Intergovernmental Open- gathering at a Buddhist tem- was drawing to a close. In an Ended Working Group on the Right to context of these economic, social, political, Ended Working Group on the Right to ple in the suburb of obvious reference to the US- Development. and ecological crisis – unprecedented in the Development yesterday at the 19th session of Maharagama. He cited the sponsored motion against Sri examples of families of two Lanka at the on going Human The 12th session of the Working Group history of humanity. It serves as a reminder of the UN Human Rights Conference in Geneva. senior LTTE members — SP Rights sessions in Geneva, Thamilselvan and Soosai — Rajapaksa called for unity to who are being cared for by face the international threat.

US presents... From page 1

Promoting reconciliation and accountability in tions of extra-judicial killings and enforced disap- accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Indian mission asked to Sri Lanka pearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, Lankans; Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, implement impartial land dispute mechanisms, 2. Requests the Government of Sri Lanka to take up alleged fishermen the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the reevaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehen- International Covenants on Human Rights and independent civil institutions, reach political set- sive action plan detailing the steps that the attack with SL other relevant instruments, tlement on the devolution of power to the Government has taken and will take to implement India has asked its mis- take up the issue with Sri Reaffirming that States must ensure that any provinces, promote and protect the right of free- the recommendations made in the Commission’s sion in Colombo to take up Lankan authorities con- the issue of 16 fishermen cerned, official spokesper- measure taken to combat terrorism complies with dom of expression for all and enact rule of law report, and also to address alleged violations of being allegedly injured by son in the Ministry told PTI. their obligations under international law, in par- reforms, international law; the Sri Lankan Navy with Indian media claims that ticular international human rights, refugee and Noting with concern that the report does not 3. Encourages the Office of the United Nations the authorities in Sri Lanka. Lankan naval personnel had humanitarian law, as applicable, adequately address serious allegations of viola- High Commissioner for Human Rights and rele- Sixteen fishermen from attacked the fishermen last Rameswaram were injured night with wooden logs, Taking note of the report of the Lessons tions of international law, vant special procedures mandate holders to pro- in an alleged mid-sea attack stones and bottles, resulting Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri 1. Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to vide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept , by Sri in bone fracture of a 25- Lanka and its findings and recommendations, and implement the constructive recommendations advice and technical assistance on implementing Lankan naval personnel year-old youth and injuries acknowledging its possible contribution to the made in the report of the Lessons Learnt the above mentioned steps, and requests the Office while fishing near the to others. International Maritime Meanwhile, an Indian process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Reconciliation Commission and to take all neces- of the High Commissioner to present a report on Boundary Line (IMBL) in Fisheries Department offi- Welcoming the constructive recommendations sary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal the provision of such assistance to the Human Palk Straits. cial described the attack as contained in the Commission report, including obligations and commitment to initiate credible Rights Council at its twenty-second session. India’s Ministry of a violation of human rights. the need to credibly investigate widespread allega- and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, External Affairs has asked (PTI) its mission in Colombo to