UNSG proposal on advisory panel, an infringement on Lanka’s sovereignty: Rohitha Bogollagama

Sri Lanka reiterates its position that the proposed move by the UN Secretary General to appoint a Panel of Experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to Sri Lanka is an infringement on the sovereignty of an independent Member State, Minister for Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama has said today.

“These issues can be dealt with by Sri Lanka that already has full-fledged local mechanisms like the judiciary, commissions of inquiry to undertake such inquiries,” he said addressing the media persons.

Further, the situation in Sri Lanka is not on the agenda of either the Security Council or the General Assembly or its subsidiary body, the Human Rights Council. Therefore, this proposed measure can only be construed as an “intrusive unilateral initiative” by the UN Secretary General, he pointed out.

Recognizing these clear violations (attempt to violate the UN Charter and interfere in the internal affairs of a Member State), the Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of the 118 Member Non-Aligned Movement unequivocally expressed the Group’s concern on the announced intention to appoint a Panel of Experts by the UNSG to advice him on accountability issues relating to Sri Lanka, he said.

The Minister further said that the NAM letter was based on the principled positions of the Movement as contained in the Sharm El Sheikh Final Document adopted by the 15thNAM Summit, vis-à-vis respect for national sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs of States, impartiality, non-selectivity and transparency in addressing human rights issues.

“Hence, what should underline the thinking of the UN is the necessity to provide the Government with the space needed to establish a domestic mechanism to look into such issues with national reconciliation as the guiding principle. The President had assured the UN SG in the telephone conversation on this issue that such a domestic mechanism would be established,” he said.

Channel 4 issues

Talking on Channel 4 issues, Mr. Bogollagama regretted the Channel’s continued engagement in partial and subjective reporting on events related to Sri Lanka. Having found common cause with those diaspora elements of the LTTE and others inimical to Sri Lanka’s national interests, Channel 4 has been faithfully answering the call by keeping the focus on Sri Lanka negative and vindictive.

Countering Channel 4 News Report on General Sarath Fonseka, the Minister said his arrest was well within the law of the country. The Supreme Court had issued notices to the respondents when the petition filed by the spouse of General Fonseka challenging the legality of the arrest in a fundamental rights application on February 23 and the application for the bail has also been refused by the Supreme Court, he said.

Lankan delegation to Brussels

On the visit of Sri Lanka delegation for discussion on GSP+ issue, the Foreign Minister said the delegation comprised senior officials of the Government-- the Attorney General, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance & Planning, the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice & Law Reforms and the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-- who undertook an official visit to Brussels from March 14 to 18 on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly engaged with the international community, including with Sri Lanka’s key trade and economic partners.

The delegation on March 15 met with the European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. This meeting was followed by an in-depth and substantive discussion on GSP+ related concerns with the officials handling Trade and External Relations matters in the Commission.

“During discussions, the delegation pointed out that Sri Lanka has a long-standing democratic tradition. It is therefore inevitable that with the end of the extraordinary situation of terror faced by Sri Lanka for almost three decades, there would now follow a progressive return to normalcy, accompanied by on-going efforts towards the further strengthening of good governance, while having regard to transitional law enforcement and security challenges. This return to normalcy in turn provides a necessary basis for a continuing engagement with the European Union. The delegation observed that there has already been significant progress on several areas such as the re-settlement of the Internally Displaced and the rehabilitation of former child soldiers.”

The delegation also met with the Director General of ECHO, the Humanitarian Aid arm of the European Commission, Dr. Peter Zangl. In a meeting with the Director General for External and Politico-Military Affairs of the European Council Robert Cooper, the delegation underlined the importance Sri Lanka attaches to widening and deepening her ties with the European Union.

The delegation has also met with the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator of the Council of the European Union Gilles De Kerchove, the President of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and former High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN Louise Arbour, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The European Parliamentarians have been strongly supportive of Sri Lanka Government’s efforts to retain the GSP+ facility.

The Chairman of the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ group and longstanding member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Geoffrey Van Orden, in a letter addressed to 27 Ambassadors of Member States of the EU, called on the EU countries to “take account of the wider situation and improvements on the ground” in deciding on the GSP+ issue in relation to Sri Lanka, the Minister said.

“ I wish to reiterate that the GOSL has adopted a consistent policy of engagement with the EU on the GSP+ issue with a view to retaining it, in a manner respectful of our national interest. In this regard, I have always emphasized that Sri Lanka should maintain a consistent dialogue with the EU on issues of concern. This visit is a reflection of the consistency of this policy. It is my firm belief that the amicable settlement of differences is in the best interest of both parties,” he said.

On release of hijacked Lankan crew members

When the Saudi Arabian vessel ‘MV Al Nasr Al Saudi’ was hijacked with 13 Sri Lankan crew members by pirates on the Somalia coast on March 1, the Minister said he immediately called for a report from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah and requested the Missions to obtain all details pertaining to the crew members and extend all possible assistance to ensure their welfare and expedite their release.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh took prompt action and contacted the Saudi Navel authorities and other connected organizations. The Consul General in Jeddah has also held a series of meetings with the General Manager of the company which owns this ship, he said.

Following these meetings, the General Manager of the shipping company had stated that the family members of the thirteen Sri Lankan crew members had been apprised of the incident through their local representative in Sri Lanka, M/S. Viththy Marine in Colombo, including the actions being taken by the shipping company to secure the release of the crew, he said.

In addition, the Captain of the vessel had also spoken with the Company officials and had informed that since all the crew members were on board the vessels, they had all necessary basic facilities and that they were in good health. On the request of our Consulate, the company had also made arrangements to credit talk time through a satellite phone to enable the crew members to speak to their families in Sri Lanka. The company had also handed over the salary dues of the Sri Lankan crew for the past two months to our Consulate in Jeddah to be sent to their families in Sri Lanka, the Minister said.

Currently the company is awaiting the arrival of a professional negotiating team from UK to arrive in Jeddah in order to commence negotiations with the pirates following their demand for US$20Million as ransom for the ship and the crew. “I have instructed our Consulate in Jeddah to liaise with the company and ensure that all necessary action is taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the crew and expedite their release. I have also instructed the Consular Affairs Division of this Ministry to assist the families of the crew and provide then with information on this matter on a regular basis,” he said.

- Asian Tribune -