U.S. State Department threatens Sri Lanka could face ‘global probe’ that ‘they say don’t want’
Daya Gamage – Asian Tribune Foreign News Desk
Washington, DC. 10 August (Asiantribune.com):
Earlier the U.S. State Department wanted Sri Lanka to undertake a ‘credible domestic investigation’ to the alleged violations of the international humanitarian law (IHL). At August 8 media briefing the State Department changing its position to a more specific policy plank made Sri Lanka known that the U.S. is all for the execution of ‘international mechanism’ to investigate the alleged human rights abuses.
The following day, August 9, the State Department declared that Sri Lanka may have to face an international scrutiny ‘exactly the kind of international action that Sri Lankans say they don’t want.”
The United States has been giving these wild threats in a continuous basis through its State Department spokesperson to twist the arm of Sri Lanka.
This is how the dialogue went on August 9 at the State Department press briefing, spokesperson Victoria Nuland making remarks on behalf of the US Department of State.
Begin Quote: Question: Continuing on your lead about the U.S. giving the lead, in an interview with Headlines Today, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Rajapaksa rejected calls from the UN, U.S., and international communities for a neutral international investigation into the war crimes. And the top Sri Lankan diplomat today reiterated his stand. So what is the latest from the U.S. for these people who are homeless and in the camps?
Ms. Nuland: Well, we have said repeatedly for a long time that we support a full and credible and independent investigation of alleged violations of international human rights and law and international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka.
We want to see the Sri Lankans do this themselves in a way that meets international standards. So what I would say to Sri Lankan critics is take your responsibility and mount an investigation that meets international standards. And we continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to do just that and to do it quickly. And we hope Sri Lankans will do thise themselves. But if they do not, there’s going to be growing pressure from the international community for exactly the kind of international action that Sri Lankans say they don’t want.
Question: On the same subject, during her visit last month, Secretary Clinton spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and said, to quote, “that the U.S. is looking at innovative and creative ideas,” unquote, to break the impasse, which is going on for people living in the camps and not able to go back home. Can you update us on this innovative and creative ideas of the State Department?
Ms. Nuland: I’m not prepared today to go further than the Secretary went during her trip. But again, if Sri Lankans want to take their responsibility to solve these issues themselves, then they need to do it and they need to do it quickly. (End Quote)
On the issue of Tamil refugee settlement a State Department media note made the following reference based on a media briefing on July 20 a couple of days before the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left for India.
(Begin Quote) The United States said on Wednesday noting that Sri Lanka has resettled almost all of the 300,000 people displaced at the end of the war in May 2009 with only about 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are remaining to be resettled, said the Sri Lankan government's record on resettlement "has been good".
A senior State Department official at a background briefing on India in Chennai on Wednesday said one of the issues the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would discuss with the Tamil Nadu officials during her visit to India would be the reconciliation process of Sri Lanka. (End Quote)
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
All western powers should
All western powers should understand that Sri Lankans are fighting for their basic rights to have an undivided country, and the human right to live in peace with all. If ever there is a worthy Human Right, it is the right to live in peace with all. Sri Lanka is a small island nation and is a Non-aligned country. Please don't push us over the brink to take sides. We do not want to do that, so don't push us !
US Statements are linked to President's visits to China
This statement and the latest by US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland. who has reportedly said "“We would like the Sri Lankan Government to take it’s responsibility and establish the kind of accountable system that its people can have confidence in, and if that does not happen and does not happen expeditiously, then we reserve the right to discuss international mechanisms. She also said “I’m not going to set artificial timelines from this podium, but we understand the frustration and the concern of Sri Lankan people,”
It is not coincidental that the State department raises the temperature every time Sri Lankan President talks to Chinese leaders and they affirm ongoing support to Sri Lanka.
The US unfortunately has adopted a very short sighted strategy on Sri Lanka and Hilary Clinton and President Obama are not being advised well by Robert Blake who is the point man on Sri Lanka in the State department.
The threats they make will only drive Sri Lanka even closer to China and Russia, and it wont be surprising if Sri Lanka offers even military facilities to China very soon as a risk management strategy to ward off a possible military threat from the US, directly or via India.
The US has now come up with something they didn't mention earlier, that Sri Lankan people are frustrated with its own mechanism (the LLRC), does not have confidence in it, and Sri Lankans are concerned about it. If this lady is referring to the Tamil Diaspora when she says "Sri Lankans", then it is quite clear where she and Robert Blake are getting their instructions from. As far as those living in Sri Lanka and the overwhelming majority of Sinhala and Muslim people living overseas, there is no frustration, no concerns and they are all eagerly awaiting the LLRC report, as they all like to give it an opportunity to complete their investigation and submit their report. There may be concerns, frustration and drop in confidence if the LLRC report is not thorough, impartial and comprehensive. It cannot be a white wash if there is evidence of credible instances of deliberate human rights violations by Sri Lankan authorities.
Material given by the LTTE and sections of the Tamil Diaspora to Channel4 and the State department does not constitute credible instances of deliberate human rights violations by the Sri Lankan authorities. The Sri Lankan defense department video "Lies Agreed Upon" has clearly debunked all what was presented in the Channel4 video.
We cannot trust you - go and get treatment !
We live in a corrupt era where money can easily change the minds of any human. If you have a lot of money and if you know the art, you can control the media, governments, etc. There are known proofs.
Why Sri Lanka only? Why they did not bother when LTTE did killings for 30 years. America, having a lot of blood in its own hand, constantly, unfairly, asking Lanka to come clean !
It looks like LTTE , thorough the money it earned in dirty ways, have the ability to conduct 'operations' by 'recruiting' people in appropriate positions.
Ok, my old friend America. We do not ask you to come clean ( because you do not listen :). But still, we are ready to come clean under one condition.
First remove all LTTE infiltrations into your administrative machinery. It may be too late because it is like a cancer. You may not escape. But still we have power to forgive you.
Lets move forward Lankans !
Sri Lanka does not need advice from USA
Sri Lanka does not need advice from USA and the fake "international community" of a few old imperialist western powers. People of Sri Lanka neither seek advice nor care for advice of USA who has committed many war crimes around the world, yet hiding them under classified label. USA shall respect the democratic will of the overwhelming Sri Lankan majority and our own ways of solving problems. Most importantly, the people of Sri Lanka except for LTTE terrorists has not asked US State Department to get involved in any internal matter of Sri Lanka. US State Department scumbags can simply go home and learn flying kites in their work hours rather than helping LTTE terrorists.