U.S. reiterates ‘international mechanism’ will take effect to probe Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes

“We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to meet its international humanitarian law and international human rights law obligations, and we continue to say that if they cannot do this nationally, then the international community will have to step in.

So Bob Blake will be talking about all these issues on his visit” declared State Department spokesperson as Thursday 25 August mid day media briefing.

The spokesperson Victoria Nuland responded to a question raised by India Globe correspondent Raghubir Goyal.

Ms. Nuland revealed, as the Asian Tribune earlier report noted, that assistant secretary Robert Blake “will be talking about all these issues on his visit” to Colombo end of this month.

Mr. Goyal referring to Sri Lanka ambassador to Washington statement that none of the atrocities were committed by his government, spokesperson Nuland responded in saying that “We stand by the reporting that we (State Department) have done, and we call on Sri Lanka to have a transparent, open, and accountable process.”

In a letter to Mr. Goyal dated 19 August Ambassador Jaliya Wickremasuriya refuted the Indian journalist’s claims that Sri Lanka killed thousands of Tamils during its battle with the Tamil Tigers:

Mr. Wickremasuriya’s letter to Mr. Goyal said: “In another question at the State Department briefing, you have stated that atrocities were committed against “millions” of Tamil Sri Lankans by the government of President Rajapaksa. I assure you this is a horrendous falsehood.

“What President Rajapaksa and Sri Lankan government forces actually did was to rescue over 300,000 Tamil civilians who were being held hostage and human shields by the LTTE. By ending the conflict against the LTTE, President Rajapaksa has actually restored human rights to more than 20 million Sri Lankans of all ethnicities, and brought lasting peace to the country.”

Not responding to Sri Lanka ambassador’s letter and failing to commence a dialogue with him to clarify issues facing Sri Lanka and her Tamil population the India Globe correspondent Raghubir Goyal once again raised at August 25 State Department media briefing “Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S. has said, according to some press reports, that none of the atrocities were committed by his government in Sri Lanka. My question is: Do you agree with his remarks?

Because according to the film or the UN reports and human rights reports, Amnesty International, State Department reports all are wrong, then, what he’s saying. And what – finally, if they have requested in any way before Secretary’s visit to Sri Lanka for any assistance, also?”

In that open letter to Mr. Goyal, the Sri Lanka ambassador outlined the Sri Lanka’s operation to defeat the Tamil Tigers in this manner:

“Sri Lankan Government forces were fighting against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, and not the Tamil people. The LTTE, as you may know, was regarded by the FBI as one of the world’s most violent terrorist organizations and banned in the U.S. and many other nations. As you also know, the LTTE assassinated former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi, as well as a Sri Lankan president and a Sri Lankan foreign minister who was also Tamil, as well as thousands of civilians -- Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims and many others.

“In fact, the premise of your question is inaccurate. The Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, which was established by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following the conflict, has the full authority to investigate any wrong doing that may have occurred during that conflict. In fact, it is doing so right now. All of the testimony and statements taken by the LLRC are public, and can be found on the commission’s website (www.LLRC.lk). I encourage you to examine those statements; they are by no means pro-government. The commission is due to issue its report in November.”

Here is the complete media report of the issued raised by the India Globe correspondent and the response by spokesperson Victoria Nuland:

Begin Text

Question: (Goyal): For the first time in 20 years of civil war and when Sri Lanka got rid of the Usama bin Ladin of Sri Lanka, Prabhakaran, and now they have lifted emergency rules for the first time, and Assistant Secretary Robert Blake is going to Sri Lanka to visit. Now what I’m asking you is: Do you see or the U.S. sees any light at the end of the dark tunnel in Sri Lanka for the minorities?

Ms. Nuland: Well, thank you for that, Goyal. We do welcome the news that Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa has proposed to the parliament that the emergency laws be withdrawn, and we do see this as a positive step for the Sri Lankan people. It sets up a good visit for Assistant Secretary Blake, who will be talking to the – to a broad cross-section of Sri Lankans, both to the government and to human rights groups and NGOs, about all of these issues. He’ll meet with government officials, civil society representatives, university students, political leaders in Colombo, and he’s also going to Jaffna. We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to meet its international humanitarian law and international human rights law obligations, and we continue to say that if they cannot do this nationally, then the international community will have to step in. So Bob Blake will be talking about all these issues on his visit.

Question: (Goyal):: And one more thing: Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S. has said, according to some press reports, that none of the atrocities were committed by his government in Sri Lanka. My question is: Do you agree with his remarks? Because according to the film or the UN reports and human rights reports, Amnesty International, State Department reports all are wrong, then, what he’s saying. And what – finally, if they have requested in any way before Secretary’s visit to Sri Lanka for any assistance, also?

Ms. Nuland: We stand by the reporting that we have done, and we call on Sri Lanka to have a transparent, open, and accountable process. (End Text)

Here is an excellent Washington Post article of 2002 explaining the "foil" concept, and Raghubir Goyal is often used by the White House and State Department spokespersons to raise issues that those two American establishments wanted the world to know and send messages to nations.

(Begin Text): The flowering of the Enron bankruptcy scandal has reintroduced a strange animal to the White House briefing room: the press corps foil.

The use of foils, a technique popularized by Clinton press secretaries Mike McCurry and Joe Lockhart, involves the careful selection of questioners from among the many raised hands to steer the briefing in a direction the press secretary desires.

Want to change the subject to foreign affairs? Call on Raghubir Goyal of the India Globe (he'll ask about the perfidies of Pakistan), Jacobo Goldstein of CNN Radio Noticias (a Latin American question is likely) or Connie Lawn (a freelancer with particular interest in the Middle East). Had enough of foreign policy and wish to return to domestic matters? Choose Keith Koffler of Congress Daily (he follows the legislative process) or April Ryan of the American Urban Radio Network (she favors socioeconomic questions).

Last week, when press secretary Ari Fleischer was getting peppered with questions about Enron Corp. and its chief, Kenneth L. Lay, Fleischer turned to the Goyal Foil. "Goyal," Fleischer said as others shouted to get his attention. Fleischer said to the others: "We'll come back. We'll come -- we'll -- "

The press corps resisted. "Ari?" one called out. "Let me follow that, Ari -- "
"Hold on," the press secretary commanded. "Goyal, go ahead."

Goyal did his usual. "If I may go back to India and Pakistan. . .," he began.

On the day the White House first disclosed that administration officials had been approached by Enron about its financial troubles, most reporters had only one subject in mind. After a battery of tough Enron questions, Fleischer reached for Goyal as if for a life raft. "As far as the home minister of India's visit," Goyal began.

When others tried to jump in, the press secretary asked Goyal if he had a follow-up question. Goyal did, about Pakistani fighter planes. (End Text)