Sri Lanka protests screening of Channel 4 documentary in UN premises in Geneva : DIABOLICAL !
The Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in Geneva has made a formal protest against the screening of the latest Channel 4 documentary film “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” organized by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FIFDH at the Palais de Nations in Geneva on March 1, 2013.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Ambassador Remigiusz Achilles Henczel, President of the Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ravinatha Aryasinha said “Sri Lanka views this film, as well as the timing of its broadcast as part of a cynical, concerted and orchestrated campaign that is strategically driven, and clearly motivated by collateral political considerations”.
Noting that this is the screening of the third part of a much disputed film series by Channel 4, whose narrative remains discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated, he said such actions would clearly undermine the status of member states, the work of the Council and leave it vulnerable to politicization.
The Sri Lankan envoy also noted that it was the paramount duty of the Human Rights Council to ensure that NGOs are not facilitated in perpetrating unsubstantiated and politically motivated acts against member countries in any manner.
He further observed in the letter that at a time when Sri Lanka is vigorously pursuing a process of reconciliation following three decades of conflict inflicted by LTTE terrorism, it is disturbing to note the efforts on the part of entities based overseas with links to rump elements of the LTTE, as well as certain NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation, in facilitating such programmes containing unsubstantiated material that is morphed and diabolical. This approach not only provides members and observers of the Council with an extremely distorted and unbalanced view of Sri Lanka, but also serves to adversely impact the ongoing comprehensive reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.
It also serves to strengthen the rump elements of the LTTE seeking refuge in the West, who use the propaganda value derived from the screening of such films, as a tool to intensify their fund raising and recruitment activities, thereby undermining the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Noting that the failure of the Council to deal with such a situation would be perceived as a process that is encouraged by the Council which contravenes the governing principles of the UN Charter and the work of the Council within its stipulated mandate. Ambassador Aryasinha added that the use of one’s premises and the conduct of activities in such premises is a liability to be taken upon by the authority having control over such premises, and that clearly, any explanation that the use of premises once handed over to an organization that seeks to engage in such unwarranted activity cannot be a basis to relieve an institution from its responsibility over such activity. It said such conduct based on administrative convenience is unacceptable.
Ambassador Aryasinha requested the President of the Council to circulate its communication as an official document of the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council in all official languages, and also to keep the OHCHR Secretariat informed.
The letter further noted that ECOSOC Resolution No. 1996/31 of July 25, 1996 that stipulates the consultative relationship between the United Nations and NGOs provides at Paragraph 57(a) for the suspension and withdrawal of consultative status of NGOs, inter alia, specifically where such an organization either directly or through its affiliates or representatives acting on its behalf, clearly abuses its status by engaging in a pattern of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN including unsubstantiated or politically motivated acts against Member States of the UN incompatible with those purposes and principles.
Ambassador Aryasinha who recalled the founding principles of the Human Rights Council of ensuring impartiality and fair play upon which the Council was established and that governs the methods of work of the Council, observed that it is the paramount duty of the Human Rights Council to ensure that NGOs are not facilitated in perpetrating unsubstantiated and politically motivated acts against countries in the Council, in any manner. (Courtesy: Daily News)
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Mr.Ravinatha Ariyasinghe,
We wish you all the best for defending Sri Lanka on 1st of March in Geneva. But one thing I have to say, these guys including Mr President ans his thugs will never change their mindsets.
Dayaratne Bandara.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mr Aryasinghe has messed up Sri Lanka’s case on day 1 with this dumb protest about an unauthentic movie made by dreaming Ealamites.
We should just let that dumb movie which is yet to be tested, be shown to the dumb NGO’s. That would have clearly demonstrated the LTT rump’s agenda.
Mr Aryasinghe messed up our GSP extension when he was EU Representative; that has significant socio-economic impact as several hundred thousands have lost their jobs as a result of the GSP.
A sharp thinking President has sent super-patriot Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe in the last minute to look after our interests. That’s a brilliant move.
Mr Aryasinghe should go behind the scenes right away and not mess up things any further.
The rehabilitated LTT trained person and Cabinet Minister, Mr Devananda has said in Kachchathivu the authenticity of the Channel 4 movie will be verified by a high powered parliamentary committee. Why was this fact not communicated to Navi Pillay?
May be UNHCR can expel Sri Lanka and induce Channel 4 as it’s member. It seems Channel 4 is more important to UNHCR than Sri lanka as a member. Let them sleep together.
Mr. Banda, No one has to change as per your or anyone else’s wishes. I wonder whether you would like to change as per my wishes. The same way Obama and the thugs who are on a killing spree in Middle East also will not change as the rest of the world wish.
You may have a personal or political vendetta against MR, but that has to be treated as an internal family affair and it must not be used as a tool to kill Sri Lanka in international affairs. That is like trying to kill your mother because you have a disagreement with her.
Be patient, no country is perfect including so called United States. It’s citizens and little children are being gunned down by their own citizens in broad day light (over 30,000 per year) while the US government cannot do anything about it. This is just one example only. Black people in US are largely being discriminated and those areas are not political priorities for US government, even when the president is a black guy. Because he is under enormous pressure from the white thugs and goons around him. So, is it perfect? Can UN bring a R2P (Right to protect) principle against US government since it has failed to save it’s own citizens from the gun culture?
It will take time, just like you and me, MR is also not perfect. Just like with Obama and Cameron, MR also has thugs around him. There is no point in dreaming for a perfect world since there is no such thing. What is perfect to you is not perfect to me and vice-versa and it will keep going like that for ever.
In the mean time what the best you can do is to be grateful to the country that gave you free education, transport and food enabling you to go to middle east and earn a buck to save your family from hunger. Changing president from MR to another clown will not make the situation better. Not at all.
This international situation will only become better after the west divides Sri Lanka into 2 or 3 pieces. After that you may be able to sleep in peace without any hassles from UN or UNHCR!
Manjula says:
February 28, 2013 at 8:04 am
May be UNHCR can expel Sri Lanka and
“This international situation will only become better after the west divides Sri Lanka into 2 or 3 pieces. After that you may be able to sleep in peace without any hassles from UN or UNHCR!”
COMMENT: Very good points, but the strategy must be not to divide. US had a civil war for 5 years, Sri Lanka 30 years. So Sri Lanka need to fix the issue that lead to the war in the first place.
1. Separation of Church and State, like USA, France, Scandinavia, India etc. At least thee will not be any Monks running amok on Halal and other flimsy excuses.
2. Nationality Sri Lankan, nothing about race or religion.
Until, this happens, Sri Lanka can be a permanent member of UNHCR and get in the agenda more more frequently.
See
Hey Manjula,
Quote from your Blog 4 :
“Changing president from MR to another clown will not make the situation better.”
Does this mean MR is a clown too? Shame on you.