UN condemns anti-Muslim attacks in Sri Lanka
The UN’s political chief on Sunday condemned anti-Muslim violence that has targeted mosques and businesses in Sri Lanka as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the island-nation.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman urged the government to bring the perpetrators of the violence and hate speech to justice.
Feltman, who met with Muslim leaders to show solidarity during his visit, “condemned the breakdown in law and order and the attacks against Muslims and their property,” a UN statement said.
Feltman “urged swift and full implementation of the government’s commitment to bring the perpetrators of the violence and hate speech to justice, to take measures to prevent recurrence, and to enforce non-discriminatory rule of law.”
President Maithripala Sirisena announced Saturday that he will appoint a three-member panel of retired judges to investigate the unrest.
A curfew was lifted in the central district of Kandy, the epicentre of the violence, but soldiers remained on the streets.
Feltman met with Sirisena, the prime minister, civil society and human rights representatives during the three-day visit that was scheduled before the outbreak of violence.
The envoy expressed hope that an office of missing persons will be set up soon to determine the fate of those unaccounted for from the brutal 25-year war against Tamil Tiger rebels.
“He expressed concern that many elements of the government’s visionary 2015 program seem stalled, despite their importance to sustainable peace, security and prosperity in Sri Lanka,” said the statement.
Feltman said he received assurances from government leaders that they are moving forward with democratic reforms.
(Source: AFP)
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This is fantastic; An excellent comment by a top UN Diplomat!
With the 2015 UNRC resolution coming up for discussion later this month, direct UN intervention including a plebiscite on self determination for minorities appears to be likely in the next few months during the tail end of the Yahapalana regime.
We are thankful to the Sinhala-Buddhist rabble-rousers for keeping the ‘paraya’ state flag flying !!
having worked for a un agency iam familiar with as to how these appointments are appointed! It is fact that sirisena himself was nominated for a UN posting….IMAGINE!
Incumbent sec general one time prime minister of portugal probably a failed state in 2011 received a 78 billion euro bail to keep it going. Portuguese contribution to the UNDP core budget $50,000 probably from loans. The UN is better off if the management of the UNDP be handed over to a multinational yeam rather than nominated and elected by its corrupt assembly.
Having said that the UNHRC operation is nothing to steer away more than a comic opera. It took the GOSL 30 years to deal with the terror problem and it will yake another generation to come to terms with with the UNHRC. GOSL is better off nominate the resident representative in geneva for the outcome is going to be just as obvious
Meanwhile the GOSL should tel the res rep UNDP in no uncertain terms to steer away from internal affairs and respect its soveriegnity
Confronting the UN and labelling its officers (without evidence) as corrupt will not get us anywhere.
Only an idiot leader (like the one in the US) will adopt a confrontational approach in the current world order.
Even the leader of the US is now changing with the a meet proposed with the Korean antagonist.
The THEME of the CURRENT WORLD is WORKING TOGETHER.
We should learn to respect people, LISTEN to their viewpoint and then put forward an effective argument to convey our stand.
Mr Thuleepan Somasundaram,
if you want to live in a dream world of foreign assistance in creating your Ealaam dream, please do so.
Only advise I can give you is that you are wasting your life.
If you want to be a citizen of united Sri Lanka (as said by TNA Leaders), respect the rights of the Sinhala Buddhist majority and learn to accept your status as a minority citizen, then you can lead a life which befits your status.
If you keep crying for ‘False Justice’ in international forums (like the UNHRC), we, the Sinhala Buddhist majority citizens and rulers of this beautiful land, will ensure that your community is demolished and remnants transported to where you originally came from across the seas.
I condemn condemning anti-muslim attacks which do not mean I accept these attacks.
Muslim people are also responsible for these communal riots.
Niqab and veiling face have been banned in many countries in the world including France, Germany, Belgium etc. but not in Sri Lanka yet. There have been many terrorist groups all over the world based on Islamic fundamentalism. They ISIS, Taliban, and so on. Muslim people develop fights with other parties everywhere Myanmar and Pakistan the clashes between two Muslim chapters.
Therefore, you should not discuss the results without reasons for those.
Basnayake,
You are a Sinhala Buddhist extremist.
You are quoting misguided Suddhas in Europe and America who hate Moslems because they are richer than the Suddhas and control world economy through the jews.
Basanayake, if you want to be as blind as Gnanasara, Wickremasinghe, Sillysena and Rajapaksa, you are free to be so.
Why you call Ghanasara ?. He is venarable Ghansara thero.
You could be an extreme Muslim appearing in Sinhala name.
Friend you come to easy conclusions in your account above. You read the comments made by civilians for yahoo news of UN condemning Sinhala Muslim riots.
I love muslims. some of them have helped me. But problem is always with their practice in some cases. Do you agree with teen marrages and veiling face ?
Basanayake,
Eardley Piyawardane has insulted the Ven Galgoda Atthe Gnanasara Himi.
Ven Gnanasara Thero is the spiritual leader of the Sinhala Buddhists in Sri Lanka and has provided leadership to the Sinhala Buddhist population and the rest of Sri Lankans following the physical and psychological damage caused by the Tamil Tiger war over 30 years.
Ven Galgoda Atthe Gnanasara Himi is a national hero not only for Sinhala Buddhists but for all communities including Tamil, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Cathoilic peoples and others.
Dear Fadel,
Dear Muslim Brother,
I admire your views on Gnanasara Thero with all my heart.
You are a SL Patriot; you love the country with all your heart.
Keep it up Brother, we will live long, together.
this is the only means throuh which we can bring about reconciliation and through vituperative polemics by the likes of half wits like rajitha who ought to to be strung from the nearest lamp post