GTF questions credibility of Sri Lankan commissions, pushes for Geneva solution

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) spokesperson Suren Surendiran said that the Tamil community did not believe in commissions appointed by the government of Sri Lanka to address post-war reconciliation issues. In an interview with the BBC Sinhala service, Surendiran said that the Tamil community expected the UNHRC to address their grievances.

(BBC) Sri Lanka is facing a new UN resolution calling on it to hold human rights abusers to account and deliver justice to victims of its 26-year civil war. Britain and others have circulated a draft of the resolution among UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) member states. It is expected to be adopted at the end of the four-week UNHRC spring session in Geneva.

Is this a progressive step?

(GTF) There have been seven resolutions passed since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The last three of the seven were passed as consensus resolutions, which the Sri Lankan State co-sponsored, meaning, willingly accepted and agreed to take corrective measures. All these resolutions (not just the last 3) highlighted human rights failings, discriminatory practices, laws that are incompatible with international standards and best practices, weakening of democracy and governance and above all alleged breaches of international laws including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Whether there are resolutions passed or not, unless these are fixed and/or willingness to fix is shown and progress has been shown in fixing, (1) victims and victim communities will continue to suffer, (2) achieving political stability becomes a near impossibility as if you don’t serve justice to victims, the conflict will continue (3) internationally, Sri Lanka will continue to be isolated (4) foreign and even local investors will be reluctant to invest (5) economy will suffer (6) will result in shortages of goods and services, price hikes and unemployment.

If the Government of Sri Lanka agrees to fix these identified issues, for the sake of all people of Sri Lanka, the UN and the international community will help to get these fixed and most of the above listed repercussions will be by and large eliminated or the impact reduced.

Instead of dealing with these issues like any mature progressive country will and should, the government of Sri Lanka creates a false narrative that these resolutions are undermining the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and that the international community, especially the powerful western countries are undermining Sri Lanka and her people and their war heroes. Government of Sri Lanka falsely claims that these resolutions are against Sri Lanka and her people.

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a body created by all countries who are members of the United Nations, including Sri Lanka for the purpose of creating a peaceful and harmless world where human rights of all people will be respected.

(BBC)

Lord Ahmad said the resolution was a vital step towards reconciliation and peaceful relations among all of Sri Lanka’s diverse communities and faith groups. Do you agree?

(GTF)

Indeed!

(BBC)

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has also set up a three-member commission to look into this matter. Why can’t they bring the justice through an internal process?

(GTF)

There have been at least 3 separate commissions set up internally since the end of the war. This is another one which is being set up literally four weeks before the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights submitted her findings and recommendations at the 46th session of the UNHRC. This “Commission” is set up to review recommendations made by the previous commissions without a mandate to address the key issues identified in the resolutions passed by the UNHRC. When such farcical and sham “commissions” are set up, which reasonable thinking body of countries will accept?

I do not envy the current President’s and Prime Minister’s positions as they held command responsibility for some of the alleged heinous crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity that were committed, how can they be expected to set up a just mechanism to serve justice to the victims?

(BBC)

The war ended nearly 12 years ago. Communities seem to have grown even a far apart. What is your suggestion for reconciliation?

(GTF)

All people of Sri Lanka should be told the truth of the past with evidence. Majority of the Sri Lankans are reasonable people and if a transparent process was set up to explain for all people to understand how dealing with the past, introducing permanent solutions will enable creating a peaceful and mutually respectful society and that in turn will create a peaceful and prosperous country, I believe permanent reconciliation between communities can be achieved for all to live as equals.

(BBC)

Does the GTF do economic and social related programs? Is the GTF involved in political organizing, both from civil society and political parties, in the North and the East of Sri Lanka?

(GTF)

GTF doesn’t directly involve in politics in Sri Lanka. We work very closely with the elected members of our community and others. We engage with civil society organisations and representatives from a cross section of all communities in Sri Lanka and reflect the ground reality in Sri Lanka to overseas stakeholders. On social programs, Canadian Tamil Congress, one of our member organisations, recently delivered food parcels and essential items to Covid-19 affected communities. In July 2017 GTF sent several medical professionals to the South of Sri Lanka including Galle and Matara where we served floods affected Sinhala communities in partnership with Sarvodaya Movement. The then Yahapalanaya government welcomed this effort as an initial step of trust building between communities.