At forthcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

Politicians in Western countries backed by Tamil diaspora groups are exerting pressure on their respective governments to adopt a tougher line on Sri Lanka by introducing a new resolution on alleged human rights violations, at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions scheduled to be held in Geneva from February 22 to March 19, political observers in London warned.

The Tamil diaspora in other parts of Europe could possibly team up to pressure their governments to pursue this line of action for a firmer stand on Sri Lanka through a new resolution, they further cautioned.

“The Sri Lankan government should be well prepared to counter the possible new human rights allegations at the sessions”, they said in the backdrop of Siobhain McDonagh, Labour member of parliament for Mitcham and Morden urging the British government to bring a resolution that would maintain human rights monitoring by the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Speaking during the last week’s Global Britain Debate in the British parliament, she asked the UK government to use the UNHRC sessions to introduce a resolution that would mandate a mechanism to gather, preserve and analyze evidence for future investigations and prosecutions that build on the work of previous UN investigators.

She said the resolution should call upon the office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on options for international action for the promotion and protection of human rights, justice and accountability in Sri Lanka.

“The measure of success for global Britain comes not just in rhetoric but in the actions that we take on the international stage particularly in the face of international injustices. So, I use my time today to draw the minister’s attention to the situation in Sri Lanka and particularly to the vital upcoming UN Human Rights Council meeting”, she noted.

McDonagh said the challenges in Sri Lanka are well documented with its president and his brother, the prime minister, facing accusations of crimes against humanity for their role in killing thousands of their own people, Tamil civilians at the end of the civil war. They have placed their closest allies in senior government positions including military commanders accused of war crimes and politicians accused of corruption, violence and common criminality.

“I received thousands of emails from shocked and frightened members of the Tamil community following the destruction of the Mullavaikkal Tamil genocide memorial monument at the Jaffna University. It was an act that completely undermined the process of Truth, Justice and Accountability that would set Sri Lanka on a path to lasting peace”, she continued.

She further said: “It’s how the UK responds to the ongoing injustices in Sri Lanka and in support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law that would speak volumes for our leadership role on the international stage. The 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place in March. So, I ask the minister what preparations the government is making to ensure a new resolution is agreed on this issue?

“A resolution that would maintain human rights monitoring by the office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a resolution that would mandate a mechanism to gather, preserve and analyze evidence for future investigations and prosecutions that build on the work on previous UN investigators and a resolution that would call upon the office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on options for international action for the promotion and protection of human rights, justice and accountability in Sri Lanka.

“I urge the minister in the strongest terms to ensure that we use the unique opportunity that March provides to continue the global leadership we have previously demonstrated on this issue and show on the international stage that we are truly global Britain.

“While British parliamentarians put pressure on their government to bring a resolution against Sri Lanka at the upcoming UNHRC session, parliamentarians in Canada too are saying that the Sri Lankan army committed genocide. Canadian education minister Stephen Lecce, parliamentarians Natalia Kusendova, Kaleed Rasheed, Paul Calandra, Gurratan Singh, Doley Begum, Suze Morrison, Rima Berns-Mcgown and Mitzie Hunter said the perpetrators should be held accountable for the crimes committed and the Tamil survivors of the war deserve justice”.