Stop preaching double standards - Presidential Advisor

COLOMBO: Reacting to media reports about moves being made to the United Nations by the New York based Human Rights Watch for the creation of an international monitoring mission in Sri Lanka Secretary-General of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) Nazeer Ahamed said he was surprised to hear of the 'manipulations' considering the fact President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Government was taking all necessary steps to stem the abuses which he said he felt were being made by certain vested interests to tarnish the image not only of the Nation but also of the President and his Government.

"At a time when the Government was making major inroads in its development work with the help of friendly nations like China and Pakistan and when President Rajapaksa was taking the fight to the LTTE quite successfully I find it rather curious that the various so-called international bodies should condemn the Government for nothing at all," said a bewildered Nazeer Ahamed, "I suspect a conspiracy here."

Ahamed added on the Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan issues the so-called international bodies have not even got close to getting a hearing from the UN. "But it looks like in Sri Lanka's case they seem to have a huge measure of success" with the international body.

This is perplexing to say the least." "If international bodies like HRW wish to be credible it's about time they focused their attentions on these issues before they dictate terms to us".

He added they must stop issuing puerile statements on major issues and they must stop preaching double standards."

He urged the international community and international human rights organisations to view the situation in Sri Lanka in its proper perspective and assist President Rajapaksa to eliminate terrorism and give not only Muslims and Sinhalese but especially the Tamils true and genuine freedom from terrorism.