Government strikes correct balance between security and human rights
of individuals - G.L.
GENEVA: It was necessary to strike the correct balance between the
security of the state and the human rights of individuals and that in
this regard Sri Lanka has a proud record of cooperation with the
international community, Export Development and International Trade
Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said at a Seminar on ‘Internal Conflict,
Humanitarian Law and the International Community’ in Geneva, Switzerland
recently at the Palais des Nations.
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SEMINAR: Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and
International Trade addresses the seminar titled ‘Internal
Conflict, Humanitarian Law and the International Community’ in
Geneva. Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the
Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process, Yasantha
Kodagoda, Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney Generals
Department, and Dr. Dayan Jayatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva are also in the
picture. |
About 60 persons representing governments and other human
rights-related non-governmental organisations attended.
Professor Peiris outlined the open and constructive engagement of
successive governments in Sri Lanka with the international community and
the positive steps taken in striving to bring about a negotiated
settlement to the conflict.
Describing the current situation in Sri Lanka, he stressed that the
Government was not by any means adopting an isolationist position. On
the contrary it was sensitive to the concerns of the international
community and was continuing the dialogue that had always existed
between them.
Minister Peiris said a consensus exists in Sri Lanka that only a
negotiated political settlement that takes into account the aspirations
of all concerned will result in a complete settlement of the conflict.
He reminded the audience that there was regular dialogue between the
Government and the facilitator, Norway and the other Co-Chairs-the EU,
Japan and the USA.
Prof. Pieris explained that the engagement with the international
community is also reflected in the regular informal contacts with the
diplomatic community within the country.
He said that the basic principles of international humanitarian law
had been directly incorporated into the domestic legal system.
The Minister spoke of the more structured interaction with the
international community and civil society and outlined the role and
functions of several mechanisms that were proving to be very productive
in addressing the pressing humanitarian issues arising from the
conflict.
Prof. Pieris welcomed the forthcoming visits of the Special
Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, the UN High Commissioner of Human
Rights, Louise Arbour and the Special Representative of the Secretary
General for the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter
Kalin between October and December 2007.
He stated that the Government of Sri Lanka had acted on the reports
submitted by Ambassador Allan Rock, the Special Advisor to the United
Nations’ Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. It has
also appointed a high level committee to inquire into the allegations in
these reports.
In keeping with the UNHCR’s 2007 Report, he stressed that there was
no enforced resettlement of civilians in the Eastern Province or in any
other part of the country.
While there were international instruments for the protection of
human rights and humanitarian law, however, it was the elected
government of the state and its institutions that were ultimately
responsible for the welfare of the people.
He added that the Government has a sacrosanct obligation to protect
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
Among the other speakers were Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary
General of the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP)
and Yasantha Kodagoda, Deputy Solicitor-General. It was chaired and
moderated by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva.
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