Sinister move to destabilise East
LTTE, some political groups behind plan says Govt:
Rafik Jalaldeen
COLOMBO: The Government's objective of offering a political solution
and the restoration of democracy in the East has proved a success with
the implementation of the 13th Amendment following the recent election
held in the East despite certain political parties trying to create
anarchy in the province.
Addressing the media yesterday, Government Defence Affairs spokesman
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said an attempt to implement the 13th
Amendment towards a political solution failed 20 years ago due to the
LTTE shadow over the then Provincial administration.
"During the last two decades no Government was able to implement a
political solution to the problems faced by Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim
communities in the East," he added.
Minister Rambukwella asserted that Security Forces liberated the East
and the LTTE was defeated.
In the face of the LTTE's defeat, the Government took a step forward
by implementing a political solution for the East through the 13th
Amendment regardless of ethnicity to develop the East economically and
politically and restore democracy in the region.
"The Easterners totally rejected the very roots of Prabhakaran's
mythical Tamil homeland concept at the Eastern provincial council
election," he added.
He said "certain political parties challenged the Government's move
but we could bring a political solution by appointing a Chief Minister
to the East. TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan a
former LTTEer entering the political mainstream was a step forward in
the restoration of democracy in the East," Minister Rambukwella said.
The Minister pointed out that a political solution and development
were firm promises made to the Easterners despite LTTE and some
political parties attempts to disrupt the atmosphere in the East.
"We have reliable intelligence reports that certain political parties
backed by the LTTE and other disgruntled political groups who failed to
achieve their objectives at the recent past election are trying to
disrupt normal life in the East," Minister Rambukwella said.
He also assured that the Government will not hesitate to take any
action against those who continue to disrupt the normal life in the
East. "We assure the people who were victorious in the East that a
sustainable political solution and development are on track.
We will not hesitate to take action against any political party or
politician who make sinister moves," he said.
Minister Rambukwella emphasised that losing a seat at the UN Human
Right Council was not a defeat and does not prove that Sri Lanka is
violating human rights. The UNHRC was established in 2005 and Sri Lanka
served a two year term. Since Sri Lanka gained over 50 percent votes we
are eligible to contest for the UNHRC seat in the next term.
He said "when a country contests for the second time to win the same
position there will be less support. Sri Lanka garnered 101 votes out of
192 votes, the number of votes obtained indicates a clear vote of
confidence by UN Member States in Sri Lanka's ability and competence to
serve as a council member," Minister Rambukwella said.
He pointed out that a huge contest had taken place for the UNHRC seat
in the Asia region compared to the other regions. "Five groups contested
for the UNHRC seat and there was a heated contest between six countries
in the Asian region to select four countries for the council.
Spain was defeated by a vote in the European region contesting three
countries for two seats in the council. Does this mean that Spain too
has violated human rights ?," he asked.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bahrain who contested together with Sri Lanka
had initially garnered 57 votes being members of the Organization of the
Islamic Council (OIC) at the UN.
"This 57 votes were the foundation for Bahrain and Pakistan to gain
more votes," Minister Rambukwella said.
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