Winning the war, a triumph of all people
I take pleasure in addressing this august body for the second time in
successive weeks, particularly at a point when my country ‘Sri Lanka’ is
going through a process of renewal and hope for the first time in
decades. Exactly 3 months ago, during the high-level segment of the 10th
Session of this Council I said:
Address
by Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda
Samarasinghe at the 11th Regular Session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 2, 2009. |
“we are able to finally see the light at the end of the long and
dangerous tunnel through which we groped our way for more than two
decades.” Just two weeks ago, we marched out of that tunnel into the
bright light of a new era for Sri Lanka and all her people.
Our President led our Security Forces and our people with courage and
fortitude to victory over forces of violence, destruction and separatist
terrorism. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has impressed upon the people of
Sri Lanka that this was no victory for one segment of the community over
another.
He emphasized that the winning of the war was a triumph of all the
people of Sri Lanka irrespective of ethnicity, religious belief or
linguistic background.
Resettlement
As we look forward to a new beginning as one united people in one
undivided land, we face many challenges. Resettlement of the displaced
is our primary obligation. These internally displaced persons have
undergone great suffering being driven before the conflict and being
held as hostages by a increasingly desperate group of terrorists.
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Disaster Management and Human Rights
Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe |
When I addressed this Council in March we were confident that we
would obtain mastery over the terrorists. Indeed we could have done so
much sooner. However, the reason that complete military dominance took a
further two-and-a-half months was that our Security Forces were under
strict instructions to avoid the loss of civilian life.
Our Government had taken a principled stand to eschew the use of
heavy weapons and aerial bombardment in the last remaining sliver of
land unlawfully held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Had we done so, the Sri Lankan nation would have been celebrating
victory over terrorism months ago. Ultimately our forces won the day,
albeit at the cost of heavy casualties among the ranks of ground troops
due to being constrained to the use of only light weaponry.
Suicide bombers
Time and again the LTTE used suicide bombers and gunfire to prevent
the civilian hostages from seeking safety with Sri Lankan troops. Yet
the civilians, who experienced the bitter reality of being held in
captivity as human shields at first hand, kept trying to escape.
A vast majority of them did and are now under the care of the
Government. What needs to be acknowledged is that the Government was
successful, without a blood bath, in resolving the largest hostage
situation the world has seen in recent times, thus liberating our people
from the clutches of the LTTE. We will now work hard to give them the
future they deserve.
It is these people who now form the ranks of internally displaced
persons who live in over 40 locations. We are acutely conscious that
these are people who have gone through much and have the right to safety
and security and the legitimate expectation of a return to normality.
Moreover, we are aware that these are our people ‘Sri Lankan -
citizens’ with all the hopes, dreams and aspirations towards a better
tomorrow for themselves and their children. It is this better future
that the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to
assuring.
Humanitarian relief
We are facing several challenges. Apart from the provision of
humanitarian relief services to the IDPs in temporary accommodation
facilities, de-mining, restoration of civil administration,
infrastructure development, provision of a means of economic survival
through livelihood development and ultimately the restoration of popular
political institutions that will enable democratic decision making by
the people through freely chosen representatives are some of the main
tasks to be achieved.
Allied with this are the rehabilitation of child combatants and the
demobilization, disarming and reintegration of other ex-combatants
throughout the country which are also high on the list of priorities
along with psycho-social care and counselling.
To sustain these initiatives we need to be on our guard against any
attempts to revive and revitalize separatism, disunity and
destabilization. The Government of Sri Lanka will continue with its
efforts to weed out terrorists who have infiltrated the ranks of IDPs
and the civilian population.
Special Session
At a juncture when we were justifiably proud of our achievements in
militarily overcoming terrorism, one week after hostilities ended, we
were disappointed that a Special Session of this Council was convened to
discuss the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
Especially with the 11th Regular Session at hand, the Special Session
was unnecessary. We were humbled by the expression of support for the
Resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and 17 other countries last
Wednesday.
International community
Those member states who supported Sri Lanka’s position, delivered a
resounding message on behalf of the international community in
recognizing the primacy of the principles embodied in Articles 1 and 2
of the United Nations Charter and in requesting the larger world
community to assist Sri Lanka in its efforts to recover from decades of
conflict.
Those who co-sponsored and supported the Sri Lankan Resolution also
demonstrated a resolve to assist countries such as Sri Lanka.
Referring to the people in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, our
President in his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament on May 19, said:
“It is necessary that we give to these people the freedom that are the
right of people in all other parts of our country.
Similarly, it is necessary that the political solutions they need
should be brought to closer to them faster than any country or
government in the world would bring.
However, it cannot be an imported solution. We do not have the time
to be experimenting with the solutions suggested by other countries.
Therefore, it is necessary that we find a solution that is our very
own, of our own nation. It should be a solution acceptable to all
sections of the people. We expect cooperation for (that solution) from
the international community and not obstruction.
Should the international community doubt our capability to find such
a solution, when we have successfully overcome a challenge that the
world was unable to achieve? No. We can achieve this.”
I am here to convey, to the members of the Council and the rest of
the community of nations, that this expression of confidence by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa exemplifies the determination of his
Government to secure all the rights and freedoms of all the people of
Sri Lanka.
Our efforts, if they are to be successful, must be complemented by
the efforts of the friends of Sri Lanka, especially the United Nations
and humanitarian agencies.
UN representatives
We have put in place an overarching framework to guide the process of
reconstruction, resettlement and socio-economic renewal under the
‘Northern Spring’ program put in place by President Rajapaksa. I call
upon the many friends and partners of Sri Lanka who have displayed a
keen interest in our country and her people to come forward and work
with us to achieve our common aims.
We have already made gains in caring for those affected by the
conflict. We are working towards incremental realization and maintenance
of international standards in the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Our ongoing engagement with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and
several senior officials and representatives of the UN system has, apart
from demonstrating our openness and willingness to work with our
international partners, highlighted key areas of concern which we are
confident of addressing together.
Development
A consequent to the successful conclusion of the humanitarian
operations in the North and the liberation of the entire country and her
people from terrorism, the Government is taking several initiatives to
fast-track post-war peace building and development processes. Among
these measures is an initiative by my Ministry to develop a National
Framework proposal for the reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian
life.
Following a national sensitization workshop held in Colombo in late
March, five working groups focusing on disarmament and demobilization,
rehabilitation, reinsertion, social reintegration and economic
reintegration have been established to develop the respective components
of the proposed National Framework.
Policymakers
The working groups are made up of senior Government officials,
policymakers, members of the Armed Forces, UN agencies and other
relevant stakeholders.
This is a key part of the Government’s commitment to fostering
reconciliation and development through the formulation and
implementation of a comprehensive reintegration program, which is an
essential element for sustainable peace.
The envisioned policy intervention will facilitate the reintegration
of large numbers of ex-combatants by improving their employability in
civilian occupations, minimizing their risk of socio-economic
marginalization and ensuring a smooth transition from their military
affiliations into their larger communities.
A Technical and financial assistance for this endeavour is being
provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which is
contributing its extensive international experience in the development
and implementation of socio-economic reintegration programs for conflict
affected groups.
It is anticipated that the proposal will be ready by end June, and
national consultations will be held in July to endorse the draft
framework.
In the field of human rights promotion and protection, we are working
on the development of a national action plan for the promotion and
protection of human rights along the lines envisaged by the Vienna
Declaration and Program of Action of 1993.
The substantive content of the plan, was derived from our engagement
with the Human Rights Council last May when we participated in the
Universal Periodic Review Process and also our interactions with Special
Procedures and Mechanisms of the UN.
Voluntary pledges
The recommendations accepted, the voluntary pledges made by Sri Lanka
at the UPR and the several conclusions of experts, rapporteurs and
special representatives as well UN Treaty Bodies have all been collated,
categorized and prioritized in keeping with national imperatives.
I have just recently authorized the setting up of eight expert groups
on specific thematic areas which will finalize the draft national action
plan.
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UN Human
Rights Council Session in progress. |
The thematic areas are torture, civil and political rights, economic
social and cultural rights, labour rights, migrant workers’ rights,
women, children and internally displaced persons.
The expert groups will draw on expertise from academia, the public
sector, professional and private sectors and civil society. I must
express my gratitude to the UN Country Team and to the United Nations
Development Program for their strong support in complementing our
initiative.
Cooperation
I am certain that we will be able to report impressive progress when
we participate in the second cycle of the UPR process in the next three
years.
In conclusion, I wish to thank you for your leadership and sagacity
and the members of this Council for their sustained interest in Sri
Lanka.
I also wish to acknowledge the encouragement and support received
from the regional and cross-regional groups for their cooperation and
interest in Sri Lanka. I assure you that Sri Lanka will continue to
engage with members of this Council in a spirit of constructive dialogue
and cooperation.
Since this is the last regular session of this Council being
conducted under your stewardship, let me take this opportunity to pay my
sincere gratitude for the unwavering commitment and leadership you have
shown during the last one year in guiding this august body in the
promotion and protection of human rights all over the world.
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