Hats off to President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who defeated LTTE terrorism without bowing to international pressure also stood firm against the machinations of the UN. Attempts by certain international elements including LTTE apologists and some NGO’s to infringe into Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and integrity have been defeated by the President

Vernon Botejue J.P.U.M.

It’s glad tidings and most heartening to learn that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, upholding the dignity, integrity and sovereignty of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, once again, in the same manner he (the President) did in the final stages of the military operation to eradicate LTTE terrorism from Sri Lankan soil, without bowing down to LTTE injected and inspired international pressure. The President has rejected the proposal of the United Nations Secretary General to appoint a panel of experts to advise the world body on ‘accountability issue’ relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka as totally uncalled for and unwarranted.’

President Mahinda Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a media release re-iterating the aforementioned stance of the Sri Lanka Government “emphatically asserted that it was both unprecedented and unwarranted as no such action had been taken about other States with continuing armed conflicts, on a large scale, involving major humanitarian catastrophies and causing the deaths of large numbers of civilians due to military action.

The General Secretary has been told that Sri Lanka has concluded its armed conflict with the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world more than nine months ago and was in the process of strengthening national reconciliation and has taken the necessary steps in this connection.”

Constitution

It is manifestly evident that it was the LTTE terrorists who were waging war against the lawfully elected and sovereign State of Sri Lanka and thereby committing an offence under Section 114 of the Penal Code punishable with death. Consequently President Mahinda Rajapaksa was constrained to act as he lawfully did under the powers vested in him under Sri Lanka Constitution to call in the Armed Forces to quell the terrorist rebellion. It was not a declaration of war as provided for under the Constitution.

In the premises no question of war crimes or abuses of any international conventions or laws as alleged by the LTTE apologists and sympathizers arises for such action contemplated by the UN Secretary General that is manifestly in breach of the UN Charter and an unnecessary aggression on the independence, dignity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

Human rights

On the other hand it is a sad story of utter failure and neglect on the part of the World Body to take any action against the well-known massacre of thousands of innocent civilians through death squads, suicide bombers and the massacre of over 600 that included soldiers, Policemen and others who surrendered to the LTTE terrorists on their orders in the Eastern Province.

“In 2006 when the highly respected Western Medical Journals documented the killing, of more than 600,000 Iraqis within two years of the illegal invasion of that country there was hardly a hum from the United Nations. Similarly the UN is quite silent on the violation of human rights of those arrested in the fight against ‘global terror’ and incarcerated and tortured in places like Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons. Whenever civilians are killed by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan they are not investigated by independent experts, but by the same armies responsible for those killings.”

According to the media release “the President has pointed out that the implementation of the intended appointment of the advisory panel of experts would be tantamount to an interference with the current General election campaign where the people of the North and East who were not free to participate in such elections earlier were being given the opportunity to do so, respecting the highest standards of democracy.”

UN General Secretary

“President Rajapaksa has told the UN Secretary General that the allegations about Sri Lanka were motivated misrepresentations by apologists of the LTTE and by some NGOs that due to being so misguided or otherwise were clearly working on an agenda that was directed against Sri Lanka. There are also sections of the Western world being increasingly subjected to electoral pressure by the same LTTE apologists.”

The laudable and courageous decision aforementioned of President Mahinda Rajapaksa against the contemplated action of the UNSG, naturally invokes reciprocal, united and unequivocal support of all patriotic citizens of Sri Lanka. This helps meet any challenges by interested parties adverse to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government as evidenced recently by the unholy political alliances of Opposition parties including the UNP and the JVP under the common leadership of Sarath Fonseka whose common object was not only to oust the incumbent President but also had other underhand anti-democratic plans. This is according to the evidence that has now emerged under investigations by the relevant government officials after the announcement of the results of the Presidential Election 2010.

Defeat for Opposition

It is noteworthy that contrary to the expectations of the Opposition coalition the final result of the Presidential Election 2010 ended miserably for the common Opposition candidate who not only suffered a bitter defeat but also being isolated and deserted by the stronger political ally, the UNP that has decided to contest the upcoming General Election separately under the Elephant symbol. This leaves Sarath Fonseka in dire personal and political distress and the short lived political coalition of the Opposition parties in shambles. It also paves the way for a clear victory of the UPFA under the dynamic leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa reaching the target of a two third majority of votes to give effect to the desirable amendments to the 1978 Constitution and the necessary Parliamentary Elections Law.

The UN is silent on alleged torture occuring in places like Guantanamo Bay. Courtesy: Internet

It is also noteworthy that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set the record straight for a free and fair General election on April 8, 2010. At the request of the President all candidates seeking election under the UPFA banner have pledged at Anuradhapura in the hallowed presence of the Sri Maha Bodhi to conduct themselves righteously in contesting the election and observe the rules and regulations of election procedure. But of course the responsibility of acting with such good faith lies entirely in the hands of the candidate but the discretion is with the elector to cast his or her vote to the candidate of his or her choice.

Patriotic electors

The Secretary of the UNP has posed a question that the UPFA has not named its future Prime Minister. There is no legal requirement in this connection. The power of appointing Ministers lies with the President under the Constitution. Currently there is an incumbent Prime Minister till the newly elected Parliament is sworn in. The question in issue at the moment is merely an apple of discord tossed into the UPFA camp. The result of the election will provide the answer. The patriotic electors of Sri Lanka will provide the answer as they have done at the Presidential Election 2010.

The writer is an Attorney at Law