Akashi tells international community:
Don’t dictate to Sri Lanka
Lakshmi DE SILVA
Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi said “It is not for other
governments or international organisations to dictate to Sri Lanka as to
what it should be doing in the highly complicated and sensitive area of
post war reconciliation.”
Japanese Special Envoy for peace building, rehabilitation and
reconstruction in Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi with External
Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peris yesterday. Picture by
Sarath Weerasinghe |
Sri Lanka has to design its own, reconciliation program but it has
the wisdom in benefiting from other countries, experiences in the
reconciliation process like South Africa or East Timor. Yet it would be
a highly complicated process, he said. Answering a question, Akashi said
war crimes issue is very complicated and comprehensive. “The due process
which is transparent and comprehensible is being undertaken by the
Government and we are glad that it is working and the Government was
interested in making it work,” he said. He was addressing a press
conference at the External Affairs Ministry, Colombo yesterday.
Japan has been one of the generous supporters of Sri Lanka. This year
alone, Japan has provided 39 billion Yen as development aid to the
country, visiting Japanese Special Envoy for peace building,
rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, Yashushi Akashi said
yesterday.
“Though priorities were given to the North and East, our assistance
is without forgetting geographical ethnic and democratic position of the
country without excluding any individuals or groups,” he said.
”Some funds would be devoted to the growth of human resources
development and to develop small and medium enterprises, fisheries
industry, building of schools, irrigation schemes, micro finance, for
strengthening of Jaffna teaching hospital, and to construct roads,
highways and bridges,” Akashi said.
External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peris said Sri Lanka
categorically rejected war crimes allegations. Sri Lanka has set up an
independent commission
with eminent people as its members. It has a wide ranging mandate. It
is a part of the healing process. Its establishment has been welcomed by
many foreign governments. Its work moves forward rapidly and
effectively, he said. |