UN on wrong track

When the United Nations was formed after the Second World War it was naturally assumed that the world body would treat the UN family of nations on equal terms. But it appears that some nations within the UN family are more equal than others. If not how can one explain the step-motherly treatment given to some while others are treated with indulgence?

Sri Lanka unfortunately is one such country that has drawn the ire the UN - not for violating any UN Conventions or section of its Charter. But for defending itself to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The UN or more accurately its Secretary General has appointed himself as judge, jury and hopefully not the executioner to try Sri Lanka for doing what any nation would do to protect itself when confronted by an internal or external threat.

The appointment of a Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came as no surprise. From the time of the announcement of the possibility of such a panel being formed and during the lead up to the final appointment it was clear that Sri Lanka had suddenly come under the microscope of certain Western powers. It was also clear that Moon was acting as a proxy in the game of intrigue practised by these Western powers who are still finding it difficult to swallow the fact that Sri Lanka had outdone them by conquering terrorism while they are still groping in the dark with the problem.

The fact that there was no UN Security Council resolution for the appointment of such a panel (and hence not carrying any legal weight) more than anything proves that the UN Secretary General had acted arbitrarily and exercising his own discretion which smacks of a blatant political act. Whether he was goaded to do so is anyone's guess.

It is strange that the UN body that came into being to rally and unify nations to assert their sovereignty should be the very agent that is blocking the path towards asserting that very sovereignty, by practising coercive methods.

From the conduct of the UN Secretary General it is also plain that the UN which hitherto functioned as a symbol of unity is today attempting to sow discord within the UN family by playing favourites by some while meting out step-motherly treatment to others.

If not how can the Secretary General fail to ignore the blatant human rights violations practised by these Western powers whose forces of invasion carries out mass killings of civilians on a daily basis while pontificating to Sri Lanka who was only waging war to protect the country from dismemberment.

The world is only too well aware the ordeal that Sri Lanka underwent during the past three decades. Defying all odds and many roadblocks placed in her path she emerged out of this harrowing experience and is now set to rebuild on the ashes of war. It is therefore incumbent on the UN who plays the role of patriarch to the UN family of nations to give all the support and assistance towards this endeavour. By placing obstructions it can only set back this process.

The UN should act in terms of its hallowed ideals and help in Sri Lanka's unification process instead of taking retrogressive steps by the appointment of such inquiry panels. It should strive to act impartially towards member states and not be led by nose by the Western powers or become their cats paw to destabilize nations.

The composition of the so-called panel of experts also betrays the true intentions of the Secretary General. He should at least now address his conscience and do right by Sri Lanka.

It is such contradictions that make even the average person believe that the UN is playing to larger agenda dictated to by the Western powers. If it is to rid itself of this notion the UN should not only hold the scales even but also appear to be doing so.

Penalising Sri Lanka at this stage of her renaissance would not only derail her reconciliation process but reopen old wounds leading to a break up of the confidence and trust being built between the communities which is hardly the recipe for the concept of unity which is the watch word of the UN.