Lanka requests US:
Don’t be pushed by false propaganda
External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peris yesterday expressed hope
that the US embassy in Colombo and the US Department would convey to the
Senators and Congressmen the need to avoid being pushed by false
propaganda towards the adoption of a pre-judgemental attitude towards
the LLRC.
The Minister made these remarks when he met the US envoy in Sri Lanka
Patricia Butenis at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
Minister Peiris met Butenis in the context of news reports that
several United States Senators and members of Congress had addressed on
December 10, a letter concerning Sri Lanka to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.
The Minister pointed out to the US Ambassador that the text of the
letter as carried by the media, appears among other matters to assert
that the effort of the Government of Sri Lanka through the Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) lacks mandate and broad
scope.
The Minister noted that on the contrary, the Terms of Reference
establishing the Commission expressly call for it to make
recommendations to prevent recurrence of the inflicted strife of the
past, while promoting further national unity and reconciliation among
all communities. Accordingly, the Commission has the necessary amplitude
for its effective functioning.
In fact the Minister added, the robust manner in which the LLRC is
setting about its task is seen from its already having held 35 public
sessions in Colombo. Additionally, it has met in the East in
Trincomalee, in Mutur and in Kuchchaveli. In the North sessions have
been held in Vavuniya, in Kilinochchi, in Mullativu and in Jaffna. While
during the sessions in Colombo, over 85 persons have made
representations, the public in the North and in the East were especially
facilitated in presenting submissions, through the prior circulation of
forms to enable the advance gathering of information.
Committee (IAC) chaired by the Attorney-General, to oversee and
facilitate follow-up. Among the practical results stemming from the
setting up of the iac, is the establishment of an appropriate mechanism
to which the Commission can now channel the complaints it receives for
immediate investigation and remedial action, where so warranted.
Minister Peiris recalled to the US Ambassador that when he met
Secretary of State Cliton in Washington on May 28 this year, the
Secretary had observed with regard to the LLRC that “this Commission
holds promise”.
It is therefore important to allow the Commission the necessary space
and time to accomplish its objectives. The Minister went on to express
the hope that the US Embassy in Colombo and the State Department in
Washington would convey to the Senators and Congressmen, the need to
avoid being pushed by false propaganda towards the adoption of a
pre-judgemental attitude.
The Minister discussed as well with the Ambassador the matter of US
Embassy communication put out into the public domain by the Wikileaks
website. Prof Peiris reiterated the stated position of his Ministry that
Sri Lnaka does not condone the act of putting in the public domain in an
illegal manner, privileged and confidential information. He said that he
is constrained however to point out that the purported cables do contain
glaring instances of allegations totally unwarranted by the ground
reality, being conveyed to Washington. As examples, the Minister cited
the claims of children being sold into slavery, with the boys to work in
camps and the girls to prostitution rings. The Minister emphasized that
the conveying of such mendacious stories clearly fabricated to denigrate
Sri Lnaka, are totally negative to the objective of diplomacy, which is
building bridges and promoting understanding.
The Minister expressed the view that at least where future instances
may be concerned, greater circumspection would be appropriate.
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