Infringes on sovereignty of a UN member country:

SLFP rejects Darusman Report

Chaminda PERERA

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday rejected the controversial Darusman Report which infringes on the sovereignty of a UN member state and condemned the United Nations Secretary General’s unilateral decision to make the report public.

Minister Susil Premajayantha at the media briefing. Picture by Ruwan de Silva

The Party is of the view that the Darusman Report is illegal and contravenes all norms and practices of the United Nations as appointment of a committee by the Secretary General to look into the alleged incidents in the final stages of war on terrorism in Sri Lanka has neither been approved by the member States nor any other UN body.

It reiterated that the members of the Security Forces and the leaders of the humanitarian mission who liberated the Tamil people and the country from the clutches of terrorism will not be betrayed under any circumstances.

According to SLFP Senior Vice President and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva the SLFP and the Government raised their opposition to the Committee since it was about to be appointed by the UN to advise him on Sri Lanka.

Addressing a special press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday, the Minister said this illegal committee has gone beyond the mandate of the UNSG and made recommendations to cripple a country trying to stand on its feet after 30 years of ruthless terrorism.

The Minister added that the LTTE rump and international media has made this as a cat’s paw to tarnish the country’s image.

International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama said the UNSG has sought a little relief by making the controversial Darusman report public in the backdrop of incidents taking place in the Middle East.

“UN is under scrutiny and UNSG want to get some relief by making the illegal report public”, he added.

He said this illegal committee has failed to gain evidence and the necessary documents to conduct such an inquiry and make recommendation on Sri Lanka. “We have to reject this illegal committee and its report as it does not have ability to collect basic information”, he added.

Minister Dr. Amunugama added that the UN officials are bound by an agreement not to divulge any information.

He added that special permission should be obtained from the UNSG to divulge information on host countries.

He asked whether former UN Spokesman in Sri Lanka Gordon Weiss has obtained permission from the UN to comment on Sri Lanka on the infamous Channel 04 TV.

Minister Dr. Amunugama added that this pseudo report would be struck in file if the host country or UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council do not make a request to go further.

“Many NGOs stated that the UNSG should not publicize Sarusman report until such time the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s report which deals with the same subject is issued”, he added.

The Minister was of the view that the LLRC has held a number of sittings in former conflict affected areas and recorded evidence from the people who faced many hardships due to the conflict.

UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha said Darusman report is completely bias and is based on false information.

“India conducted an expiate trial against the LTTE leader who was the main accused in the killing of Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi and he was sentenced to death”, he added.

Minister added that UN did not challenge the judgement given by the Indian Court. He added that the persons appointed by the UNSG to this illegal panel are involved in aiding and abetting the LTTE activities.

“One of such panel members has written a book praising the LTTE,” he added.

The Minister said that this illegal report targets President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was elected to the country’s top post by majority of people.

The Minister also added that no Minister or Government official has made representation to this illegal advisory panel.