Uganda with Lanka at next United Nations Human Rights Council
session
Chaminda Perera
Top Ugandan and Kenyan government representatives yesterday said the
international community should support Sri Lanka to overcome post -
conflict reconciliation and reconstruction challenges rather than
isolating the country from the international fraternity.
Kenya’s Medical Services Minister Prof P Anyang Nyong O and Uganda’s
Member of Parliament Muhammad Nsereko, on a private visit to Sri Lanka,
said Sri Lanka’s achievement in the reconstruction and reconciliation
arena was excellent.
They said their countries are against any move to isolate Sri Lanka
from the rest of the world. They said they met President Mahinda
Rajapaksa yesterday. Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Nsereko
said Uganda would not vote for any resolution against Sri Lanka at the
next United Nations Human Rights Council session to be held in March. He
said the Ugandan President was in Sri Lanka recently and he assured Sri
Lankan leaders that Uganda would stand by Sri Lanka at any time. Prof
Nuong said they wanted to know what is happening in Sri Lanka after the
end of the conflict.
“Our country is a recipient of refugees from war torn countries. We
have experienced challenges faced by countries in post – conflict
situations,” he said.
He was of the view that misunderstandings would arise about the
government during the post - conflict reconstruction
stage and Sri Lanka needs international support for reconstruction and
reconciliation. "This is not the time to isolate Sri Lanka from the rest
of the international community. This is not the time to play God Father
for Sri Lanka," he said. The Kenyan minister said any government that is
challenged by insurgents must ensure that two things happen. "One is
peace and security and the other is that the people's grievances are
properly addressed," he said. |
