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Counsellor of SL's permanent Mission in Geneva
responds to Brimmer:
Lanka being 'singled out' contrary to UNHRC resolutions
Sri Lanka should be encouraged in its reconciliation process, rather
than being singled out for any disproportionate attention in the Human
Rights Council (HRC), Counsellor of the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in
Geneva Priyanga Wicremasinghe said exercising a 'right of reply' to a
statement by US Assistant Secretary of State for International
Organisations Esther Brimmer during the high level segment of the 22nd
HRC on February 26.
"Sri Lanka should be encouraged in its reconciliation process, rather
than being singled out for any disproportionate attention in this
Council," she said. "It is especially so, at a time when having overcome
a 30-year long terrorist conflict, as well as having averted what many
feared would be a 'humanitarian catastrophe', Sri Lanka is implementing
a comprehensive process of reconciliation involving all communities
based on the National Action Plan on the implementation of the
recommendations of the LLRC". Making her intervention, Wicremasinghe
said she and her delegation "strongly reject any unfair, biased,
unprincipled and unjust approach that may be adopted by this Council
towards the protection and promotion of Human Rights of Sri Lanka".
She said: "We reiterate our consistent position that any action taken
in the promotion and protection of Human Rights of a country must have
the consent of that country, and be based on the principles cooperation
and genuine dialogue, and the founding principles of universality,
impartiality, non-selectivity which govern the mandate of the Council,
as stipulated in GA resolution 60/251 of March 15, 2006, and provisions
in Council Resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of June 18, 2007, and 16/21 of March
25, 2011.
"Sri Lanka is therefore firmly of the view that this Council should
not embark upon or encourage either debate or any country-specific
resolution by virtue of a singled out process which would run counter to
the founding principles as elaborated above. Doing so will clearly
reflects an application of double standards.
"It is in such context that my delegation is surprised by the
statement made by the US delegate drawing disproportionate attention
towards Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka should be encouraged in its endeavour in
this reconciliation process, rather than being singled out for any
disproportionate attention in this Council."
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