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OHCHR report on SL: Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and others for SL 

27 Feb 2021

  • UK, US, Norway, Germany, Canada, and others against situation in SL 

  • Core Group to present new resolution to support accountability, reconciliation 

The Interactive Dialogue on the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on Sri Lanka took place on 25 February where several countries of the West, including the US, the UK, Norway, Germany, and Canada raised their voices against Sri Lanka while China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and other mostly Asian countries backed the country.  The Interactive Dialogue commenced following the report and statements by High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) Michelle Bachelet on Sri Lanka.  In her speech, Bachelet called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to explore new ways to advance various types of accountability at the international level, for all parties, and to seek redress for victims in Sri Lanka.  In response, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena reiterated that Sri Lanka rejects Bachelet’s report, adding that Sri Lanka regretted the disproportionate attention drawn to the country by the Council, driven by political motivations. “Sri Lanka calls upon the Members of this Council that any resolution which is based on this report, be rejected by the Council and be brought to a closure. We remain open to engaging constructively with the UN, including this Council, and the international community in mutually agreed upon areas, in conformity with the Constitution, and in keeping with domestic priorities and policies,” he said.  During the Interactive Dialogue, a host of countries and organisations aired their views on the human rights issues in Sri Lanka and the report of HCHR Bachelet.  The countries that spoke were Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Montenegro, Nepal, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, the UK, the US, and Vietnam.  India said that its consistent position on the matter rests on two pillars: Support for Sri Lanka’s unity and territorial integrity, and abiding commitment to the aspirations of the Tamils of Sri Lanka for equality, justice, peace, and dignity. “We call upon Sri Lanka to take necessary steps for addressing such aspirations, including through the process of reconciliation and the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The assessment of HCHR Bachelet regarding developments nearly 12 years from the end of the conflict raises important concerns. The Sri Lankan Government has articulated its position on these issues as well. In evaluation of both of these, we should be guided by a commitment to find a lasting and effective solution for this issue,” Ambassador of India to the UN Indra Mani Pandey said.  Australia said that it was committed to supporting Sri Lanka through constructive and practical engagement to implement its transitional justice commitments and international human rights obligations.  However, the UK, the US, Norway, Germany, and Canada were critical of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.  The US said that the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to address concerns raised in HCHR Bachelet’s report via a domestic process needed to be meaningful and credible. “We note that the recent Sri Lankan Presidential Commission of Inquiry does not include a mandate to pursue accountability, and that the Offices on Missing Persons and Reparations need to operate without political interference,” it said.  The UK said that together with the Core Group of Countries on Sri Lanka (Canada, the UK, Germany, North Macedonia, and Montenegro), it will present a new resolution to continue the Council’s engagement on the important issues in support of accountability and lasting reconciliation for all communities.  Meanwhile, Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Vietnam, the Maldives, Cuba, Nicaragua, Eritrea, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Azerbaijan, Belarus, North Korea, Gabon, the Philippines, Syria, and Egypt spoke in support of Sri Lanka.  China, speaking critically of HCHR Bachelet's report, said that it is the consistent stand of China to oppose politicisation and double standards on human rights, as well as using human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. “We are concerned about the clear lack of impartiality shown in HCHR Bachelet’s report to this Session on Sri Lanka and express our regret over the failure of HCHR Bachelet to use the authoritative information provided by the Sri Lankan Government,” Permanent Representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland Ambassador Chen Xu said.  Pakistan called for the continuation of consultations with the democratically elected Sri Lankan Government on how best to advance the goals of accountability and reconciliation. “For too long, Sri Lanka had been a victim of terrorism, aided, abetted, and financed from abroad including its neighbourhood,” the country said.  Cambodia said: “As the international community, we can keep our role within a constructive framework, respecting Sri Lankan-led and Sri Lankan-owned processes based on national priorities and institutions.”  Meanwhile, Amnesty International said that it also welcomed HCHR Bachelet’s report on Sri Lanka and said that it is critical that the UN learn from past failures – including in Sri Lanka – and ensure that the clear early warning signals indicated by Bachelet are responded to.  Human Rights Watch said that Bachelet has rightly characterised Sri Lanka as being “in a state of denial,” unable and unwilling to address its past, with direct impact on its present and future. “Now activists, victims’ families, and even those Sri Lankan officials who have sought justice, are at risk. Lawyers have been arbitrarily detained. Protesters calling for this Council to take action have been summoned by the Police. The Council should give effect to Bachelet’s recommendations by advancing international accountability for grave crimes and by acting to prevent further abuses. As Bachelet states, the international community failed the people of Sri Lanka in the past; it cannot afford to do so again,” the organisation said.   

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