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UN confirms only 25% of SL troops will be repatriated

28 Sep 2019

The UN has confirmed that only 25% of  Sri Lankan peacekeeping troops will be replaced, upon the completion of their term in Lebanon.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, yesterday(27) met with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (USSG/UNDPO) at the UN Headquarters in New York to resolve matter with regard to the UN ban on Sri Lankan peacekeeping troops following the appointment of  Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as its Army chief.

Lacroix clarified that no further reduction of Sri Lanka Peacekeepers will take place and that the vacant positions would be filled through a re-adjustment of existing Peacekeepers presently in Lebanon, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Previously the Foreign Secretary pointed out that the President of Sri Lanka had appointed Silva as the Army Commander in the context that there were no factually substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations against him, and by virtue of his being Chief of Staff at the time.

According to the statement, the Secretary  has conveyed that the Government of Sri Lanka disputes the credibility of the compiled reports relating to allegations against Lt. Gen. Silva.

"In relation to this issue Sri Lanka was of the view that there have also been serious discrepancies in the information released to the public domain by the UN."

"There was no reference to the delay in the joint National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (NHRCSL) and UN vetting of peace keepers, which had been alluded to when the discussion of limiting Peacekeepers was initially conveyed to the Government of Sri Lanka," the statement said.

"It was pointed out that while the MoU with the UNDPO clearly states that modalities for termination shall be agreed to following consultations between the parties, in this instance, the UN did not fulfill its obligation and took a unilateral decision"

The decision was conveyed during a courtesy call by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka on the UN USG, which was inappropriate.  It was further regretted that there had been no communication with the Sri Lankan side by the UNDPO prior to the UNSG’s Deputy Spokesman going to the public domain.

"Additionally, the information with regard to the troop contributing country whose peacekeepers are expected to replace those of the Sri Lankan troops, was learnt by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Lebanon from the counterpart of the country concerned, at a diplomatic reception, rather than being professionally conveyed by the UNDPO."

"It has also been pointed out that the appointment of Lt. Gen. Silva has no link to the suitability and engagement of the Army personnel being nominated for UN Peacekeeping operations who are thoroughly, jointly vetted, and therefore it is unacceptable to penalize these troops through punitive action on them personally. Furthermore, depriving them of being legitimately deployed in the related operations earmarked following their training and equipping, would also be a denial of their rightful expectation. Thereby, the UN has overlooked the humanitarian aspect by implementing the said decision." The Foreign Ministry press statement said.

"Secretary Aryasinha observed that in operationalising this decision, by seeking non-replacement of Sri Lankan Peacekeepers in one location where it is relatively easier to serve, while expecting them to continue in more vulnerable and high threat locations, the UNDPO was resorting to “cherry picking” on a questionable basis, which bears hallmarks of politicization of a sacred duty."

"On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Aryasinha requested that the UNDPO reviews its decision in the context of the facts presented by the Government of Sri Lanka, thereby, being respectful of a country that has been a long standing contributor to UN Peacekeeping since 1960, and continues to serve in some of the most difficult theatres of action, having also suffered casualties." the Foreign Ministry statement highlighted.

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