Prof. G. L. Peiris counters Opposition argument
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
External Affairs Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday alleged that some Opposition members had rushed to the conclusion that President would be found guilty of war crimes on the basis of on-going external investigation undertaken consequent to a US-sponsored resolution adopted in March last year.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=117227
Twenty five countries backed the resolution titled ‘Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka’. As many as 12 EU member countries and those seeking EU membership threw their weight behind the US resolution.
Prof. Peiris was responding to recent statements attributed to UPFA rebel MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, UNP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC and National United Front (NUF) leader and Sri Lanka’s former ambassador in Iran, M.M. Zuhair PC that the country would have to face the wrath of the international community in case President Rajapaksa remained in power. They called for President Rajapaksa’s defeat at tomorrow’s presidential poll to save the country from being hauled up before an international war crimes tribunal.
The government rejected the investigation.
Minister Peiris told The Island that some members of the Opposition appeared to have reached conclusion on the war crimes probe even before the final report was made available to the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council at its 28th session.
In spite of Sri Lanka refusing to cooperate with the investigation, the UNHRC had assured the government of an opportunity to respond to the investigation report before it being presented at the next session. Former UN human rights chief Navanethem Pillay gave this assurance in a June 4, 2014 letter addressed to Prof. Peiris.
Prof. Peiris regretted that unsubstantiated war crimes allegations had been given credence by interested parties to gain undue political mileage.
The minister noted the UK headquartered Global Tamil Forum (GTF), too, had recently declared that President Rajapaksa would be taken before The Hague based International Criminal Court (ICC) soon after the presidential election.