|
|
UNESCO suspends Chandrika
Sunday, 17 December 2006 - 10:28 AM SL Time
|
|
|
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga`s appointment as a Consultant for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for South Asia has been suspended by the world body due to complaints over violations of human rights and press focus.
`This issue is now under review,` Muriel de Pierrebourg, spokesperson for UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura confirmed to The Sunday Times last night. She made the comments from the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
A letter Mr Matsuura sent to Ms. Kumaratunga`s London address states that these accusations against her `could undermine the objectives` of UNESCO. In that he asked her to change her arrangements concerning her plans to visit Asia. It had been sent from New York where he was attending the launch of Global Monitoring Report on EFA at the time.
He said her assignment on behalf of UNESCO, had come to the attention of various human rights watch groups and she had been the subject of `very harsh criticism and press focus.`Ms Kumaratunga who ended her second term in November last year, soon after Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as President, lobbied strongly for the UNESCO assignment. This was through United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who relinquishes office on January 1 next year.
Press reports also stated that she sought and obtained the support of French President Jacques Chirac for this job. After the appointment was made, Ms Kumaratunga declared that she had expressly sought to leave out Sri Lanka and deal only with other South Asian countries.
`Given the sensitivity of your mission with its subject area,` Director General Matsuura has said, `I am concerned that the perceptions held by these human rights groups could undermine the objectives of a future relationship and your generous desire to further the work of UNESCO in South Asia in a mutually beneficial way.`
Mr. Matsuura has told Ms Kumaratunga, `In the light of these developments; I must also re-examine the proposed arrangement with you; however, I will revert to you as soon as possible on the outcome of this reconsideration.`
He has apologised for the `inconvenience, which he has said is `beyond our control.`
According to the Director General`s spokesperson last night, the matter is still under review.
Mr. Matsuura has added: `I am very mindful of your continued commitment to education for all and your desire to assist the region of South Asia and so I ask your understanding of this unexpected development and the need to ensure that UNESCO`s ability to advocate on behalf of these goals remains paramount.`
Last week, Ms. Kumaratunga visited her former electorate of Attanagalla and told Sri Lanka Freedom Party workers there that astrologically it was good for her in April, and that she would return to active politics by then.
The former President`s office spokesman, Piyasena Dissanayake, denied any personal knowledge of the UNESCO intimation to Ms. Kumaratunga.
He provided to The Sunday Times the contact details of Ms. Kumaratunga`s office. When the newspaper contacted officials in her office for a comment from Ms. Kumaratunga, they assured they would convey the message to her. However, there was no response from her.
|
|
|
Rapaport
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2204
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 04:45:18 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Didn't expect UNESCO to be dumb in thefirst place to appoint this female monkey! |
nirupam
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2378
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 04:51:58 GMT Report for Abuse
|
There were gross human rights violations of enforced disappearances of 800 civilians in Jffna and embargo on food and essentials to Tamils as reported by Amnesty International and on US State Department Country Report. The latter reported that the number of disappearances in Sri Lanka during 1995/96 were second only to Iraq. Yet, she was recommended by US officials to be nominated as the Consultant for the UNESCO.
This must have given inspiration to her seccesser, Mahinda Rajapakse, as he too is adapting her policies of denying food and assisting Paramilitaries with cash and guns to kidnap Tamil youths to be slautered. Already the disappearances are going at a rate of 100/month.
Edited By - nirupam - 17 Dec 2006 05:09:43 GMT |
mareesa03
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 640
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 04:53:11 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| This is a very nice move by UNESCO. Now only UNISCO knows who is Chindrika,one of the biggest corrupted person in World.This is a good lesson for the people like her.If Chindrika is there, its very big shame for UNISCO...LOL |
Revy
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8144
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:06:36 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| LOL well it seems both Tamil and Sinhala can agree on hating CBK, for different reason, but hating her equally nontheless =) |
Thambi
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7006
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:08:17 GMT Report for Abuse
|
UNESCO suspends Chandrika
good work , who is next going to lose US citizenship ?
Richard Boucher - North pole
Assistant Secretary, Central and South Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher at a meeting with Wickremesinghe on Thursday stated the US was deeply disquieted by the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and added they were closely watching it.
Nicholas Burns - South pole
Political Affairs Secretary, US State Department, Nicholas Burns speaking to Wickremesinghe, called on the two parties to seek a political solution to the ethnic issue.
Edited By - Thambi - 17 Dec 2006 05:13:51 GMT |
Ruchira
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2029
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:13:54 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Just as well! She deserves it!
MR deserves more than that!!
At the moment his deal politics are working well but MRs Hambanthota theory is in uncertain |
saliya
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 873
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:14:12 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Chandrika did not have a political leadership or vision of the country. She came to power because LTTE killed all good political leaders leaving weak Ranil as her opponents. She is corrupted and even after retirement from president post she wanted to like a president of the country. She wanted millions worth of state land to make a house, number of vehicles as her security fleet etc. People complained to UNESCO may have mentioned these ill practices as well. At least now she must think how to behave. Other leaders like JR or DB did not want to engage in politics after retirement. Why this greedy woman wants to do politics or engage on other jobs while she is getting facilities of a cabinet minister until she dies. |
Kusum
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 101
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:17:03 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Is Prabakaran also suffering from a Cancer or similar illness? Because he does not look healthy in the photos. My room-mate says he is looking like a person who is suffering from constipation. |
muniraj16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1238
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:23:53 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Not only CBK deserves it....this damn lady should be brought to the international courts for all the corruption that she has done during her period....she is the worst leader sri lanka ever had and ever will have....she brought down all the hopes of the people who brought her to power....public wouldnt allow her to come back in to politics whether its her good time or the bad time....
PLEASE DAMN CBK STAY AWAY FROM OUR MOTHERLAND....YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO STEP IN TO SRI LANKA....
chao......... |
UnitedVRise
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 445
Member Profile
|
17 Dec 2006 05:29:42 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Ruchira,
Why MR should be blamed? For reacting to what your dear velu anna did? Velu anna deserves much more than CBK. |
|
Search All News and Discussions