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Sinthaka
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 21 Mar 2012 10:32:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lanka faces uphill task amidst last minute diplomatic drama
WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 2012 15:09
By Ameen Izzadeen in Geneva
With less than 24 hours to go for the crucial vote on the United States-backed resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka faces an Alpine task amidst reports that the goal now appears to be not a victory but how small should the margin of defeat be.
Many Asian, African and Latin American diplomats at the corridors of the Palais de Nations in Geneva hinted politely that although they were in spirit with Sri Lanka, pressure on their governments from the United States, the sole superpower, was so heavy that they were unable to make a final decision.
A few days ago, a victory for Sri Lanka was a 5-50 chance. But with less than a day to go for the vote, the diplomatic gains over the past few weeks appear to be fast eroding.
The body language of the Sri Lankan delegation fluctuates between never-say-die and optimism.
Sri Lanka is assured of the votes of Pakistan, the Maldives, Russia, China, Bangladesh and Cuba. But the pendulum has swung away from Sri Lanka after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday announced that New Delhi was inclined to vote for the resolution in a statement. However, the ambiguous statement still offers a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan ministers and diplomats here believe the India which stood by the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration throughout the final phase of the war will not abandon it at a time of crisis.
Sri Lanka s External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made a frantic telephone call to his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna and made a fervent appeal to vote against the resolution, though he was aware that such a move would threaten the stability of the coalition government in New Delhi.
As the clock ticked away in Geneva, canvassing has become hectic. One-on-one talks with diplomats from the developing world produced little solid assurances. Yes, we understand your position, but we have still not got instructions from our capitals, seems to be the answer or the tone of the answer. The Indian position appears to have given a diplomatic excuse to some countries to either abstain or vote for the resolution.
At this rate, Sri Lanka could still keep its head high if a large number of countries abstain..
Diplomats here believe that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is personally leading the US campaign for the resolution. For many African countries, millions of dollars of US aid will be at stake if they vote against the resolution.
Djibouti, an HRC member, for instance, receives tens of millions of US aid annually and houses an American base and the USAID s warehouse. With Sri Lanka, Djibouti largely shares the Third World label.
Mauritius, a country with a significant Tamil population, was the co-sponsor along with the United States of a botched resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in 2009.
A guesstimate based on a fair assessment of each member country s foreign relations vis- -vis the United States and Sri Lanka indicates some 14 solid votes for Sri Lanka from the 47 members. The seven member states representing the Western European nations and five of the six Eastern European nations the exception being Russia -- will vote for the resolution. So will at least five members of the eight Latin American nations in the council. This adds up to 17 solid votes for the US.
The position of the balance 16 countries will decide the fate of the resolution.
The Sri Lankan delegation has been focusing on these 16 countries it was 10 countries a few days ago when spending their diplomatic energy that is fast depleting.
In a strong but belated move to win over the developing nations, Sri Lanka circulated a document warning developing states of the legal and political implications if the resolution found the passage of the council.
Reopening issues decided upon in the past is unwarranted and presents a clear risk of developing countries, in particular, being targeted for collateral reasons, Sri Lanka pointed out and warned that the resolution also undermined sovereignty of democratic nations.
The battle in Geneva is also fought on the sideline of the main event the 19th sessions of the UNHRC. Many side events were organized to slam Sri Lanka s human rights records. Pro-Sri Lanka civil society staged counter side events to promote the country s case and explain its reconciliation moves.
At one side event held on Monday, panelists included Farah Mihlar from the London-based Minority Rights Group, Ana Von Gall from the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, /giyoun Kim from Bangkok-based Forum Asia and Theodor Rathgeber from the Forum Human Rights Germany. Also among the panelists was Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
They criticized Sri Lanka s human rights record and described the resolution as a document which seeks to help Sri Lanka. They urged the international community to back it.
The Council for Liberal Democracy in Sri Lanka an outfit headed by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, a ruling party parliamentarian, Presidential advisor on reconciliation and co-author of a draft reform document titled National Action Plan for Reconciliation held a couple of side events where the panelists Prof. Wijesinha, Jeevan Thiyagarajah and Javed Yousuf -- appealed to the international community to give Sri Lanka space and time to achieve reconciliation goals.
Joining the civil society efforts were Sri Lanka s grand Mufthi, As-Shiekh Rizvi, who heads the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulama and his deputy As-Sheikh Agar Mohamed. There was also Fr. Kurukulasuriya, who is involved in rehabilitation and fishermen welfare programmes in the north. The trio were seen talking to diplomats at the Palais de Nations in a bid to convey Sri Lanka s case to the international community.
As D-Day draws near, both sides are using every weapon in their diplomatic arsenal. Little David used a catapult against the giant Goliath. Ever since then Goliath does not want to take any chances when fighting David. The US is doing exactly that.
Apart from high-level contacts at diplomatic level, Washington apparently has galvanized the NGO community into action.
Amnesty International, the Human Rights Watch and a host of other human rights NGOs continue their onslaught on Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday, the Humanitarian Law Project, an NGO, made a statement in the council under agenda Item 9: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The NGO s focus was international educational development but it made use of the two minutes given to it during the council sessions to describe Sri Lanka as a racist regime |
Roshan2007
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 21 Mar 2012 10:32:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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Some more...
Bus owners threaten strike over increase in log sheet charges
Mar 21 (Island) Private bus operators yesterday threatened to go on strike in protest against the sudden log sheet charge hike. |
Damed
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21 Mar 2012 10:52:30 GMT Report for Abuse
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National Heritage !
An area politician and a three wheeler driver have been arrested for having abducted and raped an 18-year-old girl in Pujapitiya.
The victim of the nightlong ordeal complained to Ankumbura police, after which the arrests were made.
The suspects are Nalinda Rajanayake, a UPFA member of Pujapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha and Chameera Jayasanka alias Kalu Malli.
According to police, the girl was kidnapped on March 19 and kept at a house belonging to the politician at Keppetipola.
There are more suspects due to be arrested over the incident.
Gonkama and Walkama.
Pijja + Deborak
Edited By - Damed - 21 Mar 2012 10:55:08 GMT |
Damed
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21 Mar 2012 11:08:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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Initial investigations revealed that the killing of the two monks at Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya was carried out over a personal dispute and police did not specifically give details due to the current status of investigations.
best police...... from initial investigations they know the case. |
AstroLTTE
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21 Mar 2012 11:19:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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.
best police...... from initial investigations they know the case.
Betta uncle,
How about Japanese police...?? Did they know about you from initial investigations?
-)))) |
meetetnow2006
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 21 Mar 2012 11:25:42 GMT Report for Abuse
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Astrologer,
And now Lanka pee news is saying Fonsekas party inot an active political party and he is over estimated his vote base.....4.2 million... -)))
Mandaleee full kachal..... -)))
Hmm..Genevaaaaaaaaaaaa |
meetetnow2006
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21 Mar 2012 11:26:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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London giya pora talk Danna.. Mokada une mamata?
Dan' Geneva' walin kanna hadanne..
Ohoma wela madi..
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Damed
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21 Mar 2012 11:28:42 GMT Report for Abuse
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Pijja,
Singapore Dollar eka ...goda neda...Rupiyal 100 yayai.......ganulamitika....hikz
Balapiya Aus Dollar 139...selling
Yen eka 158.97....hikz hikz |
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