Ceylon Today Editorial

Geneva

27 February 2017

Geneva has been a household name in Sri Lanka for the past several years, as the island nation faces a tug-o-war with regard to resolving its post-war humanitarian issues.

The previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime had a tough time with Geneva following three consecutive resolutions, backed by the US, brought against the regime by the United Nations Human Rights Commission over the post- war issues including alleged war crimes.

Despite the change of regime Geneva, the beautiful Swiss City, still remains a nightmare to Sri Lanka.

The present National Unity Government dealt with the UNHRC in Geneva in a very diplomatic manner for the satisfaction of all seeking justice and relief over the post-war humanitarian issues in the island.

The UNHRC resolution, which was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka in 2015, gave hope of justice being done by the people who had been devastated by the war.

The Tamil National Alliance, being the main Opposition Party, with its significant representation from the North and East, placed its hopes on a constructive outcome over the Geneva resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka.

Since the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government came to power, several developments have occurred in a positive manner towards addressing the humanitarian issues in the North and East, such as the releasing of lands in the possession of the Security Forces.

However the ongoing Keppapilavu protest has highlighted that Northern Province still remains largely a 'garrison land' with a heavy military presence.

The Tamil National Alliance which is agitating for the reduction of military presence in the North and East and also urging for the release of lands in the possession of the Security Forces, is ever mindful that the lands cannot be released overnight from the Security Forces as far as the security issues are concerned.

One of the TNA politicians, addressing a public event, said that despite the TNA's firm stance on regaining the civilian lands from Security Forces, shifting an Army camp from one place to another was not like transferring a teacher from one school to another school.

Jaffna Peninsula's Valikamam North has now been very much cleared of the military presence and a large number of Internally Displaced Persons from the region now have access to their original places.

The National Unity Government, with the slogan of 'good governance' is largely the creation of people in the North and East. So with the long way to go for peace and reconciliation with the people of the war- torn North and East, the government is compelled to fulfil its commitments to the Geneva resolution of 2015 without giving room for further postponements and delays.

Leader of the Opposition and the TNA

R. Sampanthan commenting on the alleged war crimes issue has clearly stated that the TNA was not accusing all Security Service personnel and only emphasizing to take action against the service personnel who have been identified as being allegedly involved in war crimes.

Since several key Government figures, along with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, have denounced any move to conduct international investigations into alleged war crimes, the Tamil National Alliance, citing the unsatisfactory outcome of the hearings of various commissions created to look into the grievances of the people in the North and East, is very firm that an international investigation into the alleged war crimes should be established to seek justice for the people affected by the civil war.

With the beginning of the 34th session of the UNHRC today, the TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has visited Geneva already and pointed out to the UNHRC officials that no more extensions should be given to the Lankan Government to fulfill its commitments to the 2015 resolution. The TNA Parliamentarian has also urged in Geneva that not to allow for any alteration to be carried out in the resolution.

However, with Sri Lanka looking forward to urging for an extension of 18 to 24 months, to fulfil its commitments to the UNHRC resolution, the country co-sponsored in 2015, the UNHRC hierarchy is faced with the task of dealing with the Lankan tug-o-war in Geneva.