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Consensual resolution with Core Group: Politically challenging, Govt.  

31 Jan 2021

 

  • Govt. still studying text of consensual resolution 

  • GoSL sends ‘tough’ response to UN Rights Chief 

  • Diplomatic missions to lobby other countries based on GoSL report  

  • ‘UN targeted sanctions unlikely' 

    The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), which has fired off a “tough” response to the damning report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet on the country’s human rights situation, and is presently perusing the proposal for a consensual resolution by the UN Core Group on Sri Lanka, has stated that a consensual resolution with the Core Group at the UN Human Rights Council is likely to be politically challenging, The Sunday Morning learnt. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage said that the factual errors, errors in law, and errors in perception in the UNHCHR’s report were taken into consideration when drafting the response. “We have made a firm report, and that's going to be a very tough response as well. The bottom line is that we argue that we have not committed any war crimes, or any crimes against humanity, and therefore, we feel that the action proposed by the UNHCHR is unfair,” he told The Sunday Morning.  He said that there were inaccuracies in the UNHCHR report, because it mainly focused on the incidents that occurred last year. “Today, there is not much talk about the war that took place nearly 12 years ago, but talk that is focused on last year. We feel that this is a clear infringement on the domestic internal matters of a sovereign country. So, we are opposing that, and we would like to see like-minded countries opposing such moves coming from international bodies,” he said. The 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is to take place from 22 February to 23 March in Geneva, Switzerland. When questioned as to what other strategies the country would adopt at the UNHRC session, Prof. Colombage said that the Core Group on Sri Lanka has indicated that they are willing to accept a consensual resolution. “We have indicated that a consensual resolution will be politically challenging. To agree to it or make any decision, we need to see the text of what they are proposing. Now they have sent us a text. We have to study each line in order to make a decision. But we haven't had any time to study any core group suggestions in detail, because we were focusing on responding to the UNHCHR,” he said.  However, he said that a consensual resolution would be politically challenging, as the public could oppose it.  “There could be opposition from the public. So it is a political decision as to whether we are going for a consensual resolution or not. If you take the 30/1 Resolution in 2015, the Government that co-sponsored it was brought down by the people. They had a clear mandate in Parliament, but then the people of this country saw that as a betrayal. There were certain things in 30/1 that we can't do according to the Constitution, and there are things we have done. There are things that the people don't want us to do. The former United National Front-led Government lost popularity, and the architects of 30/1 were even voted out of the Parliament. But for this Government to even go for a consensual resolution is very politically challenging. The public opinion matters,” he noted.  However, the Foreign Secretary said that they can't jump to conclusions, and that they need to look at the substance of the consensual resolutions proposed by the Core Group.  The UN Core Group on Sri Lanka consists of Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the UK. When queried about the delegation that would represent Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, the Foreign Secretary said that it was likely that the session would be a virtual one.  “It will probably be a virtual one due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, and the session is not that far away. Of course, the Foreign Minister will be given five minutes to make a speech. We are getting ready for that. Presumably, it will be a virtual one,” he said. He also said that Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representatives to the UN in Geneva, in New York, and other missions, had worked together in the preparation of the response report, adding that they would carry it forward to the next level. “Based on our report, we have to create a narrative for Sri Lanka, and that narrative will be targeted or channelled to many different countries through our heads of missions,” he said.  Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary commented on calls to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and said that it was a long shot.  He said that it was the UN Security Council (SC) that handles these issues, and not the UNHRC.  “The decisions of the UNHRC are non-binding. We are not bound to do anything. If it goes to a higher level, then it is a different matter. We have friends in the UNSC. I don't think it will ever happen because certain countries that have the veto power will stand by Sri Lanka. China and Russia have always supported Sri Lanka,” he said. He also commented on calls for targeted sanctions, such as the freezing of assets and imposing of travel bans on Sri Lankan officials. “Again, the UNHRC can’t enforce anything. They can only make recommendations. Targeted UN sanctions against Sri Lanka are unlikely, but then, individual countries can make decisions. We have to wait and see how they are taking this. Right now, Sri Lanka has a geostrategic importance, so I don't think that these countries will want to stay away from Sri Lanka. On the contrary, they would want to keep engaging with Sri Lanka. If they want that, travel bans and assets freezes are not the best thing to do,” he said. 


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