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ITAK welcomes US Senators’ and UN resolutions

16 Sep 2022

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the main party in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan yesterday (14) welcomed the resolution introduced by a group of US Senators calling for a widespread international mechanism addressing the current political and economic crisis, and challenges in Sri Lanka caused by poor economic policies and governance under the family rule of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Speaking to The Morning, Adaikkalanathan claimed that only the concern of the international community regarding the Sri Lankan issue can bring about a lasting solution to the country. Further commenting on the draft resolution on Sri Lanka that was made public on Wednesday (14), by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) Core Group of countries on Sri Lanka, he said that the implementation of power devolution, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), and re-establishing the functions of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) are some positive approaches recommended by the Core Group of countries. He also noted, however, that it is the role of the Sri Lankan Government to make sense of the suggestions, and to implement them efficiently and effectively.  “The Government may agree at the UNHRC meetings, but would they implement the resolutions? Just agreeing upon promises, and participating at the same meetings without implementing them will not show any progress. It would be a mirage,” he said.  At the same time, the draft resolution on Sri Lanka released to the public by the Core Group of countries, also commended the Sri Lankan Government’s moves to uplift the country from the economic crisis. Welcoming Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashaif’s report on Sri Lanka, Adaikkalanathan said that re-energising the domestic mechanism employed by Sri Lanka would be a setback to resolving the longstanding issues of Tamil people, even though the report did highlight certain positive points regarding the steps taken by the Government.  “Our view is that the domestic mechanism is a failed approach, because the process has been dragging on for years, and there seems to be no positive outcome. Therefore, we do not agree on a proposal to re-implement the local mechanism,” he said. He further noted that the Tamil people have lost confidence in a local mechanism which has been dragging on for many years since the end of the war.  Meanwhile, a US Senate resolution calling for a comprehensive international approach to address the current political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, would be brought before the UN General Assembly that would convene in New York this week. US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Bob Menendez, together with Senators Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy, and Cory Booker will jointly submit this resolution.  Menenez noted: “Our resolution necessarily calls attention to the devastating political and economic turmoil plaguing the people of Sri Lanka. As the country grapples with its worst domestic crisis since the end of its civil war, the international community must continue to provide robust support, and ensure accountability for war crimes, and respect for human rights in Sri Lanka, as top priorities.”


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