The JVP Parliamentarian Anura dissanayake said “We, as the JVP, would not approve the attempt to put forward war crime charges against Sri Lanka at the summit of the Human Rights Commission to be held in Geneva tomorrow. We vehemently condemn such attempts. The UNO is not an institution that is fair by all its members. Western countries led by the USA have been awarded special privileges due to their economic power and military supremacy. Hence, this organization is not completely independent. It pressurizes other countries on the requisite of imperialist countries.”
However, The JVP states “while we express our opposition to the western countries led by the USA, we also oppose the moves of the government that has paved the way to bring in such pressure. It is essential to oppose both as it is the need of the day.”
This was stated by Parliamentarian of the JVP Anura Dissanayake at a special media meeting held by the JVP at its head office today (26th). Central Committee Members Mahinda Jayasinghe and Ramalingam Chandrasekar too were present.
Full text of the statement made by Mr. Dissanayake to the media:
JVP does not approve the attempt to put forward war crime charges against Sri Lanka at the summit of the Human Rights Commission to be held in Geneva tomorrow. We vehemently condemn such attempts. The UNO is not an institution that is fair by all its members. Western countries led by the USA have been awarded special privileges due to their economic power and military supremacy. Hence, this organization is not completely independent. It pressurizes other countries on the requisite of imperialist countries.
It is in such a background human rights charges are aimed at our country. There are certain facts that we should comprehend correctly at this juncture. Who paved the way for western countries led by the USA to act in such away? We should have a correct answer for this question.
After the LTTE was militarily defeated in May, 2009 the government had the responsibility of finding out regarding the displaced by the war and also of those who died and disappeared. The JVP presented a series of proposals regarding this to the country. However, the government, ignoring all that, got artistes to sing songs of praise; started talking regarding uncrowned kings. The country was immersed in election euphoria without giving priority to any issue regarding displacement of the people in the North and the East. Even today the two provinces are under a semi-military administration. The situation is such that a funeral or a wedding cannot be conducted under normal circumstances. Also, pro-government para-military groups are being deployed to carry out various illegal activities and violate human rights.
A ‘white van’ tradition and a culture have been established in other areas in the country. The situation is so critical that armed gangs break into court premises to abduct suspects from the protection of police and prison officers. Also, the peaceful agitation that has been affirmed by the Constitution is being denied to the masses.
The peaceful protest march organized by the JVP to demand reduction of the increased prices of fuel was attacked with tear gas and water mixed with chemicals. The government, instead of consolidating democracy in the country is moving towards a dictatorship violating human rights.
The war should have become a part of history in our country. Instead, the government acts in a manner that allows its remnants to have an effect on the society. The UNO or any other organization or a country could pressurize our country in such a background. After the end of the war on the 22nd of May the Secretary General of the UNO visited Sri Lanka. At the end of his official visit he signed a joint agreement with the President getting the government to agree to review what took place during the war. It is through such legal conditions that the after effects of the war wriggle into the country even today.
Foreign countries and organizations pressurize our country making use of the moves followed by the government and such legal agreements. Hence, while we express our opposition to the western countries led by the USA, we also oppose the moves of the government that has paved the way to bring in such pressure. It is essential to oppose both as it is the need of the day. The government, instead of finding solutions for the burning issues of the masses, is following a policy of evading them by having a ‘Geneva show’ every six months. According to the ‘Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adopted on 17 July 1998’ the UNO has no power to punish any political leader or any other official in our country nor could they be taken to Hague war crimes tribunal. For, Sri Lanka has not signed the Hague statute.
This government, despite adorned in patriotic garments, has already become a puppet of the western imperialist countries led by the USA. Economic agreements have been signed; islands at Kalpitiya were sold; thousands of acres in the centre of the island were sold. Also, the rupee was floated on directives by the IMF. The welfare of the people was hindered due to slashing of allocations for state institutions. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa signed a defense agreement with the USA. As a result of this agreement Colombo harbour and the land mass of Sri Lanka could be given to the USA for military purposes. How can such a government be a patriotic one?
The people in this country should think deeply regarding the government’s move to act a ’Geneva drama.’ It has already knelt before imperialists and evaded finding solutions for issues of the people. What is needed today is not a false patriotic opposition to the west but to rally against both the government and the international forces that pressurize people in this country. We, As the JVP, invite masses to comprehend the situation correctly and come forward to struggle for genuine independence of the people. The JVP would be the vanguard in the struggles to win solutions for people’s issues.
LT