11/28/2011 07:10:00 PM
NIRMANUSAN
Photo Credit: Asiantribune
Nearly one month ago (October 24), the Sri Lankan government
called for an explanation in their twenty-one word statement on the killing of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi. [1] Earlier, on March 22, 2011, the Sri
Lanka Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on the deteriorating
situation in Libya, which said “the issue of protection of the civilian
population in Libya remains a concern for Sri Lanka”.[2]
It is true, the Sri Lankan government’s “Widely
criticized newly revised human rights approach” needs to be appreciated and
welcomed. However, the
twenty-one word statement tactically avoided any possible independent
investigation from the international community.
It proceeded only to ask for an
explanation for the killing of Gaddafi, without being explicit as to who should
provide such an explanation, let alone suggest possible candidates. Certainly,
there is a need for an inquiry into the way in which Gaddafi meet his death
while he was in the custody of his captors. However, in which capacity and with
what credibility, does the Sri Lankan government seek an explanation?
Given
the new found conscience of the Sri Lankan government, the context presents a
number of serious unavoidable questions which cannot be avoided if the
government intends to act in accordance of good conscience.
Why did the Sri Lankan Armed Forces decide to carry out their
military offensive operation on the densely civilian-populated area of
Mullivaikal without any respect for international human rights or humanitarian
law? According to the report of the Secretary General’s Panel of Experts
on Accountability in Sri Lanka, around 330,000 civilians (all of whom were
ethnic Tamils) were trapped in an ever-decreasing area, fleeing shelling but kept hostage by the LTTE. [3] This area came under sustained, severe
aerial bombardment and heavy weaponry attack. As stated by Human Rights Watch,
at least 30 attacks were carried out on permanent and makeshift hospitals in
the combat area from December 15, 2008 to May 2, 2009. One of the deadliest
of these took place on May 2, when artillery shells struck Mullaivaikal
hospital in the government-declared "no-fire zone," killing 68
persons and wounding 87. [4]
It is worth highlighting that the government expelled all
humanitarian agencies, against their will, including the UN, from the “conflict
zone” prior to the commencement of full-scale military operations. This is a
clear example that the government was aware of, and even had the intention to
create, a humanitarian crisis, including the unfathomable bloodbath, which
occurred in the last phase
of the war. During this period, firstly, where was the Sri Lankan government’s
concern regarding the issue of the protection of the Tamil civilian population
in the war zone? Secondly,
the LTTE’s political and administrative staff surrendered to the Sri Lanka
armed forces after assurances were
given not only by Sri Lankan government ‘authorities’, but those of the
international community as well. Based on the international community’s
instructions, they came with the white flag to surrender. What happened to
them? All were murdered in cold blood. What is the Sri Lankan government’s
explanation for this incident, apart from their usual baseless denials?
When the international community, especially the US, began
talking about human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan
parliamentarians and fundamentalist parties
denied the allegations. Indeed, they counterattacked by putting forward the
accusation that Western countries, particularly the US, were amongst the
world’s worst violators of human rights, and as such, are not entitled to talk
about or inquire into the human rights abuses which took place in Sri Lanka. If
this exemplifies the Sri Lankan government’s position, how can they justify
their request for an explanation for the killing of Gaddafi?
Sri Lanka, who has always placed emphasis on a home-grown
solution, should first provide an adequate explanation for what really happened
in the final stage of the war. The explanation should go beyond the usual
tirade of denials, lies and fabricated reports, such as leaked LLRC findings.
At the very least, the Sri Lankan president should begin an independent
investigation into the killing of his adviser Bharatha
Laxman Premachandra and
provide the truth to the people. Echoing the opinion of a Colombo based human rights activist,
“If the president cannot take an action for credible investigation into the
murder of his adviser, then how can he give justice to intentionally massacred
Tamil civilians?”
Sri Lanka’s president was a close friend of former dictator Gaddafi.
He and his kin were family friends of Gaddafi and his family. Soon after
President Rajapakse declared his military victory over LTTE in May 2009, the
first country he visited was Myanmar. Followed
by a visit to Libya in September of that year in order to attend the so called
‘40th anniversary of
the Great September Revolution of Libya’, where he was cordially received
by Gaddafi. During his visit, Gaddafi reassured him of his support and
commitment to advance Sri Lankan – Libyan relations, and Sri Lanka dispatched a
40-member contingent of troops to participate in the military parade, which
accompanied the anniversary commemoration. [5]
Further strengthening the relationship, according to the
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tripoli statement, dated January 20 2011, the Sri
Lankan President’s son, Namal Rajapakse, led a parliamentary delegation to
Libya early this year and handed over his father’s formal invitation to dictator Gaddafi
to visit Sri Lanka. All
these facts are clear displays of the close ties between the Rajapakse regime
and that of Libya under Gaddafi, and the reason why the Sri Lankan government
called for an explanation on the killing of Gaddafi.
If the
Sri Lankan president, using the newfound conscience of human rights, needs an
explanation for the killing of his friend, dictator Gaddafi’s,
then it logically follows that the people who value and believe in human rights
and justice also need a constructive explanation from the Sri Lankan government
for the slaughter of Tamil civilians in their homeland.
[2] http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/en/media/statements/2854-protection-of-the-civilian-population-in-libya-remains-a-concern-for-sri-lanka
[3] http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf
[4] http://www.hrw.org/news/2009/05/08/sri-lanka-repeated-shelling-hospitals-evidence-war-crimes#Hospital
[5] http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/en/media/2114-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-attends-40th-anniversary-of-libyan-revolution
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