'Non Aligned Movement's letter defending President Rajapaksa government was not agreed to by NAM member India'
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 18 -- Amid charges by the UN that the Non Aligned Movement's letter defending Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa government was not agreed to by all NAM member, notably India, the UN is insisting there is no contradiction between its statements about a panel to advise Ban Ki-moon about approaches to war crimes in Sri Lanka.
On March 18, Inner City Press asked Ban's Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq about his quote that the panel would not be established very soon and Ban's March 16 statements that there would be "no delay."
"To many it seems contradictory," Inner City Press began. "By many you mean you?" demanded Farhan Haq.
Well, no. Even after the briefing, a number of UN correspondents who neither ask nor write about Sri Lanka approached Inner City Press to say they too found it confusing, no delay but not very soon
Haq tried to square the comments by saying no delay in considering the terms of reference. Presumably Ban considered this before informing Mahinda Rajapaksa he was going to name the panel. Again, timing in this regard should be compared to Guinea, where the September 2009 killing of 150 civilians has already triggered a UN panel, terms of reference and investigation long completed. No delay?
To Read this Inner City Press Report in full: On Sri Lanka, UN Puts Spin on "No Delay," Jabs at NAM, Will Fonseka Meet Pascoe?
Also Inner City Press on March 19th quoted the UK Permanent Representative to the UN Mark Lyall Grant saying that the UN "does have a mandate through the UN charter to uphold human rights and humanitarian international law, and therefore he is entirely within his rights to set up a group of experts who will advise him on taking forward his concerns about some of the allegations that have been made in the recent months in Sri Lanka."
Full report: UK Disagrees With NAM Letter
7 Comments
The Non-Aligned Movement? India is Capitalist and arguably pro-American, Yugoslavia is out of the Map, Egypt is Pro-West (though with a Fundamentalist-Islam tinge for the survival of the corrupt regime)Ghana has shed its communist leanings and was chosen by Obama to be the only Sub-Saharan African country he visited and Indonesia is Capitalist-Pro West. These were the founding fathers
of NAM around 1962. Now annually a few low-level officials go on a junket to keep the name alive. Even China and Russia are now down the capitalist path
leaving NAM a virtual orphan.
If someone in the regime thought a letter from the NAM to the UN will save their souls they have more than one think coming. India distancing her from this letter takes the wind out of its sails. Who is the "ratharan moley" in Cbo behind this tragico-comedy - a further embarrassment to a regime under seige within and without?
ISS
Not necessary...........
majority signatories speak onbehalf of all............
The crux of the matter is that the Chair of the NAM moved it.
Raping women and child is Indian army's one of many tactics, particularly whenever the pervert Indian Congress in power the army have exercised. Example Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Congo and within India too. As far as the so called big brother of Asia (India's) concern, what Sri Lankan army have done is not an issue. India will vigorously oppose to any kind of war crime investigation which will expose Indian government's involvement too. The rapist got so much influence in the current tarnished UN establishment.
I hope the civilised countries like UK, Europe, USA and Canada will take the initiative to cleanout the dirty infiltration and set a standard for the future.
... Well, no. Even after the briefing, a number of UN correspondents who neither ask nor write about Sri Lanka approached Inner City Press to say they too found it confusing, no delay but not very soon.
Why would UN correspondents who neither ask nor write about SL, ask about SL ????
I wonder why our UN mission cannot do anything to offset this propaganda machine right at UN.
Shan
"I wonder why our UN mission cannot do anything to offset this propaganda machine right at UN. "
Houdini has left the building already.
The UN was always having a soft corner for Sri Lanka. For example, the UN donated vehicles in the luxury class (like Toyota Prado) for govt. organizations like Health Ministry. Most of these vehicles have gone unaccountable and what had the UN done about it? They are now being used as private vehicles by those in power and aspiring to be in power. If this this the accountability of Moon or Sun we do not want it. If you have a spine Mr.Moon, stand erect and ask all the questions from the root!