UN Rights Chief Criticizes Iran, Sri Lanka
U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay has singled out Iran for its crackdown on protestors after last year's election in an address at the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Pillay said human rights are ''deteriorating'' in Iran and that she is deeply concerned.
She also criticized Sri Lanka for failing to examine abuses committed during the government's war last year with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Pillay presented her 2009 report to the U.N. body Thursday.
She noted that the U.S. made some progress toward closing its prison at Guantanamo Bay. She urged Washington to thoroughly investigate torture allegations there and at the U.S.-run prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. (courtesy AP)
In the prepared text for delivery introducing the Annual Report made available to the press by UNHRC Ms. Navanethem Pillay stated:
"In Sri Lanka the opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the government. I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard."
5 Comments
UN is only and still talking about human rights violations. Its time they took some serious action against proven human right abuses and atrocities committed during the recent war against the Tamil minority. Perpetrators should be brought to justice.
Miss Pillay reckons that the Srilankan government should reckon to undertake an investigation of abuses by all sides.
Srilanka was fighting a war against terrorists who were determined to carve out more than two thirds of a country that has been one of the oldest democratic countries in the region.
UN never tried to disarm the Terrorists and restore normalcy for thirty years.Then again UN always side with the Terrorists as long as the terrorists are not a threat to the main tier members except Russia and China.
The chief Navi Pillay can make as many statement as she wish, Mr Ban Ki Moon will cosh it to protect Jajapaksa and Gothapaya.
: Ex Lankan,
Please donot talk rubish, Are you a tamil trying to discredit Sinhalees?
So Pillai, for heaven's sake Stop singing the 'Human rights song' and do something productive for a change such as helping some of the poorest people on earth e.g. those living in Tamil Nadu or Africa !