Sri Lanka Defiant Over International Probe Into Human Rights Abuses - Bernama COLOMBO, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Sri Lankas embattled government hit out against its detractors on Saturday, saying the Commonwealth cannot sit in judgment of its members and rejecting an ultimatum from the British premier on an international probe into human rights abuses. Head of Parliament Nimal Siripala de Silva emphasised that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and will resist attempts for an international investigation, Xinhua news agency reported. De Silva was responding to British Prime Minister David Camerons stance that his country will push for an international probe by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) if Sri Lanka fails to address human rights abuses during the last phase of the war by March 2014. De Silva said this is not a new threat by Britain and insisted the Sri Lankan government would appeal to other members of the UNHRC to stave off an external interference into its human rights issues. The UNHRC has passed two resolutions on Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013 and the country is likely to face renewed scrutiny in March 2014. The Commonwealth will not be used as another global policeman. Most people in the north have been looked after and allegations that Sri Lanka has violated human rights are unfounded, said de Silva. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has come under severe criticisms from the international community with prime ministers from Canada, India and Mauritius boycotting the event. Sri Lanka ended a three-decade war with the Tamil Tigers in 2009 but post-war economic development has been marred by accusations of widespread abuses of human rights that include civilian deaths during the last phase of the conflict. -- BERNAMA KLik Baca selanjutnya : ift.tt/1bN62IB
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 09:54:49 +0000
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