UN Ban's Feltman to Visit Sri Lanka But Not

Jaffna, Zeid Delay Protested

By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 24 -- One week after the UN Human Rights Council agreed to
withhold the already delayed report on war crimes in Sri Lanka, the UN announced that
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's highest political official Jeffrey Feltman will visit the country
this week, after Myanmar:
"Mr. Feltman will then travel to Sri Lanka on Saturday. There, he plans to meet with senior
officials of the Government of Sri Lanka, political parties and civil society groups. This will be
his first visit to Sri Lanka, and he looks forward to discussing with Sri Lankan leaders various
issues of mutual concern."
Inner City Press immediately asked Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman Stephane Dujarric if Feltman
will at least visit Jaffna in the north, site of protests of UN High Commissioner Prince Zeid's
recommendation of the day:
Inner City Press: I want to ask in advance whether hes going to go only to Colombo or Jaffna
where there were pretty big protests over the weekend against the decision to defer that human
rights report. Im wondering whats the relationship between his trip and that the process
supposedly in six months to
Spokesman Dujarric: My understanding is that he will only go to Colombo to meet with
various people. Well get you, as the meetings happen, well try to get you readouts.
We'll have more on this

shalin @uthayarasashali
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Today protest in Jaffna #lka @innercitypress
11:52 PM - 20 Feb 2015 Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Back on February 13 after Sri Lanka's new government spoke of doing another local
investigation into war crimes in 2009, and asking for a suspension of the UN Human Rights
Council process, Inner City Press went to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera's meeting
with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

No other media at the UN attended; only the UN's own in-house UN Photo and UN TV. But
accompanying Mangala Samaraweera were outgoing Ambassador Palitha Kohona and
others. Video here.
Ban Ki-moon, before Inner City Press was whisked out of the meeting, told Mangala
Samaraweera he had met him after the tsunami - that is, when Ban was a South Korean
diplomat.
On February 17, after High Commissioner Prince Zeid recomended and got for Sri Lanka a
six month deferral of action, Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, asked ofShavendra
Silva by IPS, said
"the Secretary-General is aware that the new administration is planning to set up a domestic
accountability mechanism and will be carefully assessing developments. The SecretaryGeneral, as you're aware, met with the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka last Friday, 13
February, and stressed the importance of Sri Lanka to show firm and clear commitment to
accountability, reconciliation and human rights. He also encouraged the Government to engage
continuously with the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Advancing accountability, like
other parts of the post-war agenda in Sri Lanka, will lay the basis for the country to make
further progress on peace, democracy and development. The UN remains committed to support
Sri Lankas efforts to address the postwar agenda. The Secretary-General is also aware of
reactions from various communities to the decision by the Human Rights Council, and the
Secretary-General will positively engage with the new Government and support its efforts."
This is shameful all around, in light of talk of accountability.
Last week, the UN's Oscar Fernandez Taranco met the US State Department's Nisha Biswal.
Inner City Press asked if it was about Bangladesh, and was told, "in part." Taranco was at Ban's
meeting with Samaraweera, here. So was Sri Lanka and the deferral request the other part?
Watch this site.
Back on February 12 Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman
for the UN's position.Video here.
First, Inner City Press asked whether Sri Lanka's Palitha Kohona is leaving the UN:

Inner City Press: yesterday, he met with Ambassador Kohona of Sri Lanka. I couldn't tell if
that was a farewell call or not.
Spokesman Dujarric: It was indeed a farewell call.
Inner City Press: And did the issue of not pursuing the Human Rights Council investigation
into Sri Lanka arise?
Spokesman Dujarric: It was, indeed, a farewell call. I mean, the Secretary-General's position
on the, on the human rights investigation is unchanged. He's obviously aware that the new
administration is considering setting domestic accountability mechanisms and will be carefully
assessing these developments. The Secretary-General has stressed the importance of Sri Lanka
establishing credible mechanisms that meet international standards. Advancing accountability,
like other parts of the post-war agenda in Sri Lanka, will lay the basis for the country to make
further progress on peace, democracy and development. The UN stands ready, as always, to
support Sri Lanka's efforts to address the post-war agenda as we have consistently affirmed.
It's a question that when raised, here, to the US State Department went so far unanswered.
New foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera is set to meet with Ban on February 13. Watch
this site.
Back on January 12 the UN said that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made this call:
"The Secretary-General congratulated President Sirisenas election and the successful
conclusion of the presidential election. The Secretary-General and President Sirisena discussed
the Presidents 100-day plan and Sri Lankas post-war agenda. The Secretary-General affirmed
continuous support by the UN to Sri Lanka."
That is, the UN's read-out of Ban's call had no mention of accountability or of the UN Human
Rights Council inquiry into the bloodbath on the beach in 2009. We'll have more on this.
After Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat but before 10:30 pm on January 8 in Washington,
US Secretary of State issued a statement, below.

Inner City Press published it, and asked the UN for its comment. Told to expect one in the
AM, New York time, Inner City Press noted, the earlier the better. Twelve hours later, there was
nothing.
So Inner City Press asked again at the noon briefing on January 9, after new President
Sirisena's inauguration. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN welcomes the
transfer of power, then later in the briefing read out this statement:
"The Secretary-General congratulates the people of Sri Lanka on the successful conclusion of
the presidential election, and welcomes the constitutional transfer of power.
"The Secretary-General applauds the Sri Lankan Elections Commission for its professionalism
in ensuring a peaceful and credible election. He also commends the efforts of the candidates,
including in particular outgoing President Mahinda Rajapaksa, law enforcement agencies and
civil society for upholding and respecting democratic governance.
"The Secretary-General looks forward to working with President Maithripala Sirisena and the
people of Sri Lanka. He affirms the continuous support of the United Nations for development,
reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability in Sri Lanka."
Inner City Press immediately asked Haq if what this reference to accountability portends for
the UN inquiry into the events in 2009. We'll have more on this.
Amnesty International has said that "Sri Lanka has for years resisted all international efforts to
investigate the conflict years, and instead relied on domestic investigation bodies that toed the
government line. This has to end the new government should cooperate fully with the UN
investigation.
Watch this site.
In other possible routes to accountability, talk of seeking justice in US courts as to several
joint American citizens in Team Rajapaksa - or on the team during the 2009 "Bloodbath on the
Beach" -- has picked up. Some team members have reportedly already left the country: we'll
have more on this.

Posted by Thavam