In an email interview with the Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka's Special Envoy to Geneva on Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe asserted that the UNHRC and the resolution seemed "to be pursuing other agendas [not human rights] bordering on the political," and went on to forewarn that "we will expose time and again and resist with all our efforts".
Reiterating the efforts made by Sri Lanka to present itself in a positive light, Samarasinghe said, "remnants of the defeated LTTE remain and wield influence in many countries".
He added,
"They are highly motivated, well-funded and are working against any success in reconciliation in Sri Lanka. They do exercise some influence in countries in which they have taken up domicile. They influence the domestic agenda in these countries."
Extracts of the interview are reproduced below. See here for full transcript on the Sri Lankan military's website.
QUESTION: What impact will the Resolution have on Sri Lanka in general, and the country's long-term development plan and the reconciliation process in particular? Will there be any sanctions involved?
SAMARASINGHE: I do not see any major impact as long as we have our plans on track. You spoke of the progress since 2009 and also raised the issues of reconciliation and development. This is what our Government is committed to doing. We have not remained in one place since the end of the battle against terrorism in 2009.
Since then, we have done tremendously well in terms of resettlement, demining, promoting livelihoods in affected areas, ensuring economic development, rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants and in the restoration of social, physical and economic infrastructure.
The Resolution has, at its heart, an agenda other than that of promotion of humanitarian issues or human rights. It seems to be pursuing other agendas bordering on the political. This we will expose time and again and resist with all our efforts.
After all, what we are doing is for the benefit of all our people. We must project this positively to the outside world and ensure that the international community is enabled to take an objective and impartial view of our situation as it evolves.
QUESTION: Why didn't we get the support of the entire Asian bloc? Is it correct to say the strong presence of the LTTE in the African region had an impact on their vote? Are you concerned about this development?
SAMARASINGHE: I adverted earlier to the extreme pressure brought on countries to vote in favour of the Resolution. We opposed it on principled grounds which I set out in my statement to the Council on Thursday (March 21).
There are internal and external dynamics in every region which must be analysed and appropriate remedial measures taken.
I took the opportunity, along with our Ambassador Aryasinha in Geneva, to meet as many delegations as we could and brief them on the reality in Sri Lanka and to inform them as to why the Resolution was unnecessary, unwarranted and ill-conceived.
The remnants of the defeated LTTE remain and wield influence in many countries. They are highly motivated, well-funded and are working against any success in reconciliation in Sri Lanka. They do exercise some influence in countries in which they have taken up domicile. They influence the domestic agenda in these countries.
We have done much to lay out the facts pertaining to the conflict before our friends in the international community. We must, nevertheless, do more to safeguard the image of the country.
