FACTORS MAKING FOR GOVERNMENTAL VICTORY AT ANY COST -- Jehan Perera
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- Tuesday, 16 April 2013
The Sri Lankan government continues to be unyielding in its approach to governance and reconciliation issues. Having fought against the United States for two successive years in the diplomatic arena at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and failed to win against it, the government now appears to have changed its strategy. It has hired not one but two US companies that it believes are adept at public relations campaigning and are paying them to get the government’s message across. This action gives an indication of the government’s approach. PR firms are known to give a positive spin to their client’s activities. The hiring of PR firms for lobbying in the United States suggests that the Sri Lankan government is not thinking of changing its own policies. Instead it is thinking it can change the US government by projecting a positive image of developments in the country.
13.04.13 Media Release
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- Saturday, 13 April 2013
Respect the Right of the Tamil People to Exercise their Franchise in a Free and Fair Election
The burning of the printing press of the Uthayan newspaper in Jaffna comes shortly after an attack on its distribution point in Kilinochchi. These targeted acts of violence perpetrated on the largest circulation newspaper in the Northern Province have taken place despite the very large presence of security forces. They also follow another violent attack on a meeting of the largest opposition Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, in Kilinochchi where the security forces present on the scene remained inactive. The TNA, as well as the Leader of the Opposition, have alleged that these attacks are carried out by soldiers in civil but the government denies them. A government spokesperson has said the latest attack is an inside job to discredit the government. The National Peace Council condemns these attacks regardless of who is behind them.
The NPC notes that these attacks are occurring in the context of anticipated provincial council elections for the Northern Province. The government has promised to hold these elections in September and the international community is monitoring this promise. The issue of the Northern Provincial election was referred to in the resolution on reconciliation in Sri Lanka of the UN Human Rights Council last month. We believe that the democratically elected government has the responsibility to stop these types of attacks, find the culprits and bring them to justice. If not, the credibility of the government as one that follows democratic norms will collapse. It is therefore important that these elections be held according to internationally acceptable standards.
HARSH REALITY OF ANTICIPATED NORTHERN ELECTIONS -- Jehan Perera
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- Thursday, 11 April 2013
The passage of the second US-sponsored resolution at the March session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva appears to have served as a wake-up call to the government. One aspect of the government’s response has been to hire a new public relations company in the United States. This PR effort seeks a favourable revision of US policy through a more professional approach than the previous PR effort. The mandate of the new public relations initiative is to positively project the government’s achievements in post-war rebuilding to those that matter in the US policy making circles. It is also to obtain more space and time to achieve reconciliation on the ground.
04.04.13 Media Release WARNING SIGNS OF A REPEATING CYCLE
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- Thursday, 04 April 2013
Two incidents of lawlessness and violence last week highlight a dangerous breakdown of the Rule of Law. The first was a mob attack on a political meeting of the opposition TNA in the northern town of Kilinochchi. Although the official security personnel assigned to protect the four MPs were all present in addition to local police, they did nothing to stop the mob that disrupted the meeting. The police are by law required to prevent any acts of violence which take place within their sight. The second incident was a mob attack on a clothing store in the vicinity of Colombo belonging to a Muslim merchant.
