It has been 13 years since the three decade long battle against terrorism ended. But every year since then, allegations of human rights violations including war crimes are levelled against Sri Lanka by the Geneva Human Rights Commission, led by Western countries, are brought to the fore.
This year seven countries voted in our favour while 20 countries abstained from voting. Admittedly some accusations against Sri Lanka are baseless.
Organisations led by Western countries have continuously attempted to tarnish our reputation through various means such as the Channel 4 film and the Darusman report. In this week’s interview with the Sunday Observer, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry discussed the 51st UNHRC sessions in Geneva and the resolution adopted on Sri Lanka.
Q: The number of countries supporting us at the UNHRC is gradually reducing. Won’t this have an impact on our country’s international recognition?
A: If we consider the numbers, in reality the number of countries abstaining have increased. We can quite clearly present the relevant data. For example in 2014 only 12 countries abstained from voting while in 2021 it was 14. This year that number went up to 20.
Q: However, since 2012, with the exception of 2015 the situation appears different. The number of countries that supported us have decreased. In 2012, 15 countries voted in our favour. It went down to 13 in 2013. It was 12 and 11 in 2014 and last year. This year only 7 countries voted in our favour. Are you saying this is not a matter of concern?
A: Bangladesh, Russia and Philippines that supported us last year did not take part in the session this time around. As I said earlier, this is not a situation of seeing it as a numbers problem. This is more of an issue to do with geopolitics and an agreement between Western friends.
Q: But we lost against the resolution?
A: Yes in numbers we did. But I just explained the real situation.
Q: Do you not think this was a result of us angering certain Muslim countries?
A: It most definitely may have been an issue. This situation arose due to the problems arising from the cremation of Covid-19 dead bodies of Muslims. It may have had multiple effects on us.
Q: But this was done in accordance with medical opinions at the time?
A: What are the opinions of those who brought forward that particular medical opinion? One person said the Covid virus can emerge even after a thousand years. Another person said the virus can spread through soil and that the corpses could be used as biological weapons. I saw these individuals taking part in the Aragalaya recently.
Q: Does that mean that the false statements of some doctors indirectly helped the external pressure exerted on us?
A: Following the Easter attacks in 2019 those who levelled allegations against the Muslim community were able to become popular.
It seems to me that these theories went beyond medical opinion and highlighted false facts. In the end, those statements and actions affected us internationally.
Q: Are we not able to work towards getting more countries to support us?
A: The issue is we are not able to agree to the proposal in Article 8. It has been proposed to investigate the war crimes charges in another country. We cannot agree to that. We cannot afford to sacrifice the heroes who saved the country.
Q: Is it not our own fault that Western countries and the UNHRC level allegations against us?
A: This is somewhat correct. It’s been 13 years since the end of the battle against terrorism. We still haven’t prepared a proper mechanism. It is because the local mechanism is not working that we are having to face problems in this manner.
Q: It is the government’s responsibility to implement this mechanism. But every Government appears to have forgotten their assurances to do so before the UNHRC. Your comment?
A: It is a major shortcoming, and it is important that we act quickly. Through that, justice can be delivered to those who have faced any injustice while the innocence of our heroes can also be confirmed. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile conducted investigations through such mechanisms. There was international recognition for that.
Q: Despite making promises we have even faulted to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Your comment?
A: We promised to repeal it in two stages. Former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peiris laid the groundwork. We have acted according to the plans of the first phase. Currently it has been presented to Parliament and a committee appointed to repeal it.
Q: But some claim repealing it can lead to a security threat. Your comment?
A: The Prevention of Terrorism Act was enacted for just six months. It is not appropriate to enforce it long after the end of the battle against terrorism. We will introduce a new Act for the purpose. The opinion that this new Act will be the PTA in just another name is a fallacy. If anyone feels so, they are free to go to the Supreme Court against it.
Q:But many are being held as political prisoners, at times for over 20 years without even a trial. Has this not also impacted us internationally?
A: We must admit this has become an issue. We have identified such persons under three groups and are taking action. One group are those whose cases are still being heard. We will implement a mechanism to expedite their cases. The others are those who are currently serving a sentence after being convicted. We will look into the possibility of reducing jail time for those who did not receive a death sentence. The other group are those currently in remand prison. We will take steps to either indict them or release them.
Q: But every Minister of Justice appointed after the end of the battle against terrorism made these promises but to no avail. Does this not provide more fodder for the Diaspora?
A: I agree. We must not only make assurances but also act on them. Only then will we receive international recognition.
Q: Do you believe countries that supported the resolution on Sri Lanka did so after a proper analysis of these issues?
A: It does not appear that Western countries are acting in this manner to protect human rights. Even the countries that support their proposals support them based on geopolitical relations. For example, South Korea spoke in favour of us but voted in favour of the proposals against us. They have no problem with us. But because their security affairs are mainly with the US they supported these proposals.
Q: What methods do you propose regarding the protection of human rights in the future?
A: The 22nd amendment must be implemented. There will be a devolution of powers to some extent. A general secretary’s office should be established to deal with the 1.2 million Sri Lankan expats living abroad. We can discuss them through that office.
Q: You participated in the IMF discussions as the Finance Minister. What is the current situation?
A: IMF is like a specialist doctor. All our questions cannot be answered through it. What the IMF is doing is telling us how to get out of this crisis. All the successful countries in the world today have got its membership. America and China are also members. Likewise we have also obtained its membership. If we accept the advice given by the IMF, we will be able to come out of this crisis.
Q: Will Sri Lanka be able to withstand this advice?
A: We spend as much as three times our income. We have not utilised the loans we have taken in a manner that would generate income. Some State enterprises are losing billions of dollars. The export economy has collapsed. They will study these issues and present us with the reforms and advice to come out of this economic abyss. If we accept those instructions, we can recover.
Q: Some believe going to the IMF itself is a panacea. Your comment?
A: As I said earlier, the IMF is like a doctor who gives us medicine when we are ill and tells us to exercise and control our diet. When we are told to exercise for an hour, what happens if we do it for 20 minutes or not at all? We are now bankrupt and unable to pay our debts. We must work with the international community to come out of this. We cannot borrow from anywhere now. Therefore we have to create acceptance. If we act according to the instructions given by the IMF, we will get the recognition needed.
Q: How can we come out of this economic crisis through this recognition?
A: If we act according to IMF advice, investors will come once again. We can also get support from institutions such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Through that we can strengthen our export economy.
Q: Do you believe the IMF will bail us out?
A: At first staff level discussions were held and we participated in those. Economic policies such as tax increases were discussed. Debt restructuring should be discussed with the countries after agreeing on issues such as reducing costs, providing relief to people suffering from poverty, restructuring loss-making public enterprises, and the prevention of waste and corruption. Following this banks will have to negotiate with multinational institutions. If there is an acceptance of the debt restructuring plan then we can go to the director level discussions. It is they who will decide on giving us a loan.
Q: What caused the economic crisis and the foreign exchange drop?
A: When we took over the Government, there was a reserve of US$ 7600 million. That dropped to US$ 20 million later. Finally, the IMF said in January that our country is unable to pay its debts. Until then we did not understand the situation we were in.
A: The whole system is responsible for this. The reason for all this is the lack of proper financial management over a period of time. Proper economic management such as taking loans and using them for income generating projects was not done.
Q: Knowing that situation, why didn’t we go to the IMF earlier?
A: That is the major issue. We were administering home remedies and did not consult the specialist doctor for the ailment.
Q:The export economy of our country has also dropped significantly. Isn’t this also a cause for the current crisis?
A: Yes. The export economy, which was 31 percent in 2001, has decreased to 14.6 percent today. The export economy of countries like Malaysia and Singapore is as high as 60 percent.
We were also affected by events beyond our control such as the Covid epidemic and the war in Ukraine. That is why prices of essentials have increased by two or three-folds and coal, fuel, gas, fertilisers have increased significantly.