Geneva process moving to new level despite high cost PR campaign

Sunday, February 09, 2014 US resolution likely to be with provision for probe by Special Rapporteur, as battle for UNHRC votes continues Firm hired by Cabraal tells Congress members that anka wants closer ties with US than with China! is it a foreign policy shift" New #$% leader re&ects moves for common opposition front, while UN%'s internal conf lict worsens over nominations View(s): Though in panic mode over the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva next month, there is at least one issue less for the UPFA Government to orr! a"out # the move to form a common opposition front to ta$e it on% We are not looking for a government change. Nor are we looking for an common gro!nd with the "nited National Part ("NP)#$ the %anatha Vim!kthi Peram!na (%VP)&s new leader 'n!ra (!mara )issana ake told the *!nda +imes. ,t is the "NP that has to answer for the c!rrent sit!ation in the co!ntr #$ he charged. )issana ake said the %VP did not e-pect to .ring change soon and added that we need to strengthen o!r mem.ership at the grassroots level to replace the present s stem of governance.$ +hat# in effect# p!ts paid to efforts . the main opposition "NP to rope in the %VP# the leading opposition political part in the so!th after it# to a /oint front .ased on an agreed programme of work to challenge the Government. )!ring informal contacts# those speaking for the "NP have so!ght a common effort to change the Presidential s stem of governance# restore independence of the /!diciar and com.at corr!ption that has reached h!mongo!s levels. +his will mean the %VP will also not s!pport the main opposition&s rather half0hearted efforts to move a vote of no confidence on the Government.

+he 120 ear0old )issana ake was !nanimo!sl elected leader at the part &s ann!al convention last week. +here is a message for other political parties over how he was picked. ,t .ecame p!.lic onl last *!nda . +he 3entral 3ommittee of the Part confirmed three months ago that he wo!ld .e the leader and it remained a closel g!arded secret. +hat even st!mped a one0time %VP stalwart and now the National 4reedom 4ront (N44) leader# 5inister Wimal Weerawansa. ' we.site known to .e r!n . him declared that there was a t!ssle .etween 'n!ra (!mara )issana ake and trade !nion leader# 6al (antha for the leadership prompting a string of media reports. +he one0time revol!tionar was wrong after all. 7e can no longer .oast of having insiders who keep him .riefed. )issana ake replaced *omawansa 'merasinghe# who was once most wanted in *ri 6anka and domiciled in 8ritain since 9:;: after the %VP&s a.ortive second !prising of that period. ' senior %VPer# who praised the latter&s role# told a *inhala weekl that 'merasinghe# who ran the part from there# had sent eno!gh fa-es to fill a small room. )issana ake is known for his co!rageo!s e-pos!res in Parliament of corr!pt activit and wrong doing. 7e has .een compared in the mo!ld of the old *ama *ama/ist parliamentarians of the cali.re of )r. N.5. Perera# )r. 3olvin R. de *ilva and 8ernard *o sa and was welcomed in the 7o!se this week with pla!dits from .oth Government and <pposition .enches. )issana ake said the %VP stood steadfast for the a.olition of the e-ec!tive presidenc and the restoration of a parliamentar st le of government. 7e is of the view that constit!tional provision sho!ld .e made to limit the term of Parliament to five ears instead of the e-isting siears and for the cond!ct of elections within three months thereafter. +he %VP also wants to restrict the ca.inet to => mem.ers and repeal the Prevention of +errorism 'ct. Needless to sa # almost ever single s!ch iss!e is what the "NP also wants to p!rs!e. <n the enormo!s levels of corr!ption in the *tate sector# )issana ake noted that from the

highest levels of the Government to a Grama *evaka it has now .ecome a c!lt!re. ?arlier# to win a pro/ect :@ per cent of A!alifications and 9@ per cent of political infl!ence were reA!ired. Now# it is the other wa aro!nd#$ he said. 'ssets of those who have .ecome rich thro!gh corr!pt and illegal means sho!ld .e investigated. ,f the are proven# the sho!ld .e ret!rned to the people#$ he added. +he "NP seems read to go it alone. We are .!ilding o!r grassroots level organisations. We will intensif o!r campaign# among other matters# to a.olish the presidential s stem and also e-pose corr!ption. We will go ahead on o!r own#$ the "NP&s national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the *!nda +imes. 7e said ahead of a private visit to ,ndia that the comm!nications machiner of the part was .eing strengthened towards this p!rpose. +he remarks came as the part was em.roiled in a controvers once again# this time over the selection of candidates for the *o!thern and Western Provincial 3o!ncil elections. ,t has seen the resignation of parliamentarian Ravi (ar!nana ake from the Nominations 8oard /!st when it had completed its f!nctions. 3olom.o 5a or '.%.5. 5!Bammil&s wife# 4ero!Ba# a candidate aspirant for the Western Provincial 3o!ncil# also resigned from the over0tho!sand strong ?-ec!tive 3ommittee. )!ring a telephone call# 5a or 5!Bammil castigated the "NP 6eadership 3o!ncil (63) 3hairman (ar! %a as!ri a for letting him down.$ %a as!ri a had replied that he s!pported 4ero!Ba&s case. What is the !se of s!pporting if o! cannot deliver#$ e-claimed 5!Bammil who thereafter .anged the telephone receiver. 5!BBamil also sacked from the 353 an official who has .een appointed to co0ordinate official matters with "NP leader Wickremesinghe. ' report on these developments appears elsewhere in this newspaper. +he opposition parties have shied awa from informal approaches . the "P4' to forge a .ipartisan response at the "N7R3 sessions in Geneva as we said last week. 7ence# the Government has intensified efforts on its own. 5inisters are contin!ing to lo.. mem.er co!ntries of the "N7R3. +he latest to .e assigned are 5inisters W.).%. *eneviratne to 5orocco and )inesh G!nawardena to 'lgeria# .oth mem.ers of the "N7R3.

Peaceful transition: The JVPs leadershi chan!e fro" So"a#ansa $"arasin!he %&' to $nura (u"ara )issanay*e %+' sends a o#erful

"essa!e to other arties, $lso in the icture is JVP -eneral Secretary Til.yn Sil.a President Ra/apaksa will also speak to some "N7R3 mem.er0state leaders when he travels to 6ondon ne-t month. 7e will take part in the 3ommonwealth )a events on 5arch 9@ as 3hair0 in0<ffice of the >C mem.er0nations gro!p of e- 8ritish colonies. 8ased on the =@91 themeD 3ommonwealth +eam#$ it is to incl!de the .iggest m!lti0faith cele.ration in 8ritain. 'ccording to the 3ommonwealth *ecretariat# it will take the form of an ho!r long service at Westminster '..e # feat!ring a mi-t!re of testimonies# readings# h mns and m!sical performances. ,t will .e attended . E!een ?liBa.eth ,,# 7ead of the 3ommonwealth# and senior politicians# 7igh 3ommissioners# 3ommonwealth dignitaries and !p to =@@ other V,Ps. ,t is also to .e attended . more than 9#@@@ schoolchildren# with =#@@@ people present in total. +he 3ommonwealth *ecretar 0General will host a reception attended . +he E!een and representatives of the >C mem.ers of the 3ommonwealth at the 3ommonwealth *ecretariat in 5arl.oro!gh 7o!se# 6ondon. 'head of the visit to 8ritain# President Ra/apaksa will also !ndertake an official visit to 5 anmar. ,n New )elhi a week ago# ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inister G.6. Peiris spoke with diplomats of "N7R3 mem.er co!ntries which do not have resident missions in *ri 6anka. )etails of his talks with ,ndian ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inister *alman (h!rshid have emerged now. Peiris took considera.le time to pitch *ri 6anka&s case . emphasising on the implementation of most proposals of the 6essons 6earnt and Reconciliation 3ommission (66R3). 7e said *ri 6anka reA!ired more time to implement the remaining ones. ' so!rce familiar with the talks said (h!rshid listened to Peiris intentl .!t made no remarks. When the *ri 6ankan ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inister had finished# (h!rshid had politel declared that the Government of ,ndia had still not decided on its position vis0F0vis the "N7R3 sessions ne-t month. 7e added that s!ch a decision was to .e taken onl da s ahead of the event. (h!rshid&s response that no decision has .een made . itself is a sn!. to Peiris. +he message is that the Government of ,ndia will not .ack *ri 6anka despite his latest appeal. +hat was wh (h!rshid remained non0committal and diplomaticall dismissed Peiris& pleas . remaining silent. 6ike Peiris# Presidential *ecretar 6alith Weerat!nga who was in Washington )3 to lo.. *ri 6anka&s case ret!rned to 3olom.o earl this week. 's revealed in the *!nda +imes (Political 3ommentar ) of %an!ar =2 it was the "* p!.lic relations and lo.. ing firm +hompson 'dvisor Gro!p (+'G) that was responsi.le for the first part of his engagements. 4or that Weerat!nga was /oined . 3entral 8ank Governor Nivard 3a.raal# who has hired +'G. +hose engagements incl!ded meetings with *enate 4oreign Relations 3ommittee 3hairman 8o. 5enendeB and 7o!se of Representatives 4oreign 'ffairs 3ommittee 3hairman ?d Ro ce. Weerat!nga also held meetings with select mem.ers of 3ongress. +hese were arranged . a one0time minister of a friendl *o!th 'sian co!ntr . 7e had also flown to the "* capital. 4or this# Weerat!nga was /oined . *a/in de Vass G!nawardena# 5onitoring 5P for the 5inistr of ?-ternal 'ffairs. 6etters written to 3ongress mem.ers . +'G give an insight on the "P4' Government&s strateg for Geneva and la .are the contin!ing ineffectiveness of the *ri 6anka ?m.ass in Washington )3. 7ere is the f!ll te-t of one s!ch letter: +7<5P*<N ')V,*<RG GR<"P %an!ar =9# =@91

3ongresswoman Gwen 5oore ==1> Ra .!rn 7o!se <ffice 8!ilding Wshington# )3 =@>9> )ear 3ongresswoman 5oore: Ne-t +!esda # %an!ar =;# we invite o! to meet two disting!ished *ri 6ankan g!ests here on 3apitol 7ill regarding the international significance and importance to 'merica of events in *ri 6anka. Visiting will .e: 5r. '/ith Nivard 3a.raal is Governor of 3entral 8ank of *ri 6anka# their eA!ivalent of o!r 4ederal Reserve * stem. 5r. 6alith Weerat!nga is Permanent *ecretar to the President of *ri 6anka# 5ahinda Ra/apaksa# their eA!ivalent of 3hief of *taff to the President. +he are here to meet with 5em.ers of the 3ongress and others in Washington# to improve the !nderstanding and relations .etween o!r co!ntries. 's ill!strated on the attached map from 7ofstra "niversit # the island nation of *ri 6anka is astride the main maritime trade ro!tes of the ,ndian <cean# with fast growing economic and strategic significance as that area of the world e-periences rapid growth. 3hina is making ma/or inroads alread in *ir (sic) 6anka# .!t o!r disting!ished visitors wish to make s!re that relations with the "nited *tates are improved even more strongl . Ne-t 5onda we will deliver to o!r office a )V) of the =;0min!te mini0doc!mentar # *ri 6anka Reconciling H Re.!ilding$ . former 3NN 'nchor Gene Randall# which is to air immediatel following +his Week$ on *!nda morning in Washington# )3. ,t provides an overview of the sit!ation in *ri 6anka# which 5r. 3a.raal and 5r. Weerat!nga will e-pand !pon d!ring their 3apitol 7ill visits. 4irst0hand# the will have information on the remarka.le economic progress in *ir (sic) 6anka since the =@@: end of the long0term civil warD the s!ccessf!l regional elections that now provide representation in the government for the formerl 0ins!rgent +amil pop!lationD and the progress on reconciliation and h!man rights iss!es. Rep. Ro.ert 'derholt# who chairs the *ri 6anka 3a!c!s# is hosting 5r. 3a.raal and 5r. Weerat!nga for l!nch in the 5em.ers& )ining Room from noon to 9C@ pm on +!esda %an!ar =;. Go! are invited to come visit them at this l!nch. ,f possi.le# an R*VP to )iane Pr!netti# at (=@=) 2;=0@@9C wo!ld .e appreciated. ,f o! are !na.le to attend .!t wo!ld like to see if some other opport!nit co!ld .e created# please contact )iane Pr!netti a.o!t that. 'lso accompan ing me along with o!r disting!ished visitors will .e one of o!r former 7o!se colleag!es# former Rep. ?rnest ,stook of <klahoma# who sends along a personal note that&s incl!ded. We hope to see o! ne-t week. +hank o! for o!r time and interest. *incerel *gd: Ro.ert %. +hompson 3hairman# +hompson 'dvisor Gro!p$ 'ttached to the letter is a world map marked with 5aritime *hipping Ro!tes and *trategic

6ocations$ incl!ding *ri 6anka. ,t is from the 7ofstra "niversit # a private instit!tion in 6ong ,sland# New Gork. ' firm hired at a monthl cost of "*I 22#@@@ (more than Rs. ;.> million) ever month . 3entral 8ank Governor 3a.raal# is ignorant of some .asic facts. +'G has referred to Weerat!nga as Permanent *ecretar .$ Weerat!nga is Presidential *ecretar . 5oreover# in the precedence ta.le the *ecretar to the President is a.ove the Governor of the 3entral 8ank. 7owever# +'G has changed not onl *ri 6anka&s name to *ir 6anka$ in some instances# .!t also the co!ntr &s official precedence ta.le to place Governor 3a.raal on top. 't whose instance did it do soJ Wh were the not checked .efore the firm# doing the work of the *ri 6anka ?m.ass for a monthl fee# was allowed to circ!late itJ ,f it was not possi.le for 3a.raal himself to check on them from 3olom.o# it seems the ?m.ass in Washington )3 was !na.le to even do that little .it. <r was it kept in the dark .eca!se of its non0performanceJ 'dding to the heav costs to the Government# again from ta-pa ers& mone # was another factor. ' crew with a former 3NN cameraman was flown to *ri 6anka and granted virt!al V,P stat!s to carr o!t a shooting assignment. 'ir 4orce helicopters were placed at their disposal to o.tain footage. +he =;0min!te mini0doc!mentar $ was aired . some Washington0.ased television o!tlets for the pa ment of a large s!m of mone . +he video posted on Go! +!.e can .e accessed from http:KKwww. o!t!.e.comKwatchJvLhe4h+h9P-E?. 'ccording to a so!rce associated with the e-ercise# the cost for this paid propaganda campaign wo!ld r!n into millions of dollars. )!ring prime ho!rs# +V o!tlets charge premi!m amo!nts. +his cost is in addition to the fee for the camera crew and related e-penses# all of which will .e paid to +'G. ,t is logical to concl!de that all those efforts . the "* lo.. ing and p!.lic relations firm were to pitch the Government&s case and th!s accomplish the o./ectives of Weerat!nga&s mission M seek a five ear respite from %!l =@9= from an action against *ri 6anka. +hat was the month and ear when the Government .egan implementing recommendations of the 66R3. ,t is also eA!all logical# if not more# to discern that +'G wo!ld have carried o!t the .rief given to it . the Government of *ri 6anka. +hat this firm has told "* law and polic makers that 3hina is making ma/or inroads alread in *ri 6anka$ and asserted that o!r disting!ished visitors wish to make s!re that relations with the "nited *tates are improved even more strongl $ raises an all important A!estion. ,s there a foreign polic shift where the Government of *ri 6anka now wants its relations with the "nited *tates stronger$ than with 3hinaJ )id s!ch a .rief to +'G go from the Presidential *ecretariat# ?-ternal 'ffairs 5inistr or the 3entral 8ankJ +he Government has a d!t to e-plain not onl .eca!se p!.lic f!nds are .eing spent e-travagantl on these efforts .!t also for the reason that these are iss!es related to *ri 6anka&s foreign polic . +hat apart# as repeatedl pointed o!t in these col!mns# all this mone co!ld have .een saved if the *ri 6anka ?m.ass in Washington )3 f!nctioned effectivel . What +'G is now doing is what the ?m.ass sho!ld do. Worse eno!gh# the ?m.ass also has its own firm# 5a/orit Gro!p. +hat this is the sorr stor with most *ri 6anka overseas missions# packed with cronies and political appointees# is simpl lamenta.le# to sa the least. ,f indeed the Government wants to .!ild stronger relations with the "* than with 3hina# wh did the 3a.inet of ministers re/ect last week a proposal . ?d!cation 5inister 8and!la G!nawardena to sign a 5emorand!m of "nderstanding with the "* Pacific 3ommand for the

reconstr!ction of three school .!ildings in the NorthJ +his was revealed e-cl!sivel in the *!nda +imes (Political 3ommentar ) last week. +he proposal co!ld ver well have .een re0 ro!ted thro!gh either the 5inistr of ?-ternal 'ffairs or the 5inistr of )efence and "r.an )evelopment since the offer is free of cost. ,n marked contrast# !nsolicited proposals worth millions and millions of dollars from 3hinese companies are .eing approved ever month. ,n almost ever instance# s!ch pro/ect proposals placed .efore ministers for approval do not e-plain how these enormo!s amo!nts of mone to .e .orrowed wo!ld .e repaid. Nor do the give a .reakdown of how the mone s o.tained are to .e !tilised. 5inisters dare not speak !p. Re0pa ments with interest total vast amo!nts of mone and wo!ld have to .e made for generations to come !nless the co!ntr is Nmortgaged& to 3hina some other wa . ,n a 1=0page note handed over to those he met# Weerat!nga# who also heads a Presidential +ask 4orce# gave more details of how the 66R3 proposals were .eing implemented. With regard to the alleged war crimes# the report notes: 'llegations of s!mmar e-ec!tions of capt!red persons are .eing investigated . the 'rm 3o!rt of ,nA!ir # thro!gh a comprehensive proced!re involving interviewing all relevant 4ield 3ommanders and potential witnesses. Potential witnesses# once identified# will .e formall called as witnesses to the ,nA!ir . 4irst Part of the 3o!rt of ,nA!ir # i.e. allegation with regard to civilian cas!alties# concl!ded in 4e.r!ar =@9C. ,nA!ir concl!ded that instances of shelling referred to in the 66R3 Report were not ca!sed . the *ri 6anka 'rm and civilian cas!alties might have occ!rred d!e to !nlawf!l acts . the 6++?. +hese acts incl!de targeting civilians fleeing to the safet of 'rm held areas and likel ro!tes of escape# dropping of artiller ro!nds fired . ill0trained 6++? g!nners on to civilian concentrations etc. 'n person affected . shells and had applied to the R?P,' for compensation has .een granted redress. Whoever in/!red or disa.led d!e to war is entitled to appl for compensation on s!.mission of a medical report iss!ed . a Government )octor.$ +he 1= page report has also now .een posted on the we.site llrcaction.gov 3ontrar to claims in the "nited *tates capital that the "P4' Government&s thr!st is to restore strong relations# this week too witnessed a different mood locall . here was strong criticism of the "*. President 5ahinda Ra/apaksa directed veiled criticism when he addressed the nation at +!esda &s 22th anniversar ,ndependence )a ceremonies in (egalle. 7e declared# ?ver powerf!l co!ntr sho!ld realise the diffic!lt in defeating terrorism.$ 7ere are relevant e-cerpts: +hree decades of s!ffering ended on 5a 9:# =@@:. *ince then there has .een no .om. e-plosion or shooting . terrorists. 'nd no white flags of mo!rning in o!r villages. ,t is necessar for the people in the North to .e aware that certain foreign forces are attempting to !se them as h!man shields. +he invaders alwa s came to o!r co!ntr shedding oceans of crocodile tears. +he interfered in these co!ntries p!tting forward claims to protect h!man rights# esta.lish democrac and the r!le of law. ?ver powerf!l co!ntr sho!ld realise the diffic!lt in defeating terrorism. What we faced was a more serio!s and .r!tal challenge than the ever faced. +he difference .etween them and !s was that we instr!cted the sec!rit forces to give the highest priorit to protect the lives of civilians. +hose powerf!l co!ntries took >@ to 9@@ ears for reconciliation

after civil wars. We have to ask the world whether there is an co!ntr that has progressed so m!ch on the path of reconciliation in /!st fo!r ears. We see the !se of information provided . those who are committed to separatism and those who were defeated . the people to level charges of war crimes and other alleged offences against *ri 6anka as a grave offence. , see the attempts to level charges of war crimes against !s in Geneva toda as the tri!mph of those who are not in favo!r of peace. +his seeks to drive fear into people and nations committed to peace and working to safeg!ard a co!ntr &s independence and freedom. +hese are not fo!nded on peace# fair pla or /!sticeOOO. We *ri 6ankans who were .orn in this co!ntr have to recall the .itter memories of the past when .aseless allegations are levelled against !sO..$ Nevertheless President Ra/apaksa was conscio!s of a core iss!e in the previo!s two "* resol!tions over reconciliation. 7is aides tracked down +amil National 'lliance (+N') leader Ra/avarotha am *ampanthan to a ho!se in 3hennai on Wednesda . 6ater the connected Ra/apaksa on the telephone. +he President wished him happ .irthda # inA!ired a.o!t his health and asked him to meet him when he ret!rns to 3olom.o. +he +N' leader is on a private visit for medical reasons. Ra/apaksa is to talk to him once more a.o!t the prospects of +N'&s participation in talks towards reconciliation. %!st da s after his ret!rn to 3olom.o from the Washington visit# Weerat!nga fig!red in ,+N&s talk show )oramadalawa (Gatewa ). )efence *ecretar Gota.a a Ra/apaksa was among those who took part. 7ere are translated highlights of what he said: What , felt d!ring m visit to Washington and Geneva was that the tend to press!rise !s more# .eca!se we achieved peace witho!t an assistance or permission from them. 8!t there is a controvers within the international comm!nit in the process over resol!tions against *ri 6anka. +he opinion of most of the mem.ers in the "* *enate and the 3ongress was that 'merica is not in a position to A!estion *ri 6anka a.o!t the h!man rights violation since the themselves co!ld not properl esta.lish those rights after 9@@ ears of war. +he P!rpose of m visit was to .rief the international comm!nit a.o!t the progress made . the Government following the recommendations of 66R3 within 9; months starting from %!l # =@9=. We met 9C@ delegates in Geneva and allowed them to come !p with A!estions. 5 speech was onl for =@ min!tes whereas the Permanent Representative (Ravinatha 'ri asinha) and , answered their A!estions for two and half ho!rs. *ome of the 6atin 'merican and 'sian co!nties as well as most of the 'frican co!ntries seemed to have appreciated what we said. +he spoke on o!r .ehalf at the meeting. 't that moment , felt that *ri 6anka sho!ld pro/ect itself as a model in front of the world. +here was no co!ntr which ended a C@0 ear0long conflict with minim!m damage to the civiliansD there is no co!ntr where an 'rm accepted C@@#@@@ displaced persons and then .ecame their facilitator. +he sho!ld not e-pect !s to complete the reconciliation process within fo!r and half ears. +here are states that failed to do so even after 9@@ ears. +herefore , e-plained to them that the sho!ld look into this matter in a fair perspective. +he "* still does not give !s a clear pict!re of the proposed resol!tion it has against !s. When

, spoke to the 'ssistant *ecretar of *tate 8iswal# she was not read to look at the /!stification of what we sa . +he asked !s to follow the wa the "* acted after World War ,, . .eing magnanimo!s and forgive the opponents. , reminded her that we too forgave nearl 99#;C@ terrorists witho!t even an trial. +he ne-t iss!e the have is acco!nta.ilit . , e-plained clearl that acco!nta.ilit over this civil war is a matter of C@ ears .!t not /!st the one or two weeks of the last stages. No one can remem.er the .r!talit .ro!ght a.o!t . the ,P(4 (,ndian Peace (eeping 4orce) to this co!ntr for a.o!t two ears. ?ver thing incl!ding ,P(4 sho!ld .e taken into the acco!nta.ilit . (Note: +roops of the ,P(4 were ind!cted to North and ?ast *ri 6anka following the ,ndo0*ri 6anka 'ccord of 9:;P to ens!re a ceasefire .etween *ri 6ankan troops and separatist g!errillas. +he later ended !p fighting the 6++? !ntil late President Ranasinghe Premadasa ordered their withdrawal). , clarified the sensitivities of the reconciliation process. 8eca!se it takes time# two to three generations# as revealed in researches. *o press!rising *ri 6anka over reconciliation can onl divide the two ethnic gro!ps even more. +here might .e resol!tions against *ri 6anka .efore the 7!man Rights 3o!ncil at the 5arch sessions. ,t cannot clamp down an em.argo on !s. 7owever# other meas!res s!ch as sending *pecial Rapporte!rs might take place.$ +he latter remark s!ggests that Weerat!nga# like other "P4' leaders# is conscio!s of the passage of the new "*0sponsored resol!tion ne-t month. +he conto!rs of the latest resol!tion are /!st taking shape# according to diplomatic so!rces. <ne so!rce said it wo!ld avoid an pointed reference to an international investigation$ into alleged war crimes .!t et make provision for it in the form of an omni.!s$ cla!se. *!ch a cla!se is to follow a pream.le that wo!ld take note of the Government&s lack of progress in addressing acco!nta.ilit # reconciliation# /!stice# implementation of recommendations of the 66R3# the Nworsening& h!man rights sit!ation# Nattacks& on religio!s minorities# weakening of the r!le of law# increase in levels of corr!ption and imp!nit . +hese elements were also contained in the introd!ctor remarks the "* 'ssistant *ecretar of *tate for *o!th and 3entral 'sia# Nisha )esai 8iswal made to selected representatives of the media d!ring a .riefing at the 'merican 3enter at the end of her visit to 3olom.o. 'ccording to another so!rce# the mechanism for the proposed investigation is et to .e determined. ,t is likel that it co!ld take the form of a designated Rapporte!r who will !ndertake the pro.e on iss!es that wo!ld .e listed in the pream.le. +his wa # the "* hopes to have more co!ntries co0 sponsor the resol!tion and vote for it#$ said the so!rce. *!ch a move# the so!rce added# wo!ld also have ,ndia on .oard since the provisions# at least seemingl # do not appear intr!sive and remains foc!sed specificall on iss!es linked to *ri 6anka. +here is little do!.t that the third "* resol!tion# which is now likel to .e adopted . the "N7R3# will see the .eginning of a new process. +he Government will take strong o./ections to an visit to *ri 6anka . those cond!cting a pro.e# a move that will take the iss!e to another level. ?ven in the a.sence of an opposition common front# those iss!es are a formida.le challenge to the "P4' Government in the months and ears to come. <ne is wrong to ass!me the will simpl go awa d!e to h!rried initiatives and the rapid deplo ment of lo.. ing and

PR firms. +he A!estion that .egs answer is what the 5inister of ?-ternal 'ffairs G.6. Peiris# his 5inistr and *ri 6anka&s diplomatic missions have .een doing all these ears.