Abrogation of Ceasefire may lead to Deterioration of Human Rights
By Robert. O. Blake. Jr
Professor Fernando, Professor Orlin, Dr. Ismail, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen,
I would like to commend Professor Ravindra Fernando, the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, the Justice and Peace Commission (India), the Human Rights Education Consortium International (New York), and the Institute for Community Organization Research (India) for organizing this event, for your kind invitation to be your chief guest, and for the opportunity to speak on a subject of great importance to us all.
The friendly relations between the United States and Sri Lanka go back almost six decades. As Sri Lanka approaches the 60th anniversary of its independence, we want to build upon those ties to help Sri Lanka achieve peace, strengthen its democracy and promote economic prosperity so that this beautiful country can realize the hopes and dreams we share for it.
The United States has been a steadfast supporter of Sri Lanka’s efforts to stop the flow of arms and financing to the LTTE, by providing law enforcement assistance, and by providing training and equipment to help the Sri Lankan military defend itself against the terrorist actions of the LTTE. The ruthless murder of Minister of Nation Building Dassanayake on January 8 was the most recent in a string of assassinations by the LTTE.
While every sovereign nation must defend its people, history has shown that it is very difficult to defeat a terrorist insurgency by military means alone. Only a peaceful political solution, not a military one, offers a way out of the current cycle of escalating violence. An effective military strategy will only work if it is combined with a well-articulated political strategy to address the grievances that give rise to terrorism.
This is why the United States was troubled by the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to terminate the 2002 cease-fire agreement. The cease-fire agreement, although often violated, nonetheless provided a framework for negotiation and committed the parties to seeking a negotiated settlement. The termination of the agreement will make it more difficult to achieve that negotiated settlement that can produce a lasting, peaceful solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict.
An equally important part of national reconciliation is respect for human rights, the subject of today’s timely conference. The United States has been a strong advocate for human rights in Sri Lanka. We have seen that there is a strong correlation between levels of conflict and human rights abuses. Because of our concerns about the escalating conflict and significant human rights problems such as forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and challenges to media freedom, the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Board of Directors decided in December not to select Sri Lanka as a country eligible for a Millennium Challenge Account compact in fiscal year 2008.
Similarly, President Bush signed into law last week the Foreign Appropriations Act for the State Department that included a new prohibition on defense export licenses for Sri Lanka, with the exception of licenses for air and maritime surveillance and communications equipment to help stop LTTE arms imports. This too reflected Congressional and Administration concerns about Sri Lanka’s continuing serious human rights problems and the lack of progress in investigating and bringing to justice the perpetrators of the most high profile human rights cases of recent years.
An additional concern is that the abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement and imminent withdrawal of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission may cause a further deterioration in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. With the departure of the SLMM and the inability of indigenous Sri Lankan human rights institutions such as the Human Rights Commission to address human rights challenges in Sri Lanka, the U.S. has expressed its public support for the efforts of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to expand the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sri Lanka.
The United States is already working to assist Sri Lanka in improving the human rights situation within the country. For example, in 2007, military law professionals from the U.S. Pacific Command, in partnership with the American Embassy in Colombo, hosted a military law exchange program with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defense to exchange ideas on ways to improve transparency, accountability, and human rights in military justice. We are now developing follow-on activities which will allow us to continue working together to strengthen Sri Lanka’s military justice institutions and further improve accountability in the military.
In conclusion let me reiterate the high priority that the United States hopes the Government of Sri Lanka will accord to reducing significantly human rights violations in 2008 and our commitment to work with the Government and civil society to achieve that goal. Such progress not only could help the Administration make a case for renewed Sri Lankan eligibility for funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, but would also mark a major step in the process of national reconciliation and peace-building.
Let me again commend the organizers of today’s event. Conferences such as this provide valuable opportunities for sharing ideas, information, and best practices that can help all of us achieve our shared goal.
Thank you again for your invitation. I hope your discussions over the next few days are fruitful and productive.
Thank you.
[Ambassador Blake's Remarks at the International Seminar on Human Rights in Conflict Situations.11 January 2008, Hotel Renuka Colombo.]
dias said,
January 11, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Despite all the great work done by CSHR, Dr. Ravindra Fernando and his team, why the continuing problems with HR violations in the nation? I have scanned the CSHR website and they have many education programs for all segments of the society – except for the most important one – the politicians!
Estavez said,
January 12, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Mr.Blake should be made the next US Ambassador to IRAQ.
Millions getting killed for what?
Where is the WMD?
There’s plenty of Oil and the war was for oil. Brittain learnt its lesson and gradually pulling out of US folly. Human rights violations by US Forces are fine with Mr.Blake.
Burmese human rights violations are okay to Mr.Blake.
While giving arms and training to GOSL, he calls fro HR violations. Tamil MP’s are getting killed in places of worship and all mr.blake can do is “Condemn” and give more aid and arms training.
Tamils are herded as soon as a bomb goes off and Mr.Blake was a asleep then…????
Sam Thambipillai said,
January 14, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Rather than the abrogation of ceasefire, the right understanding of the term “terrorism”is important to find solution to the problem in Sri Lanka. The International Community and the UN are yet to understand the term terrorism and its effects in Asia.
India carries out state terror against Kashmir freedom fighters. Therefore, it backs up the state terrorism of Sri Lanka. Pakistan also carries out state Terror. This is an ignored regional problem remaining to be addressed by other western states advocating human rights and the UN.
What Robert O Blake Jr. fails to address is that retaliatory violence, and violence from the originator have different purposes. In Sri Lanka, the violence from the originator, which is carried out by the armed forces, is purely the abuse of authority by the state, with the purpose to harm and decimate the Tamil people.
Retaliatory violence by the LTTE has a resistive purpose.
The use of the term “terrorism” for retaliatory violence is misuse of the word. If retaliatory violence is called “terrorism” originator violence should be called “initiative terror”. When initiated by the state, it should be called “state terror”
The 9/11 incident was “initiative terror”.
The GOSL is involved in state terror since 1958, which is softly termed as “human rights violations” by the International Community. They refrain from using the correct term of “state terror”. Therefore, the appropriate solution to the problem is not yet achieved.
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee recently said that every country has a right to protect terrorism. Agreed. By the same arguments every citizen has a right to resist any state military terror with retaliatory military action because it is the citizens who elected the government. And any government derives its powers from the people. They have a right to protect themselves against state terror.
Every one knows that Mahinda Rajapakse speaks like a Sinhalese soldier than the president of his country.
Therefore, the Tamils of North East even have a right to the extreme of retaliatory terror, to protect themselves from the onslaught of state terror.
Devinda Fernando said,
January 14, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
*** Abrogation of Ceasefire may lead to Deterioration of Human Rights ***
Well as we Say ,…. “NO SH*T SHERLOCK!”
Do we need a PhD to tell us this? War will inevitably lead to a deterioration in Human Rights…. What Fool thinks otherwise? Just Look at the USA and the deterioration of Human Rights in Iraq and Afghanistan – in the country that the rest of the World looks up to for being the Moral Standard in these things we see just how bad the USA can slip into the chaos of War.
But can we avoid it? Can a war be fought without people dying, or being deprived of Life and liberty? Only Liars will tell you otherwise…. though the question should be what else can be done? This is a War that is necessary because 25 years of Negotiations with the LTTE have been fruitless… So the fact that thousands will die as a result fo War is Tragic, and our people will suffer but the hope is that it will not be long lasting. Prolonged warfare will help no one. The hope is that this war ends soon. Anyone who seeks to drag this out by harping on about Human rights has a Hidden Agenda or is clueless as to the reality of War.