U.S. to work with Sri Lanka on UN resolution

[Gibbs]

@Azizam @Godman @NGV-H @Saradiel @HeinzG .. Results of a more balanced foreign policy or better diplomacy ? Or is it that the UNP is more pro West ?

U.S. to work with Sri Lanka on UN resolution addressing alleged war crimes| Reuters

Aug 26 The United States said on Wednesday it would work together with Sri Lanka's new government to propose a resolution to a U.N. human rights forum that seeks to come to terms with the painful legacy of a 26-year civil war.

Washington will move the resolution, to address responsibility for alleged human rights abuses and propose a framework for reconciliation, at next month's U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

"We have recognised that there is a different opportunity that exists today and a different landscape for trying to advance reconciliation," Nisha Biswal, U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, told reporters in Colombo. "We look forward to a process in Geneva that allows an opportunity to reflect on that."

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who led Sri Lanka in the final years of the Tamil insurgency, lost a presidential election in January and failed in his bid to come back as prime minister in the Aug. 17 polls.

The election strengthened President Maithripala Sirisena, a reformist leader who has taken steps to reconcile Sri Lankan Tamils with majority Sinhala speakers, many of whom still regard Rajapaksa as a national hero.

Biswal said the thrust of the resolution would be decided after reviewing the findings of a UN investigation into war crimes alleged to have been committed in the final phase of the civil war that ended in May 2009.

The UN has previously estimated that the final offensive ordered by Rajapaksa claimed the lives of around 40,000 Tamil civilians.

 

[Godman]

@Azizam @Godman @NGV-H @Saradiel @HeinzG .. Results of a more balanced foreign policy or better diplomacy ? Or is it that the UNP is more pro West ?

U.S. to work with Sri Lanka on UN resolution addressing alleged war crimes| Reuters

Aug 26 The United States said on Wednesday it would work together with Sri Lanka's new government to propose a resolution to a U.N. human rights forum that seeks to come to terms with the painful legacy of a 26-year civil war.

Washington will move the resolution, to address responsibility for alleged human rights abuses and propose a framework for reconciliation, at next month's U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

"We have recognised that there is a different opportunity that exists today and a different landscape for trying to advance reconciliation," Nisha Biswal, U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, told reporters in Colombo. "We look forward to a process in Geneva that allows an opportunity to reflect on that."

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who led Sri Lanka in the final years of the Tamil insurgency, lost a presidential election in January and failed in his bid to come back as prime minister in the Aug. 17 polls.

The election strengthened President Maithripala Sirisena, a reformist leader who has taken steps to reconcile Sri Lankan Tamils with majority Sinhala speakers, many of whom still regard Rajapaksa as a national hero.

Biswal said the thrust of the resolution would be decided after reviewing the findings of a UN investigation into war crimes alleged to have been committed in the final phase of the civil war that ended in May 2009.

The UN has previously estimated that the final offensive ordered by Rajapaksa claimed the lives of around 40,000 Tamil civilians.

The answer is both and some more.
While more balanced foreign policy helps without the UNP's pro-west policies and having an ideology similar to western countries helped a lot and they had very close relations with the US and West even when they were in the opposition

With a friendly government in power US got a really good ally in South Asia and they want to keep it that way.
This is mostly because of US interests but its a win-win situation. both the US and Sri Lanka can achieve their national interests

 

[MohitV]

good news.....signs of harmony and economic development in the region




Sri Lanka's position is perfect for shipping, trade and commerce

 

[Godman]

This is a few months old article during Biswals previous visit after the Presidential elections
Sri Lanka’s geopolitical importance to the United States | Groundviews

I found it very interesting and a really good analysis , specially this part

"Understanding Biswal’s visit to Sri Lanka

The new Sri Lankan government led by President Maithripala Sirisena have expressed their need to revive ties with both India and the United States. And this change has induced newfound interest in Sri Lanka by the United States as the former is positioning itself away from the previous government’s inclinations towards China.

Even though during her visit, Biswal stated “rebuilding the economy, preventing corruption and advancing good governance, ensuring human rights and democratic participation for all citizens” is the United States’ primary concern, it is felt that they are indeed only keen on achieving a few of these intentions. As much as the U.S. positions itself as a protector of human rights and urges post-war reconciliation and accountability issues in Colombo, it can be identified that the real reason behind Biswal’s journey – albeit expected – were to re-establish economic ties between the two countries. Having been threatened by the increasing Chinese involvement and presence in the region, the U.S. has identified this recent change in Sri Lanka as a method of re-establishing its ties with the island nation and thereby reaping the maximum benefit from the region. This is visible from Biswal’s statement in Colombo when she said the U.S. looks forward to “growing and deepening our partnership, to advancing trade and investment, and to expanding the bonds between our people, our governments, and our civil societies and our businesses.” Economic relations between the two countries have been strong with the United States providing more than two billion U.S. dollars in assistance to Sri Lanka since the latter’s independence 67 years ago. And it is also the largest single importer of Sri Lankan goods amounting to approximately 2,436.7 million U.S. dollars. Biswal’s visit to Sri Lanka can thus be identified as a mechanism to realize one of their four-pronged strategies of the New Silk Road, i.e. to link businesses and people.

Another way to look at Biswal’s two day tour of Colombo is to look at the infrastructure development and projects that were taking place in the country over the past decade. During the Rajapaksa era, all if not most of the infrastructure projects were channelled through Chinese funding and their companies. As a country which has huge interests in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region as a whole, the United States has found the change of government in Sri Lanka a relief as it will now be able to re-enter the country via its funding for the latter’s physical development. Therefore it can be asserted that Biswal’s sudden visit to Sri Lanka was to reinstate itself as a friend and a possible donor country to help Sri Lanka achieve its development goals, thus making use of its soft diplomatic powers. Assisting Sri Lanka in developing its infrastructure network which includes roads, bridges, electrical transmission grids, railways and pipelines to connect energy, goods, services and people permits convenient access to the country for the Americans and an ally in the strategic region. This strategic move by Biswal allows the U.S. to achieve another of its strategies from the New Silk Road vision, that of boosting transportation routes and investing in critical infrastructure.

Over the years the military relationship between the two countries has dwindled and is now almost non-existent. Earlier in 2014, Biswal expressed the U.S. Government’s interest in the “resumption of a more comprehensive military relationship” with the Government of Sri Lanka. As much as the Sri Lankan forces have been gaining knowledge and experience by being exposed to training programmes in the U.S., it has now come to a point where the latter are able to learn about guerrilla warfare from the Sri Lankan forces. Even though a lot has been said about the war, its latter stages and its aftermaths, it must be understood that the Sri Lankan army were indeed able to destroy a well organised and intelligent terrorist group, which had the ability to terrorise not just Sri Lanka, but several countries around the world. Therefore, similar to the United States educating other national forces on intelligence gathering, fighting techniques etc, it is now able to gather knowledge and know-how on fighting guerrilla terrorist groups from the Sri Lankans.

As Biswal visited the United Kingdom to meet her counterparts there, the U.S. National Security Advisor, Susan Rice updated their national security strategy stating it will help countries in transition, such as Sri Lanka. This leap of faith is advantageous for Sri Lanka as it can see whether the U.S. will indeed stand alongside Sri Lanka as Biswal stated “Sri Lanka can count on the United States to be a partner and a friend on the way forward” at the upcoming March sessions of the UN Human Rights Council or whether the super power will only be interested in building the business ties between the two countries and increasing the investment opportunities for themselves in this strategically located island nation."

Bhagya Senaratne holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Colombo. Her areas of interest are the South Asian region and its geopolitics. She has previously worked in several government ministries including the Ministry of External Affairs.

 

[Gibbs]

The answer is both and some more.
While more balanced foreign policy helps without the UNP's pro-west policies and having an ideology similar to western countries helped a lot and they had very close relations with the US and West even when they were in the opposition

With a friendly government in power US got a really good ally in South Asia and they want to keep it that way.
This is mostly because of US interests but its a win-win situation. both the US and Sri Lanka can achieve their national interests

But not at the expense of the steadfast allies China and Pakistan and even Russia, I'm all for balanced approach and good relations with everybody but should never ever put the apples in the cart with the US or the West

 

[Godman]

But not at the expense of the steadfast allies China and Pakistan and even Russia, I'm all for balanced approach and good relations with everybody but should never ever put the apples in the cart with the US or the West

The policy would be balanced and the US will increase their investments and aid to Sri Lanka alongside Japan and EU.
Chinese national interests are still there. They want to create their string of pearls which again helps both China and Sri Lanka. The new government also allowed CHEC to go ahead with phase 2 in Hambantota so they are here as well but will face lots of competition

Sri Lanka's foreign policy will be like Singapore. They have really close relations with the west and China as well as other neighbors.

 

[Styx]

@samv

so what's going on here ?

 

[samv]

@samv

so what's going on here ?

USA to sponsor pro-Sri Lanka resolution at UN

 

[Styx]

USA to sponsor pro-Sri Lanka resolution at UN

lol, who are these people ?

 

[samv]

lol, who are these people ?

Main picture:

On the left: Sri Lanka's foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera

On the right: USA's Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal

Bottom left: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's prime minister

Bottom right: Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lanka's president

These people are a joke.

 

[Styx]

Main picture:

On the left: Sri Lanka's foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera

On the right: USA's Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal

ah, cool.. those are the ones I was wondering about, I know the other 2, they're our guys.

 

[Azizam]

It's thanks to UNP being pro-west. I am only interested at what economic benefits US can offer.

 

[Gibbs]

It's thanks to UNP being pro-west. I am only interested at what economic benefits US can offer.

Agreed, US is already the biggest market for SL exports

Any way as the govt has indicated all the Chinese projects and investments are going ahead as usual.. So now its time to drag in the US and EU in to the mix of Japan, Malaysia, Singapore etc to compete.. Those who shunned the country during the last regime.. Germany has already restarted investments i hear..

Win win situation imho

 

[Gibbs]

US Falls in Line With India on Lanka War Crimes Probe -The New Indian Express

COLOMBO: The United States appears to have fallen in line with India’s consistent position that charges of war crimes and human rights violations relating to Sri Lanka are best investigated by an independent and credible domestic mechanism rather than an intrusive international mechanism, threatening its sovereignty.

The US, which had made the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) pass a resolution calling for an international investigation into the charges in the March 2014, has climbed down to accepting a independent and credible domestic investigation.

It has also said that it will move a resolution in the September session of the UNHRC, which will be drafted in “collaboration” with the Lankan government and other stake holders. It says that it is doing so after taking into account the changed Lankan political landscape and the “tremendous” progress made by the new regime in Colombo, in addressing the reconciliation issue.

This is in line with the India’s case for a credible domestic probe as opposed to an international probe, enunciated in the March 2014 session of the UNHRC.

Explaining India’s decision to abstain from voting on the US resolution, Ambassador Dilip Sinha had said that it ignored the progress already made by Lanka. He pointed out that the High Commissioner's report had itself acknowledged the progress made in reconstruction and resettlement and in the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

While calling for an effective and timely implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC report, including those pertaining to missing persons, detainees, reduction of High Security Zones, return of private lands by the military and withdrawal of security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province, Sinha pointed out that India had consistently taken the stand that every country should address human rights violations through robust national mechanisms.

“The Council's efforts should therefore be in a direction to enable Sri Lanka to investigate all allegations of human rights violations through comprehensive, independent and credible national investigative mechanisms and bring to justice those found guilty. Sri Lanka should be provided all assistance it desires in a cooperative and collaborative manner,” Sinha said.

 

[Saradiel]

@Gibbs, I doubt US's intentions here