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Sri Lanka, U.N. comment on protests
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, (UPI) -- Sri Lanka says it complied with its obligations in dealing with the protest at the U.N. office in Colombo, even as the world body monitored the situation.
The demonstration, led by Sri Lankan Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, began this week to protest the setting up of a U.N. panel to look into human rights violations in the final stages of the Sri Lankan military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in May 2009.
The Sri Lankan government opposes the panel. The protesters, who want it withdrawn, have burned an effigy of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and threatened hunger strikes, raising U.N. concerns about the safety of its staff.
The Sri Lankan government said on its Web site it dealt with the protest "in compliance with both domestic as well as international obligations," adding as the government of a democracy, it had to "respect the entitlement to voice opinion, including through peaceful demonstrations."
The United Nations is "closely monitoring developments in Colombo," after receiving "assurances of the safety and security of its staff "from the Sri Lankan government, U.N. News reported.
The Sri Lankan government said the demonstrators "intend to continue with their protest, until the U.N. system revisits the matter of the Panel on Sri Lanka."
Sri Lanka denies allegations its military targeted and killed civilians or shot surrendering Tamil Tigers, and claims Ban's decision on the panel is unwarranted interference in its affairs.
A Voice of America report, quoting a retired army office in neighboring India, said Sri Lanka is not concerned about what the United Nation thinks about its military campaign as it "was a war to the finish, either way."
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, (UPI) -- Sri Lanka says it complied with its obligations in dealing with the protest at the U.N. office in Colombo, even as the world body monitored the situation.
The demonstration, led by Sri Lankan Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, began this week to protest the setting up of a U.N. panel to look into human rights violations in the final stages of the Sri Lankan military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in May 2009.
The Sri Lankan government opposes the panel. The protesters, who want it withdrawn, have burned an effigy of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and threatened hunger strikes, raising U.N. concerns about the safety of its staff.
The Sri Lankan government said on its Web site it dealt with the protest "in compliance with both domestic as well as international obligations," adding as the government of a democracy, it had to "respect the entitlement to voice opinion, including through peaceful demonstrations."
The United Nations is "closely monitoring developments in Colombo," after receiving "assurances of the safety and security of its staff "from the Sri Lankan government, U.N. News reported.
The Sri Lankan government said the demonstrators "intend to continue with their protest, until the U.N. system revisits the matter of the Panel on Sri Lanka."
Sri Lanka denies allegations its military targeted and killed civilians or shot surrendering Tamil Tigers, and claims Ban's decision on the panel is unwarranted interference in its affairs.
A Voice of America report, quoting a retired army office in neighboring India, said Sri Lanka is not concerned about what the United Nation thinks about its military campaign as it "was a war to the finish, either way."
