NoEalamInSL Sri Lanka's video: Sri Lanka Slams on US Double Standards and Politicization of UNHRC - 29 03 2012

1:27 Minister Prof G.L. Peiris exposed the US and UNHRC double standards: The decisions on human rights issues at UN Human Rights Council are very significantly politicized. These are not moral or ethical values, they are political considerations. The human rights are determined by political likes and dislikes - Just 5hours after US resolution against Sri Lanka was adopted by UNHRC, US and Israel were against resolution on Israel on HR violations. Israel said UNHRC is hypocritical, one-sided and it is politicized. Israel said they are suspending all working relations with UNHRC. - The Chairperson of the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ileana Ros Lehtinen described the UNHRC as a rogue gallery. "When UNHRC criticises some states, it is praised. When it criticises other states, it is harshly condemned," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWWF36YEXmQ Mar 29 (DM) Sri Lanka govt today accused the US of double standards when dealing with human rights stating that it maintains one policy for Israel and another for Sri Lanka. Acting cabinet spokesman Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that the US govt has opposed the UNHRC resolution to send a fact-finding mission to investigate effects of settlements on Palestinian human rights. "The resolution was passed in the UNHRC with 36 out of 47 supporting the resolution with only the US voting against. There were 10 abstentions. The Israel Foreign Minister has even threatened to consider withdrawing his envoy from UNHRC and severing ties with the body, following its establishment of a fact-finding mission to probe the effects of settlements on Palestinian human rights with the blessings of the US," he said. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman has further said that he would convene a meeting to discuss the possibility that Israel will not cooperate with the council in their investigation. "During a meeting with President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam, the Israel FM, Mr. Liberman has reportedly said he would try to persuade countries such as the United States to quit the UNHRC saying that the council was "hypocritical" and should be "ashamed of itself. Only the US called the resolution biased and voted against it which is quite contrast to the policy took in respect of Sri Lanka," Minister Yapa added. The US has also rejected four other resolutions brought against Israel and the Europe was divided on voting for and against the resolution. "The US led west took great pains to pass the resolution against Sri Lanka at the 19th UNHRC session and there was a huge propaganda against Sri Lanka. It is indeed sad and confusing as they have treated Sri Lanka in an extremely hostile manner." http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/17705-us-double-standards-minister.html 30 Mar (DN) Decisions of UN Human Rights Council determined by political likes and dislikes. The government, while reiterating that the decisions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) hinge on political likes and dislikes, yesterday (29th) insisted that there is no consistency whatsoever and commitment to principle on the part of the UN Human Rights Council. External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris exposed the double standards adopted by certain states on HRC decisions. "When UNHRC criticises some states, it is praised. When it criticises other states, it is harshly condemned," he said. Prof Peiris was speaking at the inauguration of Expo 2012 exhibition on the second day as the guest of honour at the BMICH yesterday. The External Affairs Minister explained how US responded to the resolution passed by the UNHRC against Israel at the 19th session of the Council. "Few hours after the resolution against Sri Lanka was passed at the UNHRC, the Council carried a resolution against Israel", he said. He said that the state of Israel in three phrases described the UNHRC and way it functioned as hyprocratical, politicized and one sided. The Israel Government said that they were suspending all working relations with the UNHRC. He said that the US government says that the UNHRC is a rogue gallery when it carried a resolution against Israel. Chairperson of the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ileana Ros Lehtinen described the UNHRC as a rogue gallery. The US should disassociate itself from the council and the US must find an alternative and credible form to address Human Rights issues, the Minister added. The minister was of the view that the exporters are faced with the challenge of trade agreements being politicized by the International community. "A Russian envoy in New Delhi says the resolution against Sri Lanka was motivated by political factors and by passing the resolution, the HRC has done a great disservice to itself," the Minister said. http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/03/30/news03.asp RELATED POST: GL slams US over double standards on human rights http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=48618