UN rights chief transgressing mandate: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Sunday accused UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay of transgressing her mandate during her week-long fact-finding mission in the country to probe alleged war crimes committed during the ethnic conflict with the Tamil Tigers.
"The high commissioner's observation that Sri Lanka is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction is a political statement on her part, which clearly transgresses her mandate and the basic norms which should be observed by a discerning international civil servant," information department said in a statement.
The government charges that she had failed to recognize the freedom people now enjoy following the end to the conflict in 2009.
Her judgment on the leadership of Sri Lanka was "better left for the people of Sri Lanka to decide than being caricatured by external entities influenced by vested interests", the statement said.
The government complains that Pillay's contention that people who had met her during her visit had come under military harassment was yet to be officially conveyed to it. "Pillay's office must provide evidence to prove the allegations in order to investigate it," said government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.
Rambukwella, also the minister of information, told Colombo Gazette that some groups may attempt to discredit the government by either threatening those who spoke to her or making false claims to that effect.
The minister also said the UN high commissioner of human rights was given the freedom to travel and meet anyone she wanted and that opportunity may have been used by those who wanted to meet her and pass false information.
The government says detailed information were provided to her on the falsity of the war crimes allegations often repeated by the UN rights chief.
She had only made her call for an international investigation by innuendo.
The government also slammed Pillay for her failed attempt to make a floral tribute at Mullivaikkal, the theatre of the final battle with the LTTE.
"It was pointed out to her that if such a gesture needed to be made it should be done at a venue common to all victims of the 30 year terrorist conflict and not on the grounds where the LTTE leader met its death," the statement said.
The UN human rights chief's week-long visit at government invitation was meant to assess first hand the post conflict reconciliation in the island.
Sri Lanka ran a campaign of public castigation of the UN rights chief for her Tamil affinity albeit of South African origin.
She was accused of favouring the LTTE and working to target Sri Lanka on the dictates of the pro-LTTE diaspora. Pillay's visit came following two successive UNHRC resolutions on Sri Lanka moved by US and backed by India. Both resolutions urged the country for expeditious implementation of the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations for reconciliation with the Tamil minority.
As many as 40,000 people were reportedly killed in the last months of the conflict between Sri Lankan troops and the LTTE rebels fighting for an independent homeland.