UN panel only advisory, not judicial, says Robert Blake

The UN panel on Sri Lanka appointed by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will play only an advisory and not a judicial role, said US Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake while addressing the media a short while ago in Colombo.

Mr. Blake said that the panel will only advise the Secretary General and that it would not play the role of a judiciary body as it did not have such powers.

He said that he was pleased to be back in Sri Lanka and see so many old friends.

“I have had a very productive series of meetings today with President Rajapaksa, Minister Peiris, other members of the government, as well as with the business community, opposition leaders and members of civil society.

“The U.S. has long been a friend of Sri Lanka and we hope to build on that friendship. The U.S. welcomed the defeat of the LTTE last year.

“With President Rajapaksa’s impressive victory in the recent presidential elections and his party’s equally strong showing in the Parliamentary elections, Sri Lanka now has a unique opportunity to forge lasting peace and prosperity after decades of war.

“Achieving reconciliation will be a key element in such peace.

“One part of achieving reconciliation will be to finish resettling all internally displaced person as soon as possible. The U.S. continues to be a leading donor in providing humanitarian aid for the IDPs, supporting de-mining, initiating programs to provide jobs for returning IDPs and catalyzing new private sector investments in the north to provide new economic opportunities. We have provided a total of $140 million in just the last 2 years.

“Another key part of reconciliation will be to assure accountability will be to assure accountability to redress just wrongs. Secretary Clinton told Minister Peiris in May that Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission holds promise, and we hope and expect it will fulfill that promise.

“A last pillar of reconciliation will be to advance democracy and human rights. Minister Peiris affirmed during his last visit to Washington that Sri Lanka wants to revive and to strengthen its institutions of democracy. Progress in implementing greater power sharing with the provinces, implementing the 17th Amendment to empower independent commissions such as the human rights, police and bribery commissions, and efforts to safeguard media freedom, will all be important steps in ensuring a future of hope, peace, and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.

“The U.S. will continue to be Sri Lanka’s partner in these endeavors,” the former US Ambassador in Colombo stated.