U.S. continues to warn Sri Lanka of human rights record: Gives Human Rights Achievement Award to US embassy official

U.S. continues to warn Sri Lanka of human rights record: Gives Human Rights Achievement Award to US embassy official
Thu, 2008-12-11 03:20

EVEN ASIAN TRIBUNE RINGS THE WARNING BELL ON STATE TERRORIST?

Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune

Washington, D.C. 11 December (Asiantribune.com): United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in presenting America’s highest human rights award Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award to the Head of the Political Division of the American Embassy in Colombo the U.S. sent a renewed signal to the Government of Sri Lanka that its human rights record is seriously flawed and dismal.

Political Division head Michael De Tar was one of the only three persons who received the U.S. Government's distinguished award, in the words of Secretary Rice "enriched our reporting on human rights conditions in Sri Lanka".

Mr. De Tar’s official responsibility, apart from his other political reporting duties, is to monitor human rights situation in Sri Lanka, cultivate an extensive network of civil society persons to use public diplomacy and strategic communication to influence the host government and endeavor to change its course to suit the strategic objectives of the South Asia Bureau of the U.S. State Department and bring the Sri Lanka government to the path that synchronizes with the overall human rights objectives of the United States.

Being the recipient of the coveted Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award the United Stated Government and its overseas diplomatic arm the State Department was satisfied that the American Embassy Sri Lanka in general and its political head Michael De Tar in particular 'tamed' the Government of Sri Lanka to adhere to international standards of human rights.

Secretary of State Rice presented the award to Mr. De Tar at a State Department ceremony in Washington on Monday December 9 when the U.S. marked the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The United States has been very critical of Sri Lanka’s handling of civil liberties since the Rajapaksa government started its military offensive against the separatist Tamil Tigers in mid-2006. The government acted with utmost restraints about eight months into the Rajapaksa administration amid Tamil Tiger offensive among which were attempted assassinations of defense secretary and Army Commander. Before unleashing the military offensive Rajapaksa Government repeatedly urged the Tigers (LTTE) to resume talks and negotiations to which the rebel groups replied in military offensives against key economic installations and key officials.

It is apparent during the last two years of offensive against the Tamil Tigers that the Rajapaksa government was endeavoring to strike a balance between national security and protecting civil liberties. While previous governments considered Tamil Tiger offensives 'criminal justice acts' the Rajapaksa government treated the LTTE offensive as ‘terrorist acts.’ The government’s offensive defeated the Tamil Tigers in the Eastern Province which followed provincial elections after a lapse of 14 years restoring democratic rights and civil liberties to the three ethnic communities domiciled in that part of the country.

During this period the United States and the international community was exerting pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka on human rights issues often sending Tamil Tiger terrorism which has threatened this island-nation in the Indian Ocean her sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy as a secondary issue.

This Monday’s award to American Embassy Political Chief Michael De Tar by the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in recognition of the political reporting the embassy did during this period and the use of America’s usual ‘carrot and stick’ policy to bring pressure on Third World developing nations that battle home grown terrorism which has no connections whatsoever with America’s Global War on Terror..

In making the award to Mr. De Tar U.S. Secretary of State told the Monday ceremony in Washington:

"Our diplomatic effort to advance human rights is not just a job for ambassadors, and that is why annually we confer the Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award upon an outstanding officer serving at one of our posts abroad. This year’s recipient is Michael DeTar, the chief of the Political Section of our Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka’s 25-year conflict has escalated over the last two years, triggering a sharp increase in human rights violations by the warring parties – the government, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil, and paramilitary organizations. Michael found creative and pragmatic ways to engage constructively with Sri Lanka while underscoring our human rights concerns. Michael helped position the United States to play a leading role in the stabilization and recovery of the conflict-torn Eastern Province, focusing on disarming and demobilizing paramilitaries there. He was also a key actor in the international effort to monitor an official Commission of Inquiry investigating high-profile cases of human rights abuse, and he has responded quickly and effectively when journalists and other activists have been threatened or arrested. The Sri Lankan Government adopted Michael’s proposed road map to induce a paramilitary aligned with the government to begin to release its child soldiers. So using his extensive network of civil society and media leaders, Michael has enriched our reporting on human rights conditions in Sri Lanka. And he has not only reported, he has acted. And so I am delighted to bestow the 2008 Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award on Michael De Tar."

Secretary Rice at the outset of the ceremony said:

"This week, we are joining in solidarity with human rights defenders across the globe in marking the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The Universal Declaration is celebrated by men and women of every culture and creed, every race and religion, in countries large and small, developed and developing. It transcends political and ethnic differences and national boundaries, even as it embraces humanity in all of its diversity. Indeed, the Declaration speaks directly to the desire inherent in every human heart for freedom.

Over the past six decades, democracy has spread across the globe, accompanied by remarkable gains for the rights that the Declaration enumerates. Yet, we are sobered by the fact that hundreds of millions of people are still denied fundamental freedoms by their governments.

"The United States remains committed to championing what President Bush has called "the non-negotiable demands of human dignity." To that end, and in commemoration of International Human Rights Week, I have the pleasure to bestow three awards today. The recipients were chosen out of an impressive group of nominees."

- Asian Tribune -