UNESCO criticism of air strike on Tiger radio station
- These organizations refer to the Geneva Convention when making this type of statement because of this so-called ceasefire agreement.
- The FMM also made use of this situation tocondemn the attack.
- Lanka was losing the confidence of international organizations due to blunders committed.
The JVP yesterday again took to task the UN bodies citing them as sponsorship organizations for the LTTE while the UNP blamed the Government for discrediting Sri Lanka in the eyes of the international community.
Responding to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who criticized the UNESCO for condemning the air strike on the ‘Voice of Tigers’ (VOT), JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa said such UN affiliated organizations had been given the leeway to make such statements due to the recognition given to the LTTE through the ceasefire agreement.
Mr. Weerawansa said that the UNESCO also had the chance to issue a statement criticizing ‘warranted military action’ by the Government against a broadcasting station belonging to a terrorist movement.
He said these organizations also had the opportunity to refer to the Geneva Convention when making this type of statement against Sri Lanka, because of this so-called ceasefire agreement.
“There are certain things that the Government should necessarily do. We urge this matter be seriously looked into again,†he said.
He said even the Free Media Movement, which he said was a body depending on ‘dollar funds’ also made use of this situation to condemn the attack on the VOT.
“The organization called Reporters Sans Borders also did so under these circumstances,†he said.
UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said the Government had acted in an irresponsible manner during recent times, relegating the country’s status to such a low level in the international arena.
Mr. Kiriella said that Sri Lanka was fast losing the confidence of international organizations due to blunders committed.
“We do not approve of what the UNESCO did. But, the Government is responsible for discrediting Sri Lanka internationally,†he said.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama charged that the UNP was spineless to condemn in clear-cut terms the UNESCO statement on the air strike on VOT.
TNA General Secretary MP Navai Senathirajah said that VOT acted to disseminate national and cultural information to the world about the Tamil community.
Mr.Senathirajah said that the UNESCO had realized this fact as a right of a community.
Minister Bogollagama replied that even the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), now banned, also acted in a similar fashion, claiming to be providing humanitarian assistance to Tamil people.
