Protesters demand end to UN human rights investigation

Protesters outside the UN headquarters in Sri Lanka are demanding the UN end investigations into alleged war crimes. The leader of the government-supported protests is staging a hunger-strike, saying he will fast until the UN changes its mind on Sri Lankan human rights.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon recalls Sri Lanka envoy

NEW 5 hours ago | South Asia

The UN secretary-general has recalled his envoy to Sri Lanka and is closing an office in Colombo because of "unruly protests"

U.N. recalling envoy, closing office in Sri Lanka.(CNN NEWS)

U.N. recalling envoy, closing office in Sri Lanka

By Iqbal Athas, CNN

July 8, 2010 1:22 p.m. EDTJuly 8, 2010 1:22 p.m. EDT

Wimal Weerawansa addresses the media amid calls for the abolishment of the U.N. panel in Colombo on Wednesday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Secretary-general issues a rare rebuke of a member state over protests
NEW: Ban Ki-moon denounces the protests as "unacceptable"
Construction minister launched a "fast unto death" to demand an end to the probe

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- The U.N. secretary-general is recalling an envoy from Sri Lanka and closing a U.N. office there because authorities in that country "failed to prevent" protests disrupting the "normal functioning" of the world body's offices in Colombo, the nation's capital.
The move is a rare rebuke of a member U.N. state by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who on Thursday called the "unruly" demonstrations organized and led by a Cabinet minister "unacceptable."
Ban recalled U.N. Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne to New York for consultations and decided that the United Nations Development Program Regional Center in Colombo will be closed.
"The Secretary-General calls upon the government of Sri Lanka to live up to its responsibilities towards the United Nations as host country, so as to ensure continuation of the vital work of the organization to assist the people of Sri Lanka without any further hindrance," the United Nations said in a statement.
Wimal Weerawansa, the construction minister, began a "fast unto death" outside the United Nations compound in Colombo Thursday to demand that the organization stop its investigation into alleged war crimes.
He told reporters he would fast until Ban dissolves a panel made up of an Indonesian, a South African and an American.
Ban appointed the three-member panel to advise him on violation of human rights and related issues when Tamil Tiger rebels were militarily defeated in May last year. The move is prelude to a war crimes inquiry.
The United Nations has been concerned about accountability issues related to the rebels' defeat, including alleged war crimes by troops and rebels -- allegations that both parties deny.
"Ban's move is intended to bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa before a war crimes tribunal. We will not allow that to happen," Weerawansa told a news conference earlier in the week.
Nearly 100 Weerawansa supporters gathered Thursday morning outside the U.N. compound. The entrance to the complex was open, however, as some staff went about their work.
In New York, U.N. associate spokesman Farhan Haq said Ban's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, met with Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations, Palitha Kohona, who gave "full and clear" assurances of U.N. staff safety and security.
He added that Weerawansa said U.N. staff would be allowed to move in and out of the compound.
"We trust that the government of Sri Lanka will honor the commitments made in ensuring the safety and security of our staff so that they can continue the vital work being carried out by the United Nations each day to help the people of Sri Lanka," Haq told reporters in New York.
The U.N. Country Team (UNCT) confirmed that essential staff will return to normal work starting Friday.
"However, as there are some indications of demonstrators remaining outside the compound, the UNCT will assess whether all staff could return soon," Haq said.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasing urged the government to make a statement on how a minister ended up staging demonstrations.
"Today, Sri Lanka is on the verge of being labelled as an international fugitive facing the risk of being hauled up before the International Criminal Court," Rajapaksa's one time foreign minister and now an opposition MP, Mangala Samaraweera, told parliament.
The two English morning national newspapers also criticized the move.
The Daily Mirror said in an editorial "after all this drama the government issued one of its silliest statements ever" justifying the siege as a "peaceful demonstration."

The Island newspaper said Weerawansa and his supporters "must be condemned unreservedly for their abortive bid to hold U.N. staff incommunicado."

U.N. appoints human rights panel for Sri Lanka

By the CNN Wire Staff

June 22, 2010 1:50 p.m. EDTJune 22, 2010 1:50 p.m. EDTJune 22, 2010 1:50 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- The United Nations secretary-general has appointed a panel of experts to probe human rights violations "during the final stages" of last year's civil war in Sri Lanka.
The three-member panel will advise Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the advancements of a commitment made by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year on human rights accountability in the country, a spokesperson for the secretary-general said.
The panel will study the international standards to human rights and apply them to accountability processes that can be used in Sri Lanka.
"It will be available as a resource to Sri Lankan authorities should they wish to avail themselves of its expertise in implementing the commitment," the spokesperson said in a statement.
A decades-long civil conflict in Sri Lanka ended last year.
The war, which pitted government forces against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers) -- who were seeking an independent homeland in the country's north and east -- ended last May. More than 65,000 people died in the strife.
The U.N. has been concerned about accountability issues related to the military defeat of the rebels, including alleged "war crimes" by troops and rebels -- allegations both the government and the rebels deny.
"The secretary-general remains convinced that accountability is an essential foundation for durable peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka," the spokesperson said. "Through the panel the secretary-general expects to enable the United Nations to make a constructive contribution in this regard."

The members of the panel are Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia, Yasmin Sooka of South Africa and Steven Ratner of the United States.