www.innercitypress.com/un1may4srilanka050509.html
UNITED NATIONS, May 5 -- When former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans came to the UN Security Council stakeout about the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty on May 5, he looked surprised to be asked a question about Sri Lanka. But Evans wrote a book about the Responsibility to Protect, a UN doctrine enshrined in a consensus General Assembly resolution. Inner City Press asked Evans if R2P, as it is known, applies to the situation of civilians in Northern Sri Lanka. Video here, from Minute 7:57.
Evans asked that all nuclear questions be asked and answered first. This happened, touching as the U.S. statement on NPT did not, on Iran, as well as North Korea, Israel, China, Pakistan and India. Then Evan asked that the question be posed again. Inner City Press referred him to the bombing from the air, civilians trapped, as they are in internment camps even outside the conflict zone.
"I've got no doubt this is an R2P case," Evans answered, calling it the "most alarming... atrocity crime we've seen in years."
He went on to say that the UN Security Council must get more involved, and chided those blocking the Council's consideration for going against the R2P resolution they agreed to in the General Assembly. But he does not favor "sending the Marines in," but rather diplomacy to find a way to surrender. Video here, from Minute 14:55.
Some point to the situation in camps of those who've left the conflict zone, exposed most recently by Channel 4 in the UK with allegations of rape and disappearance, as another atrocity, and one that makes resolution less and less possible. There are increasing reports of young men chained naked for interrogation, and young women disappeared. The UN is saying little about this, and even so the government now threatens to expel the strikingly pro-government UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne.
John Holmes, when asked about the interrogations in Kilinochchi, quickly said that interrogations are fine. Article here, exclusive video here at Minute 5:36. Can this be the UN position? Watch this site.
