Several meetings with regard to democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka were held during the recent visit to the Netherlands of Secretary-General of the Peace Secretariat in Sri Lanka, Professor Rajiva Wijesinha. His main programme involved the 5th anniversary of the Dutch 3rd Chamber, an aid advisory group to which he had belonged in 2004. However the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Netherlands also arranged a series of briefing visits in The Hague on Friday April 18th.

            During a lengthy discussion with Arjan Hamburger, Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights, Professor Wijesinha briefed him on the situation in Sri Lanka and noted that some reports that might reach the Ambassador omitted positive aspects of Sri Lanka.  For instance, while there was much public criticism now of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission, a UNDP Stocktaking Report that was positive but suggested some areas in which capacity could be developed had been ignored, and the Head of Capacity Building at the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva had not even been shown the Report. Though now, under new leadership, UNDP in Colombo was working towards fulfilling recommendations of the Report, a whole year virtually had been wasted.

            Referring to the role of the IIGEP the Secretary General stated that the group had expressed an early determination to wind up their work, even though, as often happened with Commissions of Inquiry (COI), after a slow start to establish procedures work was now proceeding apace. He mentioned that some recommendations made by the IIGEP such as setting up of a witness and victim protection unit had been welcomed and implementation was proceeding albeit slowly. However, some comments, for instance with regard to the participation of officials of the Attorney General’s Department at the Commission, were not valid since, unlike in some countries, the post of Attorney General was not political an essential part of the legal system in Sri Lanka.  More seriously, it was a pity that the assistants to the IIGEP had adopted a confrontational attitude from the start, with their determination to issue reports on a schedule that involved ensuring Sri Lanka was subject to criticism at the UN Human Rights Council. Such timing was not part of their mandate, and was clearly beyond the possibilities of coincidence, as when the determination to withdraw in March was communicated to the Dutch Ambassador to the UN nearly four months earlier, to be dramatically conveyed to the Council.

Ambassador Hamburger stated that information provided by Prof. Wijesinha was useful and the Dutch Government has no particular agenda in Sri Lanka and they would like to see Sri Lanka progressing well. Areas in which possible assistance to develop human rights capacity and peace initiatives were also mentioned.

Professor Wijesinha also met with Mr. Paul Willms, a former member of the 3rd Chamber of Sri Lankan origin, who had spoken at the Human Rights Council to express his concern about the situation in Sri Lanka and urging to commence negotiations to arrive at a peaceful solution instead of pursuing a military solution to the ethnic problem.  Upon listening to the Secretary General, Mr. Willms noted some misconceptions he had laboured under earlier, and agreed to support government initiatives to promote integration whilst affirming that he believed negotiations were essential. Prof Wijesinha agreed and suggested that members of the diaspora should be encouraged to pressure the LTTE to abandon violence and return to talks.

The Secretary General also visited the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and met with Dr. Will Derks, Policy Officer for Asia and Mr. Jasper Veen, Regional Coordinator for Africa, former Secretary General of Liberal International.  The NIMD is involved in promoting democracy in countries affected by conflicts. Prof. Wijesinha requested Dr. Derks to assist in capacity building in the local government institutions based in the newly liberated Eastern Province and was asked to present a basic proposal, though it was noted that planning and commitment might take some time.