{"id":44086,"date":"2015-11-20T21:49:24","date_gmt":"2015-11-21T01:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=44086"},"modified":"2015-11-20T21:49:24","modified_gmt":"2015-11-21T01:49:24","slug":"obama-administration-should-use-samantha-powers-visit-as-an-opportunity-to-recalibrate-washingtons-rhetoric-on-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=44086","title":{"rendered":"Obama Administration Should use Samantha Power\u2019s Visit as an Opportunity to Recalibrate Washington\u2019s Rhetoric on Sri Lanka."},"content":{"rendered":"

By Taylor Dibbert<\/strong><\/p>\n

Samantha Power, America\u2019s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), is in India and Sri Lanka from November 18 \u2013 23. In India, she\u2019s set to meet human rights activists, members of civil society and senior government officials. On November 20, she\u2019ll give a speech about UN peacekeeping.<\/p>\n

While far less significant on the geopolitical front, Power\u2019s visit to Sri Lanka could be a tricky balancing act. Regarding the Sri Lanka portion of her trip, the U.S. mission to the UN has stated the following:<\/p>\n

In Sri Lanka, Ambassador Power will highlight the United States\u2019 commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership, and she will underscore U.S. support for the country\u2019s efforts toward reconciliation, accountability, and lasting peace in the aftermath of a devastating civil war. <\/p>\n

In Colombo, she will meet with senior government officials, community leaders, civil society groups, and youth.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While in Sri Lanka Ambassador Power will travel to the northern city of Jaffna to meet with local government officials and organizations and communities affected by the conflict. There, she will meet with members of the local press corps, including by visiting the headquarters of Uthayan newspaper, which was targeted during the war.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Power will also participate in the inauguration of a new wing of Osmania College, which suffered significant damage during the conflict, as well as tour the Jaffna Library, where she will announce U.S. support for the local restoration of ancient Tamil manuscripts.<\/p>\n

This appears to be a busy agenda and Power\u2019s visit to the Tamil-dominated north is an encouraging sign. Unfortunately, Power\u2019s previous comments on Sri Lanka (like many other current U.S. government officials)have not always been helpful. <\/p>\n

The Barack Obama administration should use Power\u2019s visit as an opportunity to recalibrate Washington\u2019s rhetoric on Sri Lanka. Regrettably, the Obama administration has been way too upbeat about Sri Lanka\u2019s progress since the ouster of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Now is an auspicious time to make a change.<\/p>\n

Power needs to speak clearly about the challenges ahead and the concerns regarding the new government\u2019s performance. (And there are many concerns.) Power could express apprehensions about a reform agenda that appears to have stalled. Kusal Perera, a Colombo-based journalist, notes that there is \u201cno clear national program and no political will for much needed reforms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specifically, Power could emphasize the plight of Tamil political prisoners and the urgent need for action. Some political prisoners have been released on bail, though most (out of a number thought to exceed 200) have not. Troublingly, some reports have suggested that released prisoners will participate in the government\u2019s \u201crehabilitation\u201d program for ex-combatants. <\/p>\n

This would be a very troubling development. After all, the government\u2019s rehabilitation program is incompatible with international standards and even basic aspects ofhuman dignity. No one else should have to participate in such a controversial and inhumane program.<\/p>\n

Ruki Fernando, a human rights activist, has called the release of some political prisoners a welcome first step, even though \u201cit\u2019s wholly inadequate and doesn\u2019t mean justice.\u201d Fernando believes that, in order to prove its sincerity, the government \u201cmust share clear and official information\u201d about how many people are being held, how long they\u2019ve been detained and what the status of each prisoner is.<\/p>\n

Power could also speak about the consultative processes surrounding the country\u2019s transitional justice plan. It\u2019s not clear where things stand at the moment and the administration of President Maithripala Sirisena needs to clarify, with a degree of detail, how it\u2019s going to handle consultations with community members across a war-torn nation \u2013 especially in the heavily militarized north. <\/p>\n

\u201cMs. Power must go beyond diplomatic niceties, ask tough questions and speak forthrightly about the continuing human rights abuses,\u201d says Fernando. He believes that \u201cshe must also highlight the lack of progress in dealing with past abuses, and challenge the manipulation of Sri Lanka\u2019s commitments to the Geneva resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Power\u2019s visit to the island nation, the Obama administration can regain some credibility by dialing down its soaring rhetoric regarding the Sirisena administration\u2019s performance thus far. Perera says that, for a government that\u2019s \u201cnot steady economically it\u2019s difficult to balance social issues, when they believe finding answers to minority issues would sway the majority against them,\u201d and that that explains why the Sirisena administration has been so reluctant to release Tamil political prisoners.<\/p>\n

Ten months on, Sirisena\u2019s political will remains in question. It\u2019s incumbent upon him to prove, through actions, that Colombo is serious about fulfilling past promises. Power\u2019s visit could signal the beginning of a slightly more realistic stance from Washington. Let\u2019s hope that she seizes the moment.<\/p>\n

Courtesy:The Diplomat<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Taylor Dibbert Samantha Power, America\u2019s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), is in India and Sri Lanka from November 18 \u2013 23. In India, she\u2019s set to meet human rights activists, members of civil society and senior government officials. On November 20, she\u2019ll give a speech about UN peacekeeping. While far less significant on …<\/p>\n

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