In Sri
Lanka
Post-Rajapaksa,
US Obama
Speaks, UN
Still Silent
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
January 8 --
On Sri Lanka's
election,
after Mahinda
Rajapaksa
conceded
defeat but
before 10:30
pm on January
8 in
Washington, US
Secretary of
State issued a
statement,
below.
Inner City
Press
published it,
and asked the
UN for its
comment. Told
to expect one
in the AM, New
York time,
Inner City
Press noted,
the earlier
the better.
Elevent hours
later,
nothing.
Now at 10:30
am, Washington
time, US
President
Barack Obama
has said this:
"On
behalf of the
American
people, I
congratulate
the people of
Sri Lanka on
the successful
and peaceful
conclusion of
Sri Lanka’s
presidential
election and
incoming
President
Maithripala
Sirisena on
his
victory.
I also commend
the outgoing
administration
of former
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa for
facilitating a
swift and
orderly
transition of
power.
Beyond the
significance
of this
election to
Sri Lanka, it
is also a
symbol of hope
for those who
support
democracy all
around the
world.
International
and domestic
monitors and
observers were
permitted to
do their jobs.
Sri Lankans
from all
segments of
society cast
their ballots
peacefully,
and the voice
of the people
was
respected.
At this moment
of hope, the
United States
looks forward
to deepening
its
partnership
with the
people and
government of
Sri Lanka and
to working
with President
Sirisena to
advance peace,
democracy, and
prosperity for
all Sri
Lankans."
Meanwhile
Amnesty
International
has said that
"Sri Lanka has
for years
resisted all
international
efforts to
investigate
the conflict
years, and
instead relied
on domestic
investigation
bodies that
toed the
government
line. This has
to end – the
new government
should
cooperate
fully with the
UN
investigation.”
One might have
expected the
UN itself to
say this, and
perhaps they
still will.
Watch this
site.
In other
possible
routes to
accountability,
talk of
seeking
justice in US
courts as to
several joint
American
citizens in
Team Rajapaksa
- or on the
team during
the 2009
"Bloodbath on
the Beach" --
has picked up.
Some team
members have
reportedly
already left
the country:
we'll have
more on this.
Kerry
said:
STATEMENT BY
SECRETARY
KERRY
January 8,
2015
Conclusion of
Sri Lankan
Elections and
Election of
Maithripala
Sirisena
The Sri Lankan
people deserve
great credit
on the
successful
conclusion of
their
elections.
They turned
out in great
numbers to
exercise their
democratic
rights and
every vote was
a victory for
Sri Lanka.
The United
States
applauds the
Sri Lankan
Elections
Commissioner,
the security
forces, Sri
Lankan civil
society, and
the candidates
themselves for
making sure
this election
was not marred
by unrest and
for ensuring a
significant
drop in
campaign-related
violence. It
will be
important for
that effort to
continue in
the coming
days.
I commend
President
Rajapaksa for
accepting the
results of the
election in
the proud
tradition of
peaceful and
orderly
transfers of
power in Sri
Lanka. His
words tonight
about
accepting the
verdict of the
people and
moving forward
are important.
I look forward
to working
with
President-elect
Maithripala
Sirisena as
his new
government
works to
implement its
campaign
platform of a
Sri Lanka that
is peaceful,
inclusive,
democratic,
and
prosperous."
It's
done. But what
does it
portend for
the
Rajapaksas'
military /
diplomatic
corps, like
Shavendra
Silva and in
New York,
Palitha
Kohona?
, 
