By Noor Nizam
(September 08, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) The news report by the Press Trust of India quoting APF – Colombo, Sept. 7th., of Sri Lanka’s stand in not denting to the pressure of UNICEF officials in Colombo today on the decision already made to expel Mr. James Elder’s – Communication Chief for UNICEF in Colombo
(according to the UNICEF website and not the spokesperson) is a communication metaphor to the International community that Sri Lanka will stand firm on all its decisions made regarding the defence of its integrity and sovereignty.
The message is also to reiterate to the patriots of Sri Lankan, whether they live in Sri Lanka or are domiciled aboard that the present government of HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa is not a political lion that can me tamed my the West, what may come in defending their “Mawratta” Sri Lanka Maathaa.
The local politician from down south of Sri Lanka and a maestro in the game of Human Rights advocacy who is a shining star in the International political area knows the expertise well. Fit to be the head of the Non-Aligned nations group, in the present international scenario, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not only guided his Secretary of Foreign Affairs on how to expel the undesired so-called experts guilty of been covertly supporting a campaign to dismantle the democratic process in Sri Lanka and to discredit a democratically elected government. This is a government elected by the people which has brought much peace and harmony to it’s 21 million inhabitants of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and other minorities, since May the 17th., this year who now call them Sri Lankans.
But Sarah Crowe, UNICEF's chief of communication for South Asia, speaking from Katmandu and then India , said that Sri Lanka "had made blatant and unacceptable accusations" and that a meeting today between UNICEF and government officials in Colombo had failed to resolve the dispute. The stand was – Mr. James Elder has to go “Expelled”.
Dr. Palitha Kohona Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking from Colombo said:
“Mr Elder had made a series of “unfounded statements” that echoed TamilNet, a Tamil news website said to be supportive of the LTTE. “How can a UN official do this? A UN official should have an absolute commitment to impartiality,” said Mr Kohona. “He was expressing his views in a very unprofessional manner.”
To the BBC News, this is what Dr. Palitha Kohona had to say:
“ Mr Elder had issued statements "which were not exactly based on facts, which were not researched, which were essentially reflective of the LTTE [Tamil Tigers'] perspective". "He was doing propaganda, in our view, in support of the LTTE."
Ms. Sarah Crowe may have been ignorant of more of the violations of international UN codes and codes applied to news publication by so-called ‘spokespersons’. Ms. Sarah Crowe has said from India and then Kathmandu ,
“that Sri Lanka "had made blatant and unacceptable accusations" and that a meeting today between UNICEF and government officials in Colombo had failed to resolve the dispute”.
Ms. Crowe needs to read the following documents to enlighten herself of the grave violation committed by her Communication Chief in Colombo .
a) D 116 Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.
b) Staff Regulations of the United Nations established by General Assembly Resolution
590 (VI) of 2 February 1952 As amended by Resolution 47/226 of 8 April 1993.
The answer to the UNICEF officials who met with the Sri Lankan officials has been a clear message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government. Mr. James Elder, the Communication Chief of UNICEF in Colombo has to leave. Little does Ms. Sarah Crowe realize that she too has violated the laws of international covenants which qualify Sri Lanka to make her “Persona-non-grata” to Sri Lanka .
How dare Ms. Sarah Crowe make threatening statements to the international media that UNICEF will take the case to UN headquarters in New York if the Sri Lankan government did not change its mind.
"If it does come to this, and the government doesn't appear to be rescinding the decision, we would have to take it to a higher level," Crowe has said. "We would find it most regrettable if they were not going to rescind the decision," she added. (http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86033).
The Sri Lanka government including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also punish Ms. Sarah Crowe for such highhanded International Civil Service attitudes and deem the UNICEF's chief of communication for South Asia , “Persona-non-grata” with immediate effect. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan government need praise for their actions and steadfastness both locally and internationally. -Sri Lanka Guardian
Home Unlabelled Kohona makes the right decision
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International aid agencies have a duty to speak out if they witness a wrong, regardless of which country they are in. UNICEF, however, should think twice about opening their mouth. It was only a few years ago that their Kalkota office turned a blind eye to a Human Rights NGO that tried to contact them about children dying of starvation less than 200 yards from the front door of their office. Complaints via email and hard copy to their Indian and Head Offices went unanswered. It's easy to make comments about starving children when you live an executive level lifestyle.
This has become a style for UN agencies around the world. They are run by a bunch of highly paid officials insensitive to local needs and truth. They behave like parasites well looked after by terrorist outfits. Because most of these officers are paid top dollar, they align themselves only with money. The outfit pays the top dollar these people do cough and make a mockery of social justice. Then again there is one yard stick for the west, and another for the east. The host government is displeased with the conduct of any of these officials; they should be at liberty to terminate their stay without fear of retribution by the other senior officials living outside the country. There should not be permanent positions in UN and its affiliated agencies, except for routine administrative duties. They should be appointed for very specific assignment for a very specific period.
If Ms Crowe has exceeded her function as a paid servant of a UN organisation, she is unworthy of representing the UN in any forum.Only an elected official of a sovereign state has the right to make public comment on the behaviour of a country. A staff member of the UN can report a disagreement to their principals, who can take the matter up with the country only through the UN Security Council comprisng of its peers from the world. But it unacceptable for a paid functionary to make public comment displaying ignorance and arrogance. Ms. Crowe should be sacked from her position and organisation.
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