Article 85

Council Omits Sri Lanka Again
Michael Brasky
UN Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS – The Security Council revealed its program of work for the month of April on Thursday, a calendar displaying the issues on the agenda. Once again, the agenda lacked any mention, even a footnote, of the situation in Sri Lanka. As a result, barring an unlikely rescheduling, the Council is precluded from addressing a humanitarian catastrophe in northern Sri Lanka in which almost 200,000 civilians are trapped.

The agenda is presented by the holder of the Council Presidency, a seat that rotates among the 15 members on a monthly basis. Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller assumes the Presidency for April, taking over for Libya, which held the seat for March.

The Council has resisted dealing with Sri Lanka since the conflict’s recent incarnation erupted in January. Successive Council agendas have omitted the issue, only to claim they are hamstrung by the agenda when pressed to deal with the humanitarian fallout. When there is sufficient political will, the Council has the ability to raise issues in its chambers that are not on the schedule, as was the case with Gaza in December. So far however, Sri Lanka does not seem to be such a case.

While expressing deep concern, the United States and the United Kingdom have taken little substantial action on the matter. China and Russia have stood in the way of efforts to deal with the issue as well, many speculate because of arms deals the two nations have with Sri Lanka.

Asked about the omission of Sri Lanka, Heller replied that while each state has different criteria for the agenda, “some states have a very clear position that Sri Lanka is not part of the agenda of the Security Council.”

Attempting to ameliorate this harsh reality, he added, “other countries have maintained that even if it’s not on the agenda, its important to bring to attention.”
Heller commended the Secretary-General for taking the initiative to talk with the President of Sri Lanka, and assured that “the Council had been concerned about the Sri Lanka from a humanitarian perspective.”

Heller was asked to clarify on what grounds his colleagues had stricken Sri Lanka from the agenda, a striking omission considering the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict. He responded, “From what I understand, some members considered that it’s not in the agenda of the Security Council, and even if there is a humanitarian aspect it should be dealt in other places the UN system.”

He continued, “We have in a sense overcome the perspectives that it’s in the agenda or not in the agenda, but we have a found a way to treat, to be informed, to get briefed on this situation in Sri Lanka.” He concluded that the main objection of some members was that they “have not accepted that Sri Lanka is on the agenda of the Security Council.”

Heller has been among those who have advocated a Council hearing on Sri Lanka. While a meeting was held last week in the UN basement, they were closed off to the press. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes even joked to the press of its secretive nature. Nothing substantial came out of the deliberations.

The Sri Lankan government remains intent on crushing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Pushed to the brink of annihilation, the Tigers withdrew to their last base in the northeastern part of the island in January.

Civilians in the area have been trapped between a government bombardment, and a Tigers force that is using the civilians for protection. It is uncertain as to how many have perished in the conflict, but estimates believe it is well over 2,000 people. Despite calls for a ceasefire, among them the Secretary-General’s, the Sri Lankan government has declared it will continue its campaign.

Watch as I ask the Mexican Ambassador to explain the omission of Sri Lanka here.