By Muin Abdul Majid
DAMASCUS, May 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has expressed support for a draft resolution introduced by Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, in pursuant of Malaysia's principled position with regard to non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said the members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the HRC had also expressed support for the Sri Lankan draft resolution based on the same principle.
The draft resolution relating to the situation in Sri Lanka reaffirmed the principles and purposes of the United Nations (UN), including the principles of non-interference in matters which were essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states, he said in a statement to Bernama.
"This is precisely the case with Sri Lanka, and it has the sovereign rights to undertake appropriate means in dealing with the internal situation, without the interference of other countries or the UN," Anifah said, adding that this important principle had been endorsed by NAM as well as OIC.
It was issued following MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's statement on May 23 asking Malaysia not to support the Sri Lankan draft resolution calling for UN member nations not to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.
He had said Tamils in Malaysia constituted 1.4 million of 1.8 million Indians in the country and as such, their feelings had to be respected.
According to Samy Vellu, there had to be a war tribunal in Sri Lanka to bring people who perpetrated crimes against the Tamil community there in their war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Anifah said the Sri Lankan government had undertaken efforts, on its own and together with the UN and other international organisations, to extend humanitarian assistance as well as promote and protect human rights.
The Malaysian foreign minister said this included the visit by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to Sri Lanka on May 22 which reflected that Sri Lanka was extending cooperation to the UN and other international organisations.
"We are hopeful that the Sri Lankan government would further undertake concerted efforts to bring about a conducive environment for all segments of the people of Sri Lanka to come and work together towards finding a fair and comprehensive political solution which is acceptable to all parties, besides contributing positively to promoting lasting peace and stability in Sri Lanka," said Anifah.
He said the international community should be supportive of the reconstruction efforts and, at the same time, ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights.
"The draft resolution also outlines efforts by the Sri Lankan government in the future to protect and promote human rights, rights of minorities and others," according to the foreign minister.
The Sri Lankan government had officially announced that the LTTE had been crushed by the armed forces and its founder-leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed, along with his top aides.
Anifah left Damascus yesterday after leading the Malaysian delegation at the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC.
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