Govt. denies claim Gen. Shavendra barred from UN peacekeeping panel

... complains about chairperson’s high-handedness to Asia, UNSG

A top diplomatic source in New York last night blasted the Canadian Chairing the UN peacekeeping committee Louise Frechette of behaving like an outrageous white supremacist after she unilaterally issued a statement stating that Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the world body, who was appointed to the panel by the Asia-Pacific group, was dropped from the committee.

The source said it was only she who did not speak to Gen. Silva, while all its other members had no such hang ups. "Gen Silva is attending the committee this very minute, even though she had claimed that he is barred from it," he said.

Although the self-appointed international community comprising mainly the ex-colonial powers had accused Silva of human rights violations, no one has come forward with even a stroke of evidence against him.

Sources said Frechette, a former UN deputy under secretary general, who was earlier sacked for her role in the Iraq food for oil scandal, had said on Wednesday, referring to Gen Silva, that she did not care whether he is the representative of the Asian group or not, but she would decide who would speak or not.

She had also said that she would have him thrown out, but following a counter campaign launched by the Sri Lankan permanent mission to the United Nations she could not keep her threat, sources said.

It is also reliably learnt that Sri Lanka had complained to the Asian countries and the Secretary General about the high handed and disrespectful attitude adopted by someone who had to leave in disgrace for her scandalous role in the food-for-oil programme in Iraq.

"Following careful consideration and consultation with other SAG members, the chair, Louise Frechette, has advised Major General Shavendra Silva of Sri Lanka, that his participation is not appropriate or helpful for the purposes of this group. He will not participate in its deliberations," said a statement released by Frechette.

(The Island)