This refers to media reports that Saudi Arabia would not take up its seat on the UN Security Council. The Kingdom has also rightly demanded reforms in the UN body.
Several countries have been pushing for a more inclusive Security Council in recent years. The UN’s failure to protect innocent civilians during civil conflicts has often been criticized. There is a strong belief that the council is completely paralyzed. It also does not respond in time to humanitarian crises.
In his recent speech, Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul bluntly described the UN inaction over Syria as a disgrace. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also made a strong case for urgent reform of the Security Council in his UN address.
Singh’s government, however, has drawn criticism for its role in the final stages of Sri Lanka’s war with Tamil separatists when a large number of people lost their lives. Reports say that Singh may boycott next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in a bid to pacify Indian Tamil parties who have accused Sri Lanka of human rights abuses. The premier’s advisers fear a failure to boycott the event may damage the Congress party’s chances in next year’s general election. During a recent meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa exchanged views on the post-conflict situation in Sri Lanka and the country’s cooperation with the UN.
The Secretary-General noted the government’s latest efforts to conduct the provincial elections and to implement the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
Ban also addressed the remaining challenges in reconciliation and emphasized the need for a more holistic approach.
Rajapaksa has often touted the “Sri Lankan model” to defeat global terrorism, with the country experiencing not a single incident of violence since the separatist terror group was wiped out in 2009.
Besides India, China and Pakistan also supported Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism.
These countries must now push the Sri Lankan government to speed up political reconciliation.
The UN also should step up its efforts to protect aggrieved minority communities in South Asia. The UN needs more reforms to regain its reputation. — S. T. Ramesh, Dhahran
UN Security Council’s failures major concern
