Protesters descend on UN as Ban Ki-moon visits Sri Lanka

Dozens of Sri Lankan nationalists rallied outside the United Nations compound in Colombo Thursday as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the island, protesting against the U.N.’s actions during a prolonged civil war.

Police held back the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks as they tried to march on the compound just before Ban arrived on the first full day of his two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

“U.N., where were you?” said one placard, which carried a photograph of a victim of a bombing blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels who were crushed by security forces in May 2009.

The protesting ultra-nationalists accuse the U.N. of siding with Tamil rebels while hardliners in the Tamil community also criticize it for failing to protect civilians during Sri Lanka’s 37-year ethnic war.

“The U.N. was silent when Tiger terrorists were bombing and massacring our people,” Buddhist monk Akmeemana Dayaratne said as protesters handed over a petition to the U.N. office to be given to Ban.

“Now the U.N. is asking for investigations to punish us for defeating terrorism,” he said, referring to the U.N.’s call for the island to probe war crimes committed during the conflict.

A police official outside the U.N. offices, located in a tightly guarded area of the capital, said officers had obtained a court order preventing protests to avoid breaches of the peace.

“We did that because we feared that any protest could lead to unrest,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Ban’s convoy arrived at the compound shortly after the protesters had been peacefully dispersed.

The U.N. leader held talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Wednesday evening after arriving in Sri Lanka from Myanmar, and is due to meet with President Maithripala Sirisena later Thursday.

-Daily Star
-Agencies