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National Justice Collective calls for a firm stand against UN Resolution 60/21
View(s):The proposed UN Resolution on Sri Lanka- 60/21 represents a direct, existential threat to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, constitution, governance, and armed forces, and thereby immediate, categorical rejection is essential, a civil society led collective said.
On behalf of the National Justice Collective (NJC), the National Joint Committee wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that partial compliance, delay, or co-sponsorship risks irreversible damage to national unity, the integrity of the military, and the independence of Sri Lanka’s institutions.
Signed by Anula Wijesundara and Jagath Dias of the NJC, the collective statement said that compliance with the UN Resolution would irreversibly compromise national unity, governance, and the authority of elected representatives.
The NJC also alleged that by using a handful of UNHRC member states, the Council has passed intrusive resolutions and secured illegal mandate overreach, which is then effectively legalised as national law by appeasing domestic governments and undermining national sovereignty.
Pointing out that the demands outlined in 60/21 exceed the UNHRC mandate (Resolution 60/ 251), violate Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, contravene international law, and represent unprecedented foreign intrusion into domestic governance, the collective said that “Immediate and unequivocal rejection is essential to prevent irreversible damage to our nation”.
Listing the UNHRC demands and threats to the nation, the collective outfit is of the view that the demand to repeal or amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would directly compromise counter-terrorism operations and national security, threatening the unity of Sri Lanka at a time when separatist agendas persist.
On the call to sign and ratify Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), the NJC said that the move would place detention facilities and sensitive security operations under foreign oversight exposing classified intelligence, compromising military strategy, and undermining sovereignty.
On demands to ratify the Rome Statute (ICC), the outfit said it subjects Sri Lankan citizens and officials to foreign judicial authority, undermining judicial independence and national sovereignty. On full implementation of the 13th Amendment, the NJC said external enforcement risks internal division, political instability, and fragmentation of national authority.
Terming setting Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Hybrid Court as cumulative threats to the nation, the NJC said these represent the final steps that would permanently place Sri Lanka under international oversight, eliminating the authority of Sri Lanka’s elected representatives.
“Combined with the other demands already embedded via Resolution 30/11 (2015), full compliance would lock Sri Lanka into a system of foreign control with no room for sovereign decision-making,” the statement said.
As one of its recommendations to external threats, the NJC urged the government to strengthen the Commission of Inquiry, Courts and the Attorney General Department for “homegrown accountability”.
It also urged the government to engage bilaterally and regionally with friendly countries in the Global South, BRICS and the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) to reject intrusive UN mandates.
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