Dharamsala, 20 August 2003: The Central Tibetan Administration expressed its deep regret over the demise of Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello while serving in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.
In a condolence message, the Kalon Tripa said that the tragic death of Sergio Vieira de Mello is a huge loss to the UN, the international community and all those people in troubled spots in the world where he worked to end suffering and bring security and stability in their lives. “His death will also be mourned and he will be deeply missed by people who suffer and continue to suffer human rights abuses”, he said.
The Human rights activists and the people who respect human rights suffered a major blow as the newly elected UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Sergei Vieira De Mello was killed yesterday in the bomb explosion at the UN headquarters in Iraq.
Mr. De Mello, a Brazilian by birth, succeeded Ms. Mary Robinson as the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights last year.
Mr. Sergio was a tireless and selfless public servant who paid the ultimate price doing what he believed in deeply: defending the inherent and inalienable dignity and rights of every human being.
Sergio’s abilities were beyond question, which was why he went to so many trouble spots around the world.
The Kashag, while condemning these acts of terrorism, pointed out the obvious fact that dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation are the only means available to end the cycle of death, revenge and violence.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kofi Anan, the UN Secretary General, said that he shared the grief of Sergio’s family and that he would miss him sorely, as a colleague and as a friend. “Let us also strive to be worthy of him, and to complete the work that he began, so that his death will not have been in vain”, Mr. Anan said.
Expressing shock and outrage over his death, the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement issued yesterday, said, ” We believe the best tribute we could pay to him and the other colleagues who lost their lives in this despicable attack is to carry on with their mission of assisting the people of Iraq to rebuild their country and build a solid foundation of human rights”.
Mr. Sergio had offered his service to the humanity in conflict prone and war-torn nations. He had helped people resolve their conflicts and rebuild their societies. He had worked in many countries as an official of the High Commissioner for Refugees, as Emergency Relief Coordinator, as UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Kosovo and East Timor, and as High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He had spent his last days of life in Iraq with a mission to rebuild Iraq and ensure the people of Iraq inherit a free country. Mr. Sergio will be remembered as a selfless UN official who had always put others’ happiness before him.
