India readies for another UN vote on Lankan rights violations Indrani Bagchi,TNN | Mar 27, 2014, 04.53 AM IST NEW DELHI: Amid the heat and dust of the election campaign, India is preparing once again to vote on a tough UN human rights resolution on Sri Lanka, which will open the way for outside investigation into rights abuses in the island country. While India had voted against Sri Lanka on the same issue in 2013, this year the language of the resolution is more intrusive, calling for a comprehensive investigation by the UN top official on human rights. The language has become more stringent in the revised version to the extent that it breaches Indias own red lines. In an internal communication before the vote, the foreign ministry has noted that the US-sponsored resolution calls for special procedures to conduct this investigation, which is UN-speak for an outside court of inquiry. This has troubled the foreign office immensely because it is a breach of sovereignty that India has never agreed to for any country in the world. The language, officials said, suggests that if Sri Lanka does not undertake the processes to address abuses, other countries would be able to do so. The decision on the vote will be taken at the highest political levels by Thursday. Sources said with foreign minister Salman Khurshid campaigning, its likely the decision will be taken by the PM himself. In 2013, it was finance minister P Chidambaram, who driven by political interests, pushed India to go for a tough resolution against Sri Lanka. This year, though, the government is very unhappy with the final draft. This resolution will come back to haunt us, said officials. On the other hand, the election manifesto of AIADMK released last week actually promised Eelam. The AIADMK is determined to move the United Nations to take action and render justice to the Tamils in Sri Lanka and for holding a referendum amongst Tamils in Sri Lanka and displaced Sri Lankan Tamils across the world for formation of a separate Eelam, it said. The political atmosphere is therefore poisoned against Sri Lanka. The revised resolution requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to undertake a comprehensive independent investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes... establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations and of the crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedures special procedures. Officials noted that the language of the resolution had progressively become more intrusive, and will probably continue to be so even next year. Sri Lanka is looking at a yes vote from powerful countries like the US, the UK, Canada and others, perhaps India. Most of the countries pushing the resolution are those who have substantial Tamil diaspora population. Top Lankan officials have said a number of countries supporting the resolution couldnt even point the country out on a map. Sri Lanka will get support from China (which is on the council this year) and Russia, along with a bunch of developing countries. A section of Indian government is wary of pushing Colombo too far into the arms of China. Sri Lanka has emerged as a key state in Indias security matrix in the Indian Ocean. Powerful human rights groups are pushing for international action against Sri Lanka. The Human Rights Council needs to step in and act for justice because Sri Lanka has failed to do so, said Juliette De Rivero, Geneva director at Human Rights Watch. Instead of investigating those responsible for atrocities, the Sri Lankan government has cynically absolved its forces of any wrongdoing and lashed out at those seeking accountability. Passing this resolution will send a strong message to all victims of Sri Lankas war that they have not been forgotten. timesofindia.indiatimes/india/India-readies-for-another-UN-vote-on-Lankan-rights-violations/articleshow/32752323.cms
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 01:28:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015