We were never against SL: India

28 March 2014 05:01 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Indian envoy Dilip Sinha said India does not support the operative para 10 OF the resolution which asks for an international inquiry but encourages Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of an internal inquiry's report and findings.

India yesterday abstained from the vote at the United Nations session in Geneva which calls for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in the final stage of the island's civil war which ended in 2009.

Mr Sinha speaks to NDTV after the vote in Geneva.

NDTV: For the last two years, here at the Human Rights council India has been voting "yes" for the adoption of resolutions on Sri Lanka. What made India decide to abstain this year?

Dilip Sinha: As I mentioned in my explanation of vote, for the last two years we voted for the resolutions because they were in line with our policy on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Human Rights Council. This year the resolution had a certain provision that can't go along with that policy of ours which was introducing the concept of international investigation which was there in the operative paragraph ten*. This was a matter of concern for us which made us decide to abstain on the resolution

NDTV: At one point in the proceedings, Pakistan made a request that this para ten be removed from the resolution, had the council voted for this para to be removed (which it didn't) would India have voted "yes" for the resolution?

Dilip Sinha: There were other concerns also so I wouldn't speculate on what would have happened then. As far as para ten is concerned, that was a major point of concern, the other concerns as well but this operative para ten was the most important concern. It was a concern that we had expressed last year also in terms of any references to any international investigation.

NDTV: But the report of the High Commissioner of the Human Rights Council has said that there is a lack of an independent, credible investigation by the Sri Lankan government.

Dilip Sinha: Other countries, other people are free to comment but eventually it's for the country concerned to look at these. What is called "peer review" is done over here in the Council where other countries express their concerns. Then it's for the country concerned to take on board these concerns, listen to them and then apply them when it goes back to its own country in a way that the country's own image is the image of a country that promotes human rights.

NDTV: Did India ask for any changes that were accepted to the current text of the resolution that has been adopted?

Dilip Sinha: The current resolution is that of the sponsors. Our concerns were of course conveyed in terms of the High Commissioner's investigations, also in terms of the role of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and in terms of some of the comments of the internal issues of Sri Lanka- these are some of the points we have been addressing earlier as well as this year.

NDTV: Are any of these internal issues major concerns for India?

Dilip Sinha: Internal concerns are for Sri Lanka. The LLRC report is there. There are various investigations have taken place, more needs to be done so we hope Sri Lanka will carry out this.

NDTV: What about the future course of action on Sri Lanka here at the Human Rights Council?

Dilip Sinha: That will depend on the resolutions. This you should ask the sponsors of the resolution

NDTV: Would you then say that India has give full support to Sri Lanka because there's been a sense that for the last two years India has been going against Sri Lanka in a way?

Dilip Sinha: That was always a sense but we were never against Sri Lanka, we were always with Sri Lanka in this process. At the highest political level, we have conveyed to Sri Lanka that we stand for national reconciliation, peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka and we will do whatever is possible to help Sri Lanka in this process and we wish it success

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Comments - 20

Dio Rango Friday, 28 March 2014 06:41 AM

Bullshit....We cannot trust them

tony Sunday, 30 March 2014 06:52 AM

AND WE DONT LIKE ANY PROGRESS THAT SRI LANKA MAKES

Dissa Saturday, 29 March 2014 05:43 PM

you have done everything before now don't come like a friend via DM Android App

max Saturday, 29 March 2014 08:05 AM

no one against lankan people.all are against lankan brutal regime.

kith udugama Friday, 28 March 2014 02:27 PM

Well, Well, Well, Tell it to the Marines !!

rosebud Friday, 28 March 2014 03:46 PM

If India was against para 10 last year why did India vote for the resolution then - but abstain this year despite the inclusion of para 10? What was different this year? Sir , your diplomatic rhetoric does not make this clear. via DM Android App

suda Friday, 28 March 2014 08:27 AM

Ha,,, Ha,, ha..

Kapil Friday, 28 March 2014 12:46 PM

Thank you India. Next time try to be bolder by directly voting for Sri Lanka. Jai Hind! via DM Android App

Changes nothing Friday, 28 March 2014 12:24 PM

This changes nothing. India can not be trusted. If they really mean what they say, they won't create a situation that "whole world thought Sri Lanka's closest friend is against Sri Lanka, so there must be a truth to what they say". via DM Android App

kumar Friday, 28 March 2014 06:43 AM

If you support or oppose nothing is will change. But you want to share the sins of Sri Lankan war criminals.

don Sarath Friday, 28 March 2014 05:35 AM

If India was not against Sri Lanka, they would never have formed the LTTE, funded & trained them to revolt against the Sri Lanka government. India has been an enemy of Sri Lanka with a friendly garb, from the time immemorial. Now that they have realized that they have played into the hands of USA, and helped the West to create a precedence in the UN, where they also will have to face the same music in the near future, they are now coming out with sob stories. India is in a more vulnerable position now with this resolution than Sri Lanka. This is what happens when these petty politicians give prominence to their own political survival, above the national interests. This is the beginning of the disintegration of India.

CROW Friday, 28 March 2014 06:22 AM

WHY DID YOU SUPPORT LAST YEAR IN GENEVA?

Paackeer Friday, 28 March 2014 06:12 AM

These people can never be trusted. What they want is to pass this resolution without their involvement seemingly.

TJ Friday, 28 March 2014 06:08 AM

The possible investigation into the IPKF atrocities is the main reason for the Indians to abstain from voting. We can always use it as an antidote whenever they vacillate on such resolutions.

Kattaya Friday, 28 March 2014 11:37 AM

Tell it to the birds Mr. Sinha. We have not forgotten the guys who armed the terrorists in SL, those who provided training to these miserable minions, and those who dropped "Parippu" when we were on the verge of decimating the terrorists. via DM iPad app

Kattaya Friday, 28 March 2014 11:37 AM

Tell it to the birds Mr. Sinha. We have not forgotten the guys who armed the terrorists in SL, those who provided training to these miserable minions, and those who dropped "Parippu" when we were on the verge of decimating the terrorists. via DM iPad app

V Friday, 28 March 2014 11:35 AM

Mr. Don Sarath, please don't make unnecessary allegations without proper proof. HOW ON EARTH DO YOU THINK INDIA FUNDED THE LTTE? Don't create stupid allegations and start wars.

The LTTE was formed entirely in mother lanka and was funded by jaffna born tamils living in canada, uk, france etc. India was always neutral. Never supported those facists ltte. They had their late PM killed by the LTTE. They have been affected as well. So please comment only if you can prove. via DM Android App

TK Friday, 28 March 2014 06:02 AM

That means India is against the resolution

sk Friday, 28 March 2014 05:42 AM

The second question was very nice.

The answer is funny

ANTON Friday, 28 March 2014 05:40 AM

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR PM, NOT ONLY THE BACK BONE, HIS EVERY THING IS RIGID AND STRONG, FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED, VERY HONEST NEIGHBOR.
JAI HO

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We were never against SL: India

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