US circulates draft resolution against SL

8 March 2013 06:04 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The US circulated a draft resolution in Geneva against Sri Lanka on Thursday asking Sri Lanka to ‘provide unfettered access to Special Rapporteurs’ and the high commissioner for human rights to push this through with ‘technical assistance.’

The draft resolution, obtained by Daily Mirror online, observed that Sri Lanka had failed to “honour its public commitments, including on devolution of political authority”

The Times of India (TOI), meanwhile stated that the draft resolution presented by the United States is against India's consistent stand of non-interference in internal affairs of countries.

The TOI further said the draft resolution could complicate New Delhi's efforts to honour the sentiments of Tamil MPs while protecting ties with Colombo.

Following are excerpts of the Times of India report on the draft resolution.

Reacting to angry demands on Thursday for action against Colombo in view of fresh "evidence" of war crimes against Tamils in Lanka, foreign minister Salman Khurshid told Parliament, "We will take into account the views of the MPs, the developments on the ground, what Sri Lankan government has done and what the other nations have said" before taking a decision on the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva."

Khurshid, like PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, refused to commit India's decision until seeing the final text of the resolution. Separately, Ghulam Nabi Azad told members of Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) that India would back a resolution that is non-intrusive.

But balancing the imperative to mollify the anti-Sri Lanka opinion with the need to stick to principled stand to prevent outside powers from interfering in the sovereign affairs of nations was looking much more difficult after the US circulated the draft of its resolution for UNHRC. Scheduled to be voted on March 21, the American resolution has several intrusive provisions.

The redeeming feature that it is only the first draft, which may be modified before the vote. India is also pushing the Lankan government to directly deal with the US with their own points of view. Diplomats say the Lankans are yet to hold elaborate talks with Washington. India will be anxiously awaiting Lankans' negotiations with Americans and its outcome.

New Delhi has reasons to be uncomfortable with the US resolution. First, India has had problems with country-specific resolutions, though after voting against Lanka last year, that objection no longer holds water.

Second, observing that Sri Lanka had failed to "honour its public commitments, including on devolution of political authority", the resolution backs the "establishment of a truth-seeking mechanism as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice".

The high commissioner for human rights has demanded an "independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law", and the resolution asks Lanka to implement it. This would open up external intrusion into Lanka's internal affairs. India has traditionally stayed away from such recommendations as they contradict sovereignty provisions that New Delhi guards jealously.

In its explanation of vote last year, the ministry of foreign affairs (MEA) had observed, "we also underline that any assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights or visits of UN Special Procedures should be in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Sri Lankan Government.... A democratic country like Sri Lanka has to be provided time and space to achieve the objectives of reconciliation and peace."

Third, the resolution asks Sri Lanka to "provide unfettered access to Special Rapporteurs" and the high commissioner for human rights to push this through with "technical assistance" which, diplomats say is a euphemism for intrusive procedures in Lanka. India had welcomed the LLRC report and has pushed for the implementation of 13th Amendment Plus which has been promised by Rajapakse to PM Singh. In the past year, there has been no implementation.

The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been asked to produce another interim report on Lanka's compliance during subsequent HRC sessions.

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Comments - 31

kumar Friday, 08 March 2013 11:37 AM

Whether India support or not, the sanction will be passed with vast majority of the votes for sure.

RAJU Saturday, 09 March 2013 08:42 AM

WHOEVER DID , WHEREVER DID, WHENEVER DID, CRIME IS CRIME AND CRIMINAL IS CRIMINAL. VICTIMS NEED JUSTICE.

AMT Saturday, 09 March 2013 08:16 AM

It is necessary for true reconciliation

tjeyar Saturday, 09 March 2013 12:00 AM

Can US call for solution in Kashmir Muslim people?Here v have better freedom than Indian Muslims have. via DM Android App

SL_EXPATS Saturday, 09 March 2013 05:13 AM

They way the county is moving now... Very Soon.. Muslims also will need a justice.. Sorry to say.

Kumar Friday, 08 March 2013 07:35 PM

Don't live in fear: first of India, then of LTTE, and then of the Diaspora, the U.S. BBC... the list goes on.

Just do the right thing - be fair, be accountable, and pay for any sins if there were sins, inadvertent or otherwise.

Then good things will happen. Hiding and obstructing in cowardice will only ensure unending misery for all.

Helaya Saturday, 09 March 2013 12:00 AM

Wonder how these funny guys of so-called UNHRC going to compensate the loss to innocent lives due to brutal terrorism of LTTE, at - train bombing @ Dehiwala - Massacres @ Dollar Farm & Kent Farm - Bombing at Pettah bus stand - Killing Buddhist monks @ Aranthalawa. - Killing innocent pilgrims & monks @ Anuradhapura sacred city. and many many more. How many innocent Tamils, Muslims they murdered. How many politicians, professionals ? via DM Android App

Siddhartha Friday, 08 March 2013 02:50 PM

Divide? Please think seriously. Just because we have UNP and SLFP along with TNA we already find difficult in problem solving. If we further divide ...Can not even imagine the outcome!

idroos2002 Friday, 08 March 2013 02:29 PM

All sri lankans must join hands to defeat this enemy of ours

GOBI Friday, 08 March 2013 02:27 PM

Gadafi and its allies said the same......

boru balu sena Friday, 08 March 2013 01:53 PM

where is Balu sena boys' la?

Dulan de Silva Friday, 08 March 2013 12:08 PM

Why not?

jehan Friday, 08 March 2013 11:42 AM

always justis only for Tamils that is the main reason for the problems whos goign to help those sinhelese and muslims who lost their lifes due to attacks from the LTTE ?

Kavitha Friday, 08 March 2013 11:39 AM

Dear Lobo, If a Government of a country acted like a terrorist group. It must be treated in same way.

aji Friday, 08 March 2013 07:11 AM

international investigation only the way to bring truth and justice for tamils.

kumar Friday, 08 March 2013 11:35 AM

Tamils don't sing baila it's Sinhalese. Are you dumb? It is about war crime investigations!!.

Sandra Friday, 08 March 2013 11:13 AM

Well commented. Good for US and their felons.

Rohan Friday, 08 March 2013 11:10 AM

Good move to support the terrorists.

No Drog Friday, 08 March 2013 10:48 AM

need a legal frame work for not repeating 83 56 or 77

Nodrog Friday, 08 March 2013 10:45 AM

There is no truth..only hidden agendas. No body cares for the tamils except as bait. When will the mutta tamils realize this?

lal Friday, 08 March 2013 09:47 AM

Unaccetable intrusion into internal matters in Sri lanka. The draft resolution belongs to the waste paper bin.

Lobo Friday, 08 March 2013 09:24 AM

Tamils keep singing this same baila about justice..please enlighten us on what justice? How about justice for the other communities? Will the diaspora and LTTE rump be responsible?

Nodrog Friday, 08 March 2013 09:22 AM

All you who are not happy with the way things please bugger-off to another country. Why insist on staying here and complaining all the time?

Samantha Dikshith Friday, 08 March 2013 09:19 AM

India is not our friend in need. India is a friend when we don't need AT ALL. Actually when they need us.

warElephant Friday, 08 March 2013 09:18 AM

an intrusive resolution into the internal politics of a country

GOBI Friday, 08 March 2013 09:06 AM

if permanant peace is achievable through dividing country why not considering

kingasanga Friday, 08 March 2013 07:54 AM

Is all other countries in the world secure their HR issues?

Raj Friday, 08 March 2013 07:53 AM

If you want to devide SL yes that is the only way.

Nadaraj Friday, 08 March 2013 07:24 AM

Good move by USA

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US circulates draft resolution against SL

Comments - 31

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