Encouraging developments in SL, Indonesia says

Amid intense lobbying by Sri Lanka to defeat the proposed United States-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Indonesia noted during Tuesday’s session that there were ‘encouraging developments’ in Sri Lanka despite challenges remaining.

Addressing the session, Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa said that, in addressing particular situations, the Council must take an approach that fits the specific circumstances faced.

He said that a particular approach may need to be adjusted in the face of new developments.“For instance, in the face of the steps taken towards democracy in Myanmar, and of encouraging developments in Sri Lanka, although some challenges remain,” he said. On Tuesday, more than a dozen countries including Japan, Norway and Germany made their representations during the High Level Segment of the Council. Yet, none of them dealt with the issue of Sri Lanka. They mostly focused on Syria, Iran, North Korea and Myanmar.(Kelum Bandara reporting from Geneva)