Compromise resolution possible: Subramanian Swamy

12 March 2013 03:04 am

The US has taken a hard stand against Sri Lanka in its draft resolution on the human rights situation in the island nation tabled at the on-going session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. And Lanka has categorically refused to negotiate with the US on arriving at a compromise resolution acceptable to all. But mediator Subramanian Swamy claims that behind-the-scenes talks are on and a compromise resolution cannot be ruled out.

The Janata Party president, who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo on February 28, and the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, in Washington in early March told Express that officials close to the Lankan President, persons in the top echelons in the State Department, and the American Ambassador in Colombo were engaged in discussions on this question.

Swamy’s expectation is that the final United States resolution will call upon the Lankan government to conduct, on its own, a credible investigation into alleged violations of international law in the war against LTTE. The “compromise” resolution might not insist on an “international investigation” as demanded in the draft circulated by the US on March 7.

The March 2013 resolution could well be in line with the last US resolution tabled at the 19th session of the UNHRC in March 2012. The latter had only hoped that Colombo would address alleged violations of international law.

Indian Reservation

Swamy told Blake in no uncertain terms that it would not be practical to ask  Lanka to accept an international investigation. He pointed out that India too would not be happy with such a demand as there could be a similar demand vis-a-vis Kashmir.

Swamy also pointed out that any resolution passed at the UNHRC would have value and teeth only if it got the sanction of the United Nations Security Council.

In the present case, a Security Council sanction was not possible because Russia or China would veto it.

Blake and other American officials were realistic enough to understand the ground situation, Swamy said.(Source: newindianexpress)