Flash
Lost in speed
The United States-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka over war crimes in the island nation was adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) with India voting in its favour on Thursday.
While 25 nations voted in favour of the resolution, it was opposed by 13 others. There were as many as eight abstentions. Pakistan opted to go with Sri Lanka.
In his address at the UNHRC during the discussion on "Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka", the Indian envoy to the UN -- Dilip Sinha -- called for an independent and credible investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes.
"India believes that the report of the LLRC and its findings and recommendation provides a window of opportunity to forge a consensual way forward towards a lasting political settlement through genuine national reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights by all its citizens. We note with concern the inadequate progress by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitment to this Council in 2009. Further, we call on Sri Lanka to move forward on its public commitments, including on the devolution of political authority through full implementation of the 13th Amendment and building upon it," Sinha said.
"India has always been of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils. We call for effective and timely implementation of all the constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC report, including those pertaining to missing persons, detainees, disappearances and abductions, reduction of 'high security zones', return of private lands by the military and withdrawal of the security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province. We reiterate our call for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives. We urge Sri Lanka to take forward measures to ensure accountability. We expect these measures to be to the satisfaction of the international community," he said.
"As Sri Lanka's closest neighbour, India remains engaged in a substantial way in the relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction process in that country. Our efforts have contributed to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and the rebuilding of infrastructure and development, especially in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka," Sinha said.
Why India didn't move amendments to resolution
According to sources, Sinha met the US permanent representative and conveyed to him amendments India proposed. The US representative said, it would not be possible to include those amendments as the US had already reached a consensus with the countries supporting its resolution after wide ranging consultations. Adding amendments at the last minute would erode that consensus, he said.
Source: India votes against Sri Lanka in UNHRC, 25 votes in favour of resolution, 13 against : North, News - India Today
Finally, Indian Govt. submitted itself to the people pressure on Srilankan issue.
Update:
Sri Lanka rejects US-sponsored UNHRC resolution
Sri Lanka on Thursday rejected a US-sponsored resolution at UN Human Rights Council and said it understood the domestic political compulsions of India for voting against Colombo.
The UN Human Rights Council today adopted the US-sponsored resolution on human rights violation in Sri Lanka with 25 countries, including India, voting in favour of the document in the 47-nation strong body.
While 13 countries, including Pakistan, voted against, eight member-states abstained from voting. Gabon, a member-country could not vote due to voting rights issue.
The Sri Lankan external affairs minister G L Peiris told the parliament here immediately after the resolution was adopted with Indian support that the US resolution was counterproductive as it had only highlighted the negatives whilst completely ignoring the progress made since the end to the war.
While 25 nations voted in favour of the resolution, it was opposed by 13 others. There were as many as eight abstentions. Pakistan opted to go with Sri Lanka.
In his address at the UNHRC during the discussion on "Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka", the Indian envoy to the UN -- Dilip Sinha -- called for an independent and credible investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes.
"India believes that the report of the LLRC and its findings and recommendation provides a window of opportunity to forge a consensual way forward towards a lasting political settlement through genuine national reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights by all its citizens. We note with concern the inadequate progress by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitment to this Council in 2009. Further, we call on Sri Lanka to move forward on its public commitments, including on the devolution of political authority through full implementation of the 13th Amendment and building upon it," Sinha said.
"India has always been of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils. We call for effective and timely implementation of all the constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC report, including those pertaining to missing persons, detainees, disappearances and abductions, reduction of 'high security zones', return of private lands by the military and withdrawal of the security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province. We reiterate our call for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives. We urge Sri Lanka to take forward measures to ensure accountability. We expect these measures to be to the satisfaction of the international community," he said.
"As Sri Lanka's closest neighbour, India remains engaged in a substantial way in the relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction process in that country. Our efforts have contributed to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and the rebuilding of infrastructure and development, especially in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka," Sinha said.
Why India didn't move amendments to resolution
According to sources, Sinha met the US permanent representative and conveyed to him amendments India proposed. The US representative said, it would not be possible to include those amendments as the US had already reached a consensus with the countries supporting its resolution after wide ranging consultations. Adding amendments at the last minute would erode that consensus, he said.
Source: India votes against Sri Lanka in UNHRC, 25 votes in favour of resolution, 13 against : North, News - India Today
Finally, Indian Govt. submitted itself to the people pressure on Srilankan issue.
Update:
Sri Lanka rejects US-sponsored UNHRC resolution
Sri Lanka on Thursday rejected a US-sponsored resolution at UN Human Rights Council and said it understood the domestic political compulsions of India for voting against Colombo.
The UN Human Rights Council today adopted the US-sponsored resolution on human rights violation in Sri Lanka with 25 countries, including India, voting in favour of the document in the 47-nation strong body.
While 13 countries, including Pakistan, voted against, eight member-states abstained from voting. Gabon, a member-country could not vote due to voting rights issue.
The Sri Lankan external affairs minister G L Peiris told the parliament here immediately after the resolution was adopted with Indian support that the US resolution was counterproductive as it had only highlighted the negatives whilst completely ignoring the progress made since the end to the war.