UN adopts resolution against Lanka over rights violations; India votes

The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today passed a United States-sponsored resolution against violation of human rights in Sri Lanka during the war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The resolution was passed with the support of 25 member countries, including India. Thirteen countries opposed the US-sponsored resolution, while eight abstained from voting.

India expressed concern, but failed to move any amendment to the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka on human rights amidst stiff opposition by DMK and other pressure groups in Tamil Nadu.

"We encourage Sri Lanka to expedite the process of broad-based, inclusive and meaningful reconciliation," the Indian envoy said earlier during the debate.

"We note Sri Lanka's invitation to UN Human Rights Commissioner; we urge her to undertake it as early as possible," the envoy said.

The envoy said India would urge Sri Lanka to expedite the process of broad-based, inclusive and meaningful reconciliation.

The resolution, tabled by US ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe and co-sponsored by Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and Britain, however, called upon the Sri Lankan government to conduct an "independent and credible" investigation into allegations of human rights violations.

The resolution presses the Sri Lankan government for a more thorough probe of accusations of mass murder of civilians by the Lankan army during the war against Tamil separatists in 2009.

The draft resolution did not cede to demands of human rights bodies for an independent international investigation, as being called by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in its report.

The UNHRC report on Sri Lanka had stated that the government had failed to build upon the vision of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which had made far-reaching recommendations towards reconciliation and strengthening of the rule of law. 

The US-led resolution on Sri Lanka, tabled at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council meeting, also welcomed the announcement by the Lankan government to hold elections to the Provincial Council in the Northern Province in September 2013.

The draft resolution now calls upon Colombo to fulfill its public commitments, including on the devolution of political authority.

The resolution also welcomes and acknowledges the progress made by the Lankan government in rebuilding infrastructure, demining and resettling the majority of internally displaced persons.

At the same time, it takes note of the considerable work that lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihood, and stresses the importance of the full participation of local populations, including representatives of civil society and minorities, in these efforts.

It also calls upon Sri Lanka to "implement effectively the constructive recommendations" made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and to take all necessary steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity and accountability, and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.