India Abstains From Voting On US-sponsored UNHRC Resolution Against Lanka

New Delhi, March 29, IRNA -- India for the first time on Thursday abstained from voting on an ˈintrusiveˈ US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC which adopted it by 23 votes in favour and sought an international inquiry into alleged war crimes in the last stages of conflict with the LTTE in 2009. India along with 11 other countries abstained from voting while 12 other countries including Russia, China and Pakistan opposed the resolution. In an explanation of vote by Permanent Representative of India to the UN Offices in Geneva, Dilip Sinha, said this resolution at the UN Human Rights Council imposes an ˈintrusive approachˈ of international investigative mechanism which was counterproductive apart from being ˈinconsistent and impracticalˈ. This is for the first time India has abstained from the voting on the resolution - ˈPromoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lankaˈ. All three times- 2009, 2012 and 2013 - India voted in favour of the resolutions. He noted that unlike the resolutions in 2009, 2012 and 2013, this resolution asks the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to ˈinvestigate, assess and monitorˈ the alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the last phases of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which was an ˈintrusiveˈ approach that undermines national sovereignty. ˈIt has been Indiaˈs firm belief that adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions is counterproductive. Any significant departure from the core principle of constructive international dialogue and cooperation has the potential to undermine efforts of Human Rights Council for promoting universal respect for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,ˈ Sinha said. Moreover, any external investigative mechanism with an open-ended mandate to monitor national processes for protection of human rights in a country, was not reflective of the constructive approach of dialogue and cooperation envisaged by earlier UN General Assembly resolutions, he added. ˈAs the closest neighbour with thousands of years of relations with Sri Lanka, we cannot remain untouched by developments in that country. Since the end of the armed conflict, India remains engaged in a substantial way in the relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Sri Lanka,ˈ the explanation of Indiaˈs vote said. ˈWe have extended substantial assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts for resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, de-mining, education, connectivity, livelihood restoration, economic revival, etc. This has contributed towards return of a modicum of normalcy to the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka,ˈ it said. A UN report found up to 40,000 people may have been killed in the final phase of the nearly three decades-long war with the LTTE but the government disputes that figure. The countries that abstained from voting along with India in the 47-nation body were Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Namibia, Philippines and South Africa. The countries that voted against the resolution are Algeria, China, Congo, Cuba, Kenya, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela and Vietnam. The countries that voted in favour of the resolution included France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, UK and the US. ˈIndia 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,ˈ the explanation given of Indiaˈs vote said. ˈIndia believes that this Councilˈs efforts should contribute to a stateˈs own efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights. We are strongly supportive of Sri Lankaˈs continued engagement with the OHCHR,ˈ it said. The UNHRC resolution expressed deep concern at reported intimidation and retaliation against civil society members who engage with UN human rights mechanisms, including those who met with High Commissioner Navi Pillay during her visit to Colombo./end