India likely to abstain on Sri Lanka resolution at UN HRC

COLOMBO: India is likely to abstain from voting on the resolution that will be moved on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 46th Session that is currently ongoing, The Morning reported.

Well-placed sources, cited by The Morning, said that it is unlikely India would be voting on the resolution that is due to be moved by the Core Group of Countries on Sri Lanka this week.

The Tamil Civil Society P2P (Pottuvil to Polikandy) Movement has meanwhile written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 March requesting India’s help in referring Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by including it in the current resolution.

The amended draft resolution that was made public by some media has inserted a new point between the second and third points to comment on the joint statement issued on 26 May 2009 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to seek a political settlement and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.

Another amended point has highlighted the responsibility of states to comply with their relevant obligations to prosecute those responsible for gross violations of human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The draft resolution has stressed the importance of a comprehensive accountability process for all violations and abuses of human rights committed in Sri Lanka by all parties, including those by the LTTE. The term “by all parties” has been added anew here.

Sri Lanka needs the support of 24 countries from the 47 Members of the Council to defeat the adoption of the resolution