Govt makes no concession to DMK at Geneva

Votes for diluted resolution about Sri Lanka's human rights record at UN meet

The Union government refused to be bullied by Tamil parties and voted for the diluted resolution about Sri Lanka’s human rights record at the meeting on Thursday of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

It said it was putting its faith in Lanka’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), established in the wake of that country’s civil war,  and its findings and recommendations,  “which provide 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”.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) quit the coalition government after accusing the latter of a timid approach to the issue of human rights violations of Tamils in Lanka. It did not let Parliament function on Thursday, both on the Tamil issue and the issue of raids on DMK leader M K Stalin.

At the UN vote, the Indian delegate did note with concern “the inadequate progress by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitment to this Council in 2009” and asked the country to implement the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, on the creation of one province for the Tamil minorities.

India also asked Sri Lanka to implement a solution to end the racial conflict in the country in a way which was just, long-lasting and acceptable to all. It asked Lanka to implement investigations into cases of missing persons, detainees, disappearances and abductions, reduction of high-security zones, return of private lands by the military and withdrawal of security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province. “As a neighbour with thousands of years of relations with Sri Lanka, we cannot remain untouched by developments in that country and will continue to remain engaged in this matter,” India said, adding Lanka had to win the trust of the international community by doing everything it had promised to correct its human rights record.

In Parliament on Thursday, while the DMK and AIADMK did not let the Lok Sabha function over the Lankan issue, as a special gesture both parties did not disrupt proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in the afternoon, which had the crucial Appropriation Bill and the anti-rape Bill on the agenda.

AIADMK leader V Maithreyan and DMK leaders, nevertheless, registered their protest. Maithreyan informed the House of the “ongoing vote at the UNHRC in Geneva” and how the “Indian government had totally let the Tamils down.” He added “no amendments were being introduced in the resolution” and “strongly protested” against it. CPI’s D Raja, also from Tamil Nadu, described it as the “betrayal by the government.” Both Houses are likely to be disrupted again tomorrow over the issue.