Geneva: India voted for the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) calling on Colombo to conduct an “independent and credible” probe into allegations of human rights violations.
“India votes for Resolution on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in SriLanka @UNHRC,” said India’s external affairs spokesperson on Twitter.
India’s envoy Dilip Sinha, in a strongly worded statement, said: “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.”
“We call for effective and timely implementation of all the constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) 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,” he said.
“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.”
The envoy said: “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 did not move any amendments to the resolution sponsored by the US. IANS
