UN: India abstains from voting on Sri Lanka human rights resolution

NEW DELHI: India has stressed that it will work with Sri Lanka and the international community to attain the related objectives of legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.
However it abstained from voting on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
The draft resolution on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka' was adopted at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva, with 20 nations voting in favour in the 47-member Council and seven against, including China and Pakistan. 20 countries including India, Japan, Nepal and Qatar abstained from voting.
Countries that supported the draft resolution include UK, US, Argentina, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea and Ukraine.
Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India to UN, said that while India has taken note of the commitments by the government of Sri Lanka on issues of implementation of the commitments in the spirit of the 13th Constitutional Amendment, meaningful devolution and the early conduct of provincial elections, “we believe that the progress towards the same remains inadequate.”
He stressed that India has substantially contributed to the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction process in Sri Lanka after 2009.
"In finding a lasting and effective solution for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, India has always been guided by the two fundamental principles of support to the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, dignity and peace and unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka,” Pandey said.
The Tamils alleged that thousands were massacred during the final stages of the war that ended in 2009 when the government forces killed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The Sri Lankan Army denies the charge, claiming it as a humanitarian operation to rid the Tamils of LTTE's control.
The UN resolution also called to investigate the on-going economic crisis and prosecute those responsible.
It also "calls upon the government of Sri Lanka to address the ongoing economic crisis including by investigating and where warranted prosecuting corruption including where committed by public and former public officials and stands ready to assist and support independent impartial and transparent efforts in this regard".
Mani Pandey also mentioned India's assistance to Sri Lanka rto mitigate the ongoing economic crisis.