The DMK Chief M. Karunanidhi has asked for a resolution to be adopted by Parliament including amendments in the US sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC. After a two-hour long discussion with Union Ministers P. Chidambaram, A.K. Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad in Chennai yesterday, Mr. Karunanidhi told newsmen that the amendment included a credible independent International Commission of Inquiry into the allegations of war crimes, in the draft resolution, brought in the UNHRC. He also wanted the inclusion of genocide and war crimes by the Sri Lankan army and administration.
Mr. Azad speaking to newsmen after the discussion, said that the outcome of the discussion would be conveyed to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. DMK, an ally of the UPA has been adding up pressure on the issue of Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the issue is gaining momentum. Political parties cutting across party lines have been insisting that India should take a stand on the draft resolution and also choose to speak out for an independent probe into the alleged war crimes. The student community has also been demanding the same through protests in a peaceful manner all over the state. Several miscreants have been arrested at many places. More than 500 colleges have been shut until further notice.
Meanwhile, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, Dilip Sinha, is arriving in New Delhi today to apprise senior political leaders on the US sponsored resolution on human rights violation in Sri Llanka. External Affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said this to newsmen in New Delhi yesterday.Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had asked Ambassador Sinha to hold consultations and apprise the political leadership on the ground situation, at the United Nations Human Rights convention at Geneva taking place this week.
Meanwhile Our Colombo correspondent reports that the third revised draft of the US resolution on Sri Lanka’s Human Rights record was tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last night. As per rules,no further changes will be made in the draft now though its oral revisions can be submitted on the voting day to the draft titled “Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka”.
India has said, it will study the final draft and India’s permanent representative at Geneva, Dilip Sinha is to brief the Foreign Secretary in Delhi today, before taking a final decision regarding its position.Our correspondent further adds that the current draft is less strong in its wordings than the first draft and the call for ‘unfettered’ access of UN rapporteurs has been dropped. This revised draft however retains key components like High Commissioner's report, accountability mechanism and credible independent international investigations. The resolution requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-fourth session later this year, and a comprehensive report followed by a discussion at the 25th session next year, on the implementation of the present resolution. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said that India has made massive contributions to the development of the war-affected North by building houses laying railway tracks and helping with agricultural inputs and the creation of livelihoods and has a moral responsibility to support Sri Lanka.
