Friday, 08 March 2013
India is trying to get the US resolution to be tabled before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva watered down despite calls by members of the Sri Lankan civil society, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and international human rights organizations to present a strong resolution before the Council, sources from Geneva said.
The central government of India is under pressure from Tamil Nadu to present another resolution apart from the one being presented by the US, on the alleged war crimes committed in Sri Lanka. All national parties in India are of the same stance. Even in this backdrop, the Indian government has informed Rajapaksa that discussions would be held with the US to present a resolution that is agreeable to all.
The bottom line is that the resolution would be presented in a manner agreeable to the Sri Lankan government.
Indian Premier Manmohan Singh has openly stated in a letter sent to Rajapaksa that it was India that intervened in watering down the resolution that was presented in March 2012.
An Indian activist in Geneva told Lanka News Web that the Indian government was ignoring the political will of the Tamil Nadu politicians and was once again trying to molly coddle the Rajapaksas.
It is learnt that the US resolution would be presented to the UNHRC either today or tomorrow and that the Sri Lankan government would consent to it. However, it is also learnt that the likes of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and others have opposed such an agreement.
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FRIDAY, 08 MARCH 2013
Amnesty International Friday gave a petition to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed by 14 lakh Indians seeking an independent probe into allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Amnesty India chief executive G Ananthapadmanabhan handed over the petition to V. Narayanasamy, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office. "This petition represents the voices of 14 lakh ordinary Indian citizens asking India to play a stronger role in seeking justice in Sri Lanka," Ananthapadmanabhan said.
"This is a demand for an end to the impunity for past and present human rights violations in Sri Lanka," he added. The petition, addressed to the prime minister, urges him to stand up for justice in Sri Lanka and to act to end the climate of impunity perpetuated by Colombo, Amnesty said.
The petition asks the Indian government to support an independent international investigation into allegations of crimes under international law committed by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. It also seeks a UN-led mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, and asks Colombo to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also end attacks and intimidation of critics. Over the past eight months, Amnesty International has used integrated voice enabling and response mechanism and SMS to campaign for justice in Sri Lanka. The petition follows widespread allegations that the Sri Lankan military killed tens of thousands of innocent Tamils in the war that vanquished the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.
"This is a demand for an end to the impunity for past and present human rights violations in Sri Lanka," he added.
The petition, addressed to the prime minister, urges him to stand up for justice in Sri Lanka and to act to end the climate of impunity perpetuated by Colombo, Amnesty said.
The petition asks the Indian government to support an independent international investigation into allegations of crimes under international law committed by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers.
It also seeks a UN-led mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, and asks Colombo to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also end attacks and intimidation of critics.
Over the past eight months, Amnesty International has used integrated voice enabling and response mechanism and SMS to campaign for justice in Sri Lanka.
The petition follows widespread allegations that the Sri Lankan military killed tens of thousands of innocent Tamils in the war that vanquished the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.(IANS)
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