UNHRC Resolution On Sri Lanka And Possible Choices
Dr. G K Nathan
The resolution (A/HRC/25/23), on Sri Lanka was passed at the 25th session of United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 27 March 2014, after taking note that Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has failed to implement previous two resolutions at: 19th session (A/HRC/19/L.2) and 22nd session (A/HRC/22/L.1/Rev.1) which were passed with absolute majority. Sri Lanka’s failure to positively respond to UNHRC resolutions which called Sri Lanka to implement their own Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, has left the International community with no other choices, but to accept the call from the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to appoint an International Commission of Inquiry (ICoI) on Sri Lanka. The resolution passed at the 25th session of UNHRC, gives a mandate to OHCHR “To undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and to establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations and of the crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedures mandate holders.” The period that will be covered in the ICoI is same as that was covered by the LLRC investigation. The voting by the UNHRC members for the resolution was 23 for, 12 against and 12 abstention; the surprising element is India’s abstention. The current government of India’s act, just before the forth coming general election with uncertain results, will have short and long term repercussion within and outside the Indian subcontinent. Surprisingly, India’s abstention will indirectly associate the country with a small group of undemocratic countries which Sri Lanka calls, its friends: Russia, China, Pakistan and Cuba; rather than joining, mostly democratic countries which supported the resolution. In all 41 countries co-sponsored this resolution that shows the wide support from the International community for the ICoI. It is laughable for the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka to Slam US for the UNHRC vote and he went on to say that “Some countries had no choice but to back the resolution. They could not reject US threats as some countries have strong economic ties with the US.” It is pointed out by a journalist “Blustering Colombo Winds Up The United Nations One Too Many Times”, he was one of many from Sri Lanka who were taken aback by the fast development in appointing an ICoI. This development has left Sri Lanka to put all hopes in China and Russia. If past is any lesson, both countries quickly abandoned their “friends” and failed to defend them during the “Middle East Spring”, which led to overthrow of authoritarian rulers by mass uprising, but to some extend assisted by the military might of the West. The choice for President Rajapaksa and his administration controlled by his siblings is limited; will he take Sri Lanka, on a confrontational path or extend the hand of cooperation to OHCHR, so that all peoples can live in peace and harmony with guaranteed rights to all? Read More
