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The United Nations Human Rights Council has launched an international probe into alleged rights violations during the last seven years of Sri Lanka’s war, but there were tense moments and dramatic scenes on the floor as the US-led resolution came up for vote in Geneva yesterday.
The 47-member Council adopted Resolution A/HRC/25/L.1 after two hours of tense debate and stall tactics by member states aligning with Sri Lanka, but ultimately passed 23-12 in favour of the US move. Twelve member states abstained from voting. The resolution had 42 co sponsors.
India’s abstention at the vote was by far the most shocking development during yesterday’s proceedings, with the country on the cusp of Parliamentary polls next month. The country’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Dilip Sinha said India firmly believed that adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions was counterproductive.
“The resolution is inconsistent and impractical in asking both the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR to simultaneously conduct investigations,” the Indian Ambassador said.
South Africa, which has been engaging with Sri Lanka on a potential Truth and Reconciliation Commission, also abstained from voting.
However, many African nations abstained or voted in favour of the US resolution.
Pakistan, which slammed the US resolution as being “more about politics than human rights,” mounted two challenges to the US resolution while it was on the floor of the Council.
The Pakistan delegation insisted that the Council did not have the funds at the present time to launch the investigation into Sri Lanka. “Where is this money going to come from? If it comes from the co-sponsors, this investigation will be seen as tainted,” the Pakistan representative charged after the UN said the inquiry by the OHCHR would require additional funding.
Pakistan then called for a no action vote on the resolution to postpone the discussion since funding was unavailable. The vote was defeated, 25-16 in favour of the US and other co-sponsors.
Pakistan also insisted on a vote on Operative Paragraph 10 of the US-sponsored resolution which sets up the OHCHR probe into violations in Sri Lanka. The vote was also won by the co-sponsors, who won 23-14 with 10 abstentions to keep the key paragraph.
“The international community has become increasingly concerned by the continued lack of progress in achieving reconciliation, justice and accountability for serious allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,” Paula Schriefer, Head of the US delegation, told the Council.
The Government of Sri Lanka categorically and unreservedly rejected the resolution. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha asked member states of the Council to appeal to their conscience. “Sri Lanka has embarked on a painful path to national reconciliation. Don’t put spokes in the wheel,” he charged.
‘Sri Lanka categorically and unreservedly rejects this draft resolution as it challenges the sovereignty and independence of a member state of the UN... and is inimical to the interests of the people of Sri Lanka,” the Sri Lankan envoy said before the vote.
