United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the resolution titled 'Promoting Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka' a short while ago with 23 member nations voting in favour of the resolution.
Twelve members voted against the resolution and twelve members abstained from voting.
The US, the UK, Macedonia and Montenegro, speaking on behalf of sponsors said the human rights situation in Sri Lanka was deteriorating and steps should be taken to promote accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. According to the representative of US delegation, 41 nations co-sponsored the resolution.
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, responding to the remarks made by co-sponsors of the resolution said, "the draft, if adopted, will set a dangerous precedence allowing some certain states to bypass this council. He also added that OHCHR does not have mandate, capacity or resources to embark on this investigate.
Adding further, the ambassador added that there is a "lack of clarity" in draft resolution, while saying "Draft resolution serves vested interests of a few, sets dangerous precedence, deceptively opens doors to third parties through the OHCHR in the guise of an international investigation."
Commenting on the time-frame, he said the proposed time-frame was "narrow" and excluded crimes by the LTTE. "Is this the intention of the sponsors?" the ambassador asked.
A representative of the India's delegation to the UNHRC said India would abstain from voting on the resolution on the grounds that resolution is potential to hinder efforts rather than contribute constructively. Maldives too said it would abstain from voting.
Pakistan, Venezuela and Cuba also spoke supporting Sri Lanka's efforts towards reconciliation. Pakistan representative, addressing the council, budgetary implications are also not clear . "From where do these funds come? if it comes from co-sponsors, it will make the process look tainted. Pakistan also said resolution excludes 30 years of conflict marked by LTTE abuses.
As per Pakistan's request, there was a vote on the exclusion of paragraph 10 of the resolution with deals with international inquiry mechanism on Sri Lanka. of the 47 member nations 23 members voted in favour of operative paragraph 10 while 14 voted against it. Ten members abstained from voting. India voted in favour of the elimination of the 10th operative paragraph of the resolution.
