Col R
Hariharan
Highlights
UNHRC
resolution on Sri Lanka: The UN Human Rights Council voted
with 23-13 majority for a resolution seeking an international investigation
into allegations of Sri Lanka’s war crimes and human rights violations
committed during the Eelam War. India abstained during the voting in a volte
face of support to two resolutions on the same subject in earlier years.
Sri Lanka
security on high alert: Sri Lanka forces in Northern
Provinces were placed on high alert to prevent a possible “regrouping of
LTTE sympathisers” according to Major General Udaya Perera, Jaffna commander.
This followed the arrest of two suspects in connection with a recent incident
in Kilinochchi where a suspected LTTE supporter opened fire and injured a
policeman who was making inquiries.
UNHRC
resolution on Sri Lanka
The
47-member UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed the much awaited resolution
seeking an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and
war crimes during the last seven years of Sri Lanka’s Eelam war. The resolution
initiated by the US was passed with 23 members voting in favour and 12 against.
India was a surprise addition among the 12 members who abstained from
voting.
The
Resolution asked the
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR) to undertake a “comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses
of human rights and related crimes by both parties [the security forces and
the LTT] in Sri Lanka.” It also called upon Sri Lanka to cooperate with the
OCHR in its implementation.
The
Resolution was clearly influenced by the oral report of the UN Commissioner for
Human Rights Ms Navi Pillay submitted at the session on the progress Sri Lanka
had made in implementing the earlier resolution. Her report prepared after her
visit to Sri Lanka last year, concluded that Sri Lanka’s national mechanisms
had consistently failed to establish the truth and to achieve justice. The
Resolution reflects her recommendation to establish an international inquiry
mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international human
rights and humanitarian laws and monitor any domestic accountability processes.
India’s
abstention is a significant departure from its past record. It had voted in
favour of the two earlier resolutions on the same subject moved at the
initiative of the US. India has justified its changed stance by saying that it
firmly believed adopting an intrusive approach that undermined national
sovereignty and institutions was counterproductive. However, it was obvious
that unlike the earlier occasions, this time the Centre faced no coalition
political compulsions to appease the DMK its coalition partner from Tamil Nadu
and vote for the resolution. The DMK facing the flak for its role in
shaping the Sri Lanka policy has already quit the Congress-led coalition
partner in a bid to distance itself from the Congress.
However, it
is significant that despite the ongoing election campaign, the Centre had
chosen to abstain in compliance with Sri Lanka’s request a few months back. Apparently
New Delhi is trying to halt the downslide in its relations with Sri Lanka
caused by this issue in the larger strategic interests of both the nations.
China,
Russia and Pakistan were vociferous in their opposition to the Resolution
moving amendments to stall the voting on the resolution. Others who joined them
in voting against the resolution included Algeria, Congo, Cuba, Kenya,
Maldives, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela, and Vietnam, who had come under
international scrutiny for their own human rights aberrations.
Sri Lanka
security on high alert
Sri Lanka
forces in Northern Province were placed on high alert to prevent a
possible “regrouping of LTTE sympathisers” according to General Udaya Perera,
Jaffna commander. This followed after the arrest of two suspects in connection
with a recent incident in Kilinochchi where a suspected LTTE supporter opened
fire and injured a policeman who was making inquiries. Army has alleged
that the two suspects –Gopi (who was said to have opened fire on the police)
and his associate Appan have links with sections of Tamil Diaspora working to
revive the LTTE in Sri Lanka. They are on the lookout for a third suspect.
However,
Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran said the army’s “story” on the
revival of the LTTE was very weak as many questions about Gobi opening fire and
injuring a policeman remained unanswered. He alleged the army was spreading
such a story to justify the heavy military presence in the North. He has a
point as the arrests were timed to coincide with the UNHRC session where the
heavy military presence in the Northern presence was one of the issues on which
Sri Lanka faced the flak.
But at the
same time, Sri Lanka cannot afford to ignore the possibility of revival of
Tamil separatism in the North particularly as sections of Tamil Diaspora
sympathetic to the LTTE have hyped their international visibility. In league
with some pro-LTTE fringe parties in Tamil Nadu they have influenced the Tamil
Nadu political rhetoric on Sri Lanka to become increasingly strident with
shrill pro-Eelam separatist overtones.
Miscellaneous
Commission
of inquiry: Sri Lanka government has amended the Presidential
Commission’s inquiry into cases of alleged disappearances of persons in the
Northern and Eastern Provinces to cover the period from 1983 to 2009. The
extended period now includes the period in which the Indian Peace Keeping Force
operated in this region. This adds to the possibility of triggering anti-India
sentiments as and when it suits anti-India elements in Sri Lanka.
Trade
unions' suspicions: Sri Lanka’s trade unions have sought immediate
clarification from the government on whether it was going to ease labour laws
in the country to the advantage of employers likr China as the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between the two countries last year related to
strengthening cooperation on labour-related issues. The MoU is believed to be
related to labour policies, promoting labour relations, social protection etc.
According to latest statistics of the Labour Ministry, there are 6,600
Chinese workers in Sri Lanka. Written on March 32, 2014
URL: www.security-risks.com
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