Two crucial amendments to Lankan resolution, India instrumental

India worked behind the scenes in toning down the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and succeeded in pushing two crucial amendments to the draft to make it ‘non-intrusive’, Indian media reports.

Sources here said India persuaded the US, sponsor of the resolution, to remove certain references which were “intrusive” in the functioning of a sovereign country like Sri Lanka. New Delhi also insisted that the resolution contributed to the political reconciliation process in the island nation.

At India’s instance, a paragraph that said ‘recalling Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 on institution building of the Human Rights Council’ was added to the resolution, the sources said.

The other change was in reference to the wording of the last para of the resolution which speaks of providing advice and technical assistance on implementing the steps suggested in the resolution.

The amendment makes it clear that the advice and technical assistance would be provided “in consultation with and with the concurrence of” the government of Sri Lanka that made the resolution “non-intrusive”, they said.

“We were very particular that we cannot accept (original resolution). We told the sponsor that the assistance should be given with the consultation and concurrence of the government. We also made sure that it is restricted only to assistance and not a monitoring mechanism,” the sources said.

As Ada Derana learnt when comparing the initial draft resolution that was tabled and the amended resolution that was adopted these two changes have been made. (SEE IMAGE ABOVE)