Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi slam UN resolution on Sri Lanka

Coming out strongly against a UN resolution that endorsed a domestic probe in Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressed deep disappointment and anguish while DMK chief Karunanidhi termed it shocking.

Also, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi blamed the Centre for not acting on a 16 September resolution of the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking an international probe.

“The resolution passed yesterday will in no way render justice to Sri Lankan Tamils. This resolution is in favour of Sri Lankan government and adversarial to Sri Lankan Tamils,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement yesterday.

UN Human Rights Council had adopted a resolution paving the way for a probe involving foreign judges and prosecutors into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Although the resolution has features like participation of foreign judges it would in no way be equal to an international judicial probe, Jayalalithaa said.

“This weak resolution adopted by perceiving a change of heart of the Sri lankan government will not do any good to Sri Lankan Tamils,” she said.

Blaming the Centre, Jayalalithaa said, “The UN resolution shows that the Union government did not take any steps over the unanimous resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly.”

Recalling writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue seeking action on the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution, she said, “However, that the Central government has not taken any positive steps over this issue has caused unhealable wound.”

The Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Centre to move a “strong resolution” in the UNHRC for an international probe into the alleged war crimes in the 2009 war in Sri Lanka.

“I had clearly stated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that the Indian government had the duty to prevent a resolution asking Sri Lanka itself to probe into war crimes,” she said.

Also, she had pointed out that a 1 September resolution of the Sri Lankan Northern Provincial Council had sought an international probe.

International probe was sought so as to ensure justice, to strengthen the council’s resolution and in deference to the feelings of all Tamils, she said.

Expressing shock over the UN resolution, Karunanidhi said it was tantamount to vesting the power to probe in the very hands of the accused and doubted if even such a watered down version would be implemented.

Hitting out at the Union government for supporting the resolution, Karunanidhi quoted a Tamil proverb to indicate double whammy and said “the Centre did not initiate a resolution seeking an international probe and also supported the one brought in by USA and the UK”.

“At a time when world Tamils were expecting that they would get justice even if it was delayed the resolution comes as a shock,” he said.

Slamming the resolution as “diluted”, he said the “document did not say anything on alleged genocide. The resolution asking Lanka to probe was tantamount to vesting the power to investigate in the very hands of the accused.”

“It is highly doubtful if even such a watered down resolution which was passed against the expectations of the world Tamil organisations would be implemented honestly in a whole-hearted manner by the Sri Lankan government,” he said.

Citing past instances, he alleged that 14 agreements between Tamil and Sinhalese leaders were never implemented and no action was taken on the findings of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

Stating that his party has been for long demanding that a resolution for an international probe should be initiated by India in the UN, he also pointed to a recent resolution by the Tamil Nadu Assembly favouring it.

The 47-member UNHRC approved by consensus the resolution led by the US and the UK, and backed by India and, importantly, Sri Lanka.

Source: PTI