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US to support resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHRC
The US will support a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said today, asserting that the Lankan government has not done enough to implement the LLRC recommendations.
“I confirmed the United States will support a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in March that provides an opportunity for the Government of Sri Lanka to describe what it intends to do to implement the LLRC’s recommendations and advance reconciliation, as well as address accountability, human rights and democracy concerns”, Blake told reporters.
Blake however did not say which country would move the resolution against Sri Lanka.
The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report was made public in November.
“If implemented LLRC recommendations could lead to genuine reconciliation”, Blake said.
Blake said the US appreciated the work of LLRC. “While it has shortcomings on accountability, the Commission addressed a number of crucial areas of concern to Sri Lankans, and makes substantive recommendations on reconciliation, devolution of authority, de-militarisation, rule of law, media freedom, disappearances, and human rights violations and abuses”.
Blake said the US officials had discussed the recommendations with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he had assured that they were looking to implement the LLRC report in a comprehensive manner.
Blake, a former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and Maria Otero, Under Secretary for Civilian Protection, Human rights and Democracy arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday (11).
