Reiterating its call for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives in Sri Lanka, India today urged Sri Lanka to take forward measures to ensure accountability. However, India did not indicate which way they will vote on the resolution.
“India believes the report of the LLRC and its findings and its recommendations provide a window of opportunity on which to forge a consensual way forward towards a lasting political settlement and genuine national reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights for all its citizens,” the country’s representative said.
India noted with concern the “inadequate progress” by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitments to the UN Human Rights Council in 2009.
India also called upon Sri Lanka to “move forward” on its public commitments including on the devolution of political authority, full implementation of the 13th Amendment and building upon it.
“India has always been of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils,” the representative said, addressing the UNHRC, prior to the vote on the resolution on Sri Lanka today.
India also called for the effective and timely implementation of all the constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC report, including those pertaining to missing persons, detainees, disappearances and abductions, reduction of high security zones, return of private land by military and withdrawal of security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province.
“We reiterate our call for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives,” he said while urging Sri Lanka to take forward measures to ensure accountability.
“We expect these measures to be to be to the satisfaction of the international community,” he added.
While noting the commitment of Sri Lanka to hold elections in the Northern Province in September 2013, India said it expects the people in the North can exercise their democratic rights freely and without delay, as guaranteed in the constitution.
India also urged the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to undertake the visit to Sri Lanka in an early date and also expressed “hope” that the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN special procedures will continue their engagement “in accordance with their mandates.”
“We encourage the government of Sri Lanka to expedite the process of a broad based, inclusive and meaningful reconciliation and political settlement that ensures that all communities live in dignity with equal rights and equal protection of laws,” he said.
