Denouncing the US-sponsored UN resolution on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, political and activists groups in Tamil Nadu have drafted a model UN resolution on the issue to lobby for an international independent inquiry into war crimes during the Eelam struggle.

They criticised the US-sponsored resolution, which faces voting on March 28, as a backdoor technique to protect the Sri Lankan government from an international probe.

“This is the third resolution being introduced by the US and this is far diluted than the previous versions. It identifies Sri Lankan Tamils as a religious minority, while they are actually an ethnic community. The resolution indirectly endorses militarisation of the Tamil areas,” said Umar, a co-ordinator of May 17, a Tamil activist group, at a press meet in Chennai on Sunday.

The draft resolution framed by them calls for appointment of a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in north and east of Sri Lanka. It also calls for an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the Sri Lankan forces.

“Already 17 organisations from various spheres have supported this draft resolution. We will gather support for this resolution from across the globe. The US-sponsored resolution is  only providing more time for the SL government to destroy evidences of war crimes committed by it,” Thirumurugan, a coordinator of May 17, said.

He also termed the US efforts a move for regime change in Sri Lanka as the current government is not friendly to the US. The US is not really interested in making the Sri Lankan government accountable for the war crimes. “We will seek the support of all political parties in the State for this draft resolution,” Thirumurugan said. - ENS