Geneva: 4:00 pm: The US resolution against Sri Lanka over alleged human rights violations has been passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. While 25 countries including India voted in favour of the resolution, 13 countries voted against it and eight countries abstained from voting.
3:39 pm: Speaking at the UNHRC debate, the Sri Lankan envoy said the US resolution was 'clearly unacceptable'. "The resolution casts aspersion on Sri Lanka's reconciliation process," the envoy said.
"Sri Lanka's constructive engagement has been ignored," he added. He claimed that Sri Lanka was not consulted over the resolution.
3:35 pm: Switzerland has welcomed the US resolution against Sri Lanka saying, "We welcome the resolution. We underscore the importance of dialogue." Venezuala has voted against the resolution saying it believes this is a condemning resolution.
3:30 pm: The European Union has urged Sri Lanka to respect human rights.
3:15 pm: Indian envoy Dilip Sinha, while speaking at the UNHRC debate, urged Sri Lanka to undertake measures and ensure accountability. The Indian envoy called upon Sri Lanka to implement lasting political settlement.
"We urge Sri Lanka to take up investigation that is credible and acceptable to the international community," Sinha said. "Political settlement should be acceptable to all including Tamils," he added.
3:10 pm: Pakistan will vote against the US resolution on Sri Lanka. "A country specific resolution is not an example of constructive engagement," the Pakistan envoy said.
3:00 pm: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) debate has begun on the US resolution on Sri Lanka in Geneva. It was the first item listed for discussion at the UNHRC. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that India will vote in favour of the resolution against Sri Lanka.
India is likely to move amendments to the resolution saying 'Sri Lanka should set up an independent credible investigation acceptable to the international community'. If India moves amendments, it needs a simple majority to have them cleared.
"India's amendments are meant to show concern about Tamils in Sri Lanka. We are trying to do the best we can. We are doing our best to implement the aspirations of people in Tamil Nadu within the framework available to us diplomatically. India is voting for the resolution because there must be accountability for violation of human rights," Khurshid told CNN-IBN.
Comments
0 comment