By Karen Diep
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Sri Lanka – On Thursday, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council passed a resolution censuring Sri Lanka’s record. In 2009, Sri Lanka’s military defeated separatist Tamil rebels after a brutal 26-year war; however, the war’s final phase is under heavy scrutiny.
Twenty-five countries voted in favor of the resolution, thirteen against, and eight absented.
The resolution urges Sri Lanka to implement an independent and credible inquiry into the alleged war crimes.
The Sri Lankan government has contended that its own investigation in 2011 should suffice. The Sri Lankan commission report cleared government forces of any violations. Despite the government’s report, human rights believe that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration has ignored prior demands for accountability and has delayed implementing the limited recommendations.
According to BBC News, during the United Nations’ Human Rights Council’s proceedings, representatives from Sri Lanka criticized the resolution for jeopardizing the current reconciliation process. Representatives also alleged that the Unites States is targeting countries that do not conform to its “political agenda.”
The resolution echoes the concern over recent Buddhist attacks on Muslims and Christians. It also recognizes development in reforming infrastructure and mentions “considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and the resumption of livelihoods.”
Amnesty International stated that the resolution highlighted violation rights but failed to create an independent and international inquiry into the issue.
Other concerns include concern over extra-judicial killings, disappearances, torture, threats to the rule of law, intimidation of civil society activists and journalists, and religious discrimination.
According to T. K. Elangovan, a DMK spokesman, the Sri Lankan government has not met commitments to rehabilitate its Tamil population. “It is the moral duty of the government of India to see that these assurances were fulfilled or else to put pressure on the government of Sri Lanka to see these assurances are kept up. Why India is a silent spectator,” inquired Mr. Elangovan.
Keheliya Rambukwella, Sri Lanka’s media minister, stated that that matter has been blown up out of proportion. “As long as there are extreme elements in the world you have these things, in even the most five-star democracies,” said Rambukwella.
For further information, please see:
ABC News – Sri Lanka Criticizes UN Resolution on War Abuses – 22 March 2013
BBC News – UN passes resolution against Sri Lanka rights record – 21 March 2013
Voice of America – UN Vote on Sri Lankan Civil War Threatens Indian Government – 19 March 2013
