Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, Shritharan conveys that the party embraces the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) resolution on accountability for mass atrocities passed earlier this week, despite uncertainty of achieving it.
“While we welcome the resolution passed at the Human Rights Council, for Eelam Tamils it is doubtful whether the motion will be achieved” stated Sivagnanam Shritharan.
“Although multiple resolutions have been passed in the United Nations Human Rights Council in the past, they remain unimplemented. Thus we have doubts regarding this resolution.”
The resolution on accountability and justice in Sri Lanka passed earlier this week, with 22 votes in favour, 14 votes against and 11 abstentions.
India abstained from voting on the UNHRC resolution. When asked about India’s impartial position regarding the resolution Shritharan stated
“India's neutrality over the resolution is a huge disappointment for Eelam Tamils. India, which has shown concern for Eelam Tamil people in the past, should act in a way that confirms this.”
Prior to voting, India released a statement explaining their approach:
“One is our support to the Tamils of Sri Lanka for equality, justice, dignity and peace," it said. "The other is in ensuring the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We have always believed that these two goals are mutually supportive and Sri Lanka’s progress is best assured by simultaneously addressing both objectives.” Adding that the Indian government “supports the call by the international community for the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitments on the devolution of political authority, including through the early holding of elections for Provincial Councils and to ensure that all Provincial Councils are able to operate effectively, in accordance with the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution”.
The adopted UN HRC resolution will instruct the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to "collect" as well as "consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials. Additionally it “expresses serious concern at the trends emerging over the past year, which represent a clear early warning sign of a deteriorating situation of human rights in Sri Lanka” and highlights “ongoing impunity and political obstruction of accountability for crimes and human rights violations”.
Over 2.8 million US Dollars have been budgeted for evidence collections and analysis, including the presentation of a report to the Council in 2022.
