The Norway, US and European Union sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC has been passed with 24 countries voting for the resolution and 15 against it. Eight countries abstained from voting. India voted against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council by voting in favour of the US sponsored resolution on Lanka, NDTV reports. Both the government and the LTTE have been accused of atrocities. Sri Lanka has rejected the resolution and has said today that the criticism at the level of the United Nations is not justified. Its representatives described the resolution as “counter-productive to the reconciliation process.”
Speaking at the UNHRC China, Uganda, Maldives, Indonesia and Bangladesh stated that they would vote against the US and EU co-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka. China stated that the resolution was a clear attempt to interfere in a member state.
Speaking at the session Maldives stated that it has an extremely close relationship with Sri Lanka stating that Maldives understands the trauma that Sri Lanka went through due to the war. Maldives added that the resolution was not necessary at this present juncture. Sri Lanka needs time to implement the LLRC recommendations, Maldives adds.
Nigeria stated at the UNHRC that it will vote in favour of the draft resolution on Sri Lanka as it hoped that the country will benefit from it while adding that the resolution will help encourage the Sri Lankan government to address issues within the country.
Meanwhile, Kirghizstan stated that there was not enough time given to Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt as Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and would therefore abstain from voting.
The delegation from Philippines stated that the technical advice mentioned within the resolution should not be used as an instrument of pressure on the have-nots and would vote against the resolution.
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