Defending India’s abstention from voting on the resolution passed by Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council calling for a comprehensive external probe into human rights abuses, the Ministry of External Affairs said “this resolution is very different from previous resolutions on Sri Lanka”.
“An external investigative mechanism with an open-ended mandate to monitor national processes is not a constructive approach. In our view adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions is counterproductive. Hence we have in this instance abstained on the resolution,” MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said. New Delhi, he said, was in favour of an investigation through a “comprehensive, independent and credible national mechanism”.
Permanent representative to UN in Geneva Dilip Sinha described the resolution as being both “inconsistent and impractical in asking both the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR to simultaneously conduct investigations”.
In its long explanation, India said that all recommendations of the LLRC should be implemented, including the withdrawal of army from the north. Both China and Pakistan contended that the resolution was a violation of national sovereignty.
Pakistan even called for a separate vote to delete the operative paragraph 10 which contained the call for probe by office of high commissioner. The Pakistani representative claimed that it should be deleted as it wasn’t clear from where the extra finance will be procured. India voted in favour of the vote, which was ultimately defeated.
Pakistan’s motion to also delay the voting for the resolution was also defeated on the floor.