Of UN Human Rights Council and Kashmir

"Instead of investigating those responsible for atrocities, the Sri Lankan government has cynically absolved its forces of any wrongdoing..." - Juliette De Rivero, Geneva Director of the Council

onlanka.com

(GENEVA) - First the good news. The UN human rights Council has passed a resolution which paves way for an international investigation into alleged war crimes by the Sri Lankan Government in the final stages of its war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The council’s 47 members voted 23 to 12 with 12 abstentions in favor of the resolution sponsored by a core group of nations, including the United States, that calls on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of serious violations and abuses of human rights by Sri Lankan Govt.

The immediate provocation for investigating the violations through an independent & impartial international body comes after the failure of Sri Lankan government to seriously respond to two previous Human Rights Council resolutions seeking investigations by Sri Lankan Government into violations of human rights and humanitarian law during the last stages of fighting with the LTTE, which resulted in the deaths of 40,000 civilians.

While moving the resolution, Juliette De Rivero, Geneva Director of the Council said- “Instead of investigating those responsible for atrocities, the Sri Lankan government has cynically absolved its forces of any wrongdoing and lashed out at those seeking accountability. Passing this resolution will send a strong message to all victims of Sri Lanka’s war that they have not been forgotten.”

The bad news is that in case of Sri Lankan resolution, Pakistan has opposed the move along with China and ten other Countries. Politics & National interests have prevailed over the rights of humans to exist on earth & live a dignified life. The position taken by Pakistan has considerably eroded the credibility of its oft repeated stand of political, moral and diplomatic support for Kashmiris.

Greater Kashmir Srinagar