US disappointed in India’s decision to abstain from voting for UN resolution on Sri Lanka
Monday, 31 March 2014 00:04
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Washington, DC: The United States Friday expressed its disappointment over India’s decision to abstain from voting on the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the 25th session of the United Nations Human Right Council.
At the press briefing Friday, responding to media queries the State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said the US has made its disappointment known to India.
“It is disappointing to us that India abstained from voting on this resolution when they voted yes for the last two years. We have made our disappointment known to Indian officials,” Harf said.
She said for the first time the resolution, adopted by a vote of 23 yes, 12 no, and 12 abstentions, requests a comprehensive investigation to be undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission report, which was 2002 to 2009.
In addition, it requests that OHCHR monitor, assess, report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including any relevant domestic processes dealing with reconciliation and accountability.
The Secretary of the State John Kerry said yesterday the vote in the UNHRC to adopt the US-sponsored resolution sends a clear message to Sri Lanka that time to pursue lasting peace and prosperity is now and “justice and accountability cannot wait”.
Sri Lanka however, flatly rejected the “unethical and intrusive” resolution as a conspiracy plotted by interested parties seeking a regime change.
