Resolution on Sri Lanka adopted at the UNHRC with the votes of 24 countries

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday adopted a contested resolution sponsored by the United States with 24 votes in favor, 15 against and eight abstentions. Adopting the resolution the 47-member UNHRC called for Sri Lanka to credibly investigate the allegations of violations of international humanitarian laws committed by Sri Lanka during its armed conflict with Tamil Tiger terrorists. Tabling the resolution, the United States said for the past three years after the end of the war in May 2009, Sri Lanka had been given time and space to develop its own roadmap for lasting national reconciliation and accountability.
The US looked forward to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and expected Sri Lanka to develop its own action plan to implement its recommendations, Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe told the Council. "Given the lack of action to implement the recommendations of the Sri Lankan government's own LLRC, and the need for additional steps to address accountability issues not covered in the LLRC report, it is appropriate that the UNHRC consider and adopt this moderate and balanced resolution."The revised resolution notes "with concern that the report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law," and calls upon the sri Lankan government "to implement the constructive recommendations" made in the LLRC report and to "take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions."
It requests the government to present, as expeditiously as possible, "a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will take to implement the recommendations and also to address alleged violations of international law.
The resolution encourages the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and "relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with, and with the concurrence of, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing," the measures.
The US revised the third item to include the Sri Lankan government's agreement for the UN body to involve in the process.
Sri Lanka President's special human rights envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe speaking at the UNHRC session called the Council taken an objective view of the Sri Lanka situation grant the necessary latitude to complete the reconciliation process that has already begun.
"This resolution if adopted will not add value to the implementation process in Sri Lanka; on the contrary it may well be counterproductive and, as such, those who have been using extreme pressure tactics in garnering support for this ill-timed and unwarranted initiative should be mindful of the responsibility that accompanies it," Samarasinghe warned the Council.
The US emphasized that the resolution is "intended to help the people of Sri Lanka achieve a lasting and equitable peace that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect.
Sri Lanka President's special human rights envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe speaking at the UNHRC session called the Council taken an objective view of the Sri Lanka situation grant the necessary latitude to complete the reconciliation process that has already begun.
"This resolution if adopted will not add value to the implementation process in Sri Lanka; on the contrary it may well be counterproductive and, as such, those who have been using extreme pressure tactics in garnering support for this ill-timed and unwarranted initiative should be mindful of the responsibility that accompanies it," Samarasinghe warned the Council.
Sri Lanka, China, Uganda, Indonesia, Maldives, Bangladesh, Cuba, Congo, Ecuador, Kuwait, Mauritania, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand voted against the resolution.
Angola, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Djibouti, Jordan, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, and Senegal abstained from voting.
United States, Mexico, India, Nigeria, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Libya, Mauritius, Norway, Peru, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay voted in favor of the resolution.