Dismayed by reports about the Union government's decision not to support the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday once again wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterating her demand that India go with the resolution and condemn the island nation. In a letter to Dr. Singh, she referred to certain media reports about India's stand on the resolution on accountability issues of the Sri Lankan civil war involving human rights violations to be moved for voting at the ongoing session of the UNHRC in Geneva.
‘Universal Periodic Review'
She said the reports stated that India was against “country-specific” resolutions and wanted to take up discussions on the island nation only under the ‘Universal Periodic Review' as a routine matter.
“This means direct support to the Sri Lankan government, which is most unfortunate and untenable.”
“I, therefore, reiterate my earlier requests and insist that India should support the United States-backed resolution in the UNHRC and strongly condemn the Sri Lankan government. I await a positive response from you.” She recalled that she had written to the Prime Minister earlier on the issue. She had also drawn his attention to a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly last year urging that India take up the issue of ‘war crimes' with the UN and declare those found guilty of crimes against Sri Lankan Tamils as war criminals and to initiate action for an economic embargo on the country.
