Amid pressure, PM says India inclined to vote
against Sri Lanka
Monday March 19, 2012 10:56:34 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
Amid increasing pressure from coalition ally DMK, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh Monday assured parliament that India was "inclined"
to vote in favour of a UN resolution over Sri Lanka's "war crimes"
and hoped it will ensure the Tamil community in Sri Lanka
"equality, justice and self-respect".
DMK president M. Karunanidhi was quick to welcome the prime
minister's assurance, describing it as "a victory for the Sri
Lankan struggle".
"As regards the issue of a draft resolution initiated by the
United States at the on-going 19th Session of the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva, we do not yet have the final text of the
resolution," Manmohan Singh said in Lok Lok Sabha.
He was replying to the debate on on Motion of Thanks to the
President for her address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
"However, I may assure the House that we are inclined to vote in
favour of a resolution. That, we hope, will advance our objective,
namely, the achievement of the future for the Tamil community in
Sri Lanka that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and
self-respect."
Manmohan Singh kept a small leeway by saying he was awaiting the
text of the resolution, but the statement in parliament has
virtually decided India's stand, which is bound to upset Colombo.
The prime minister's statement was greeted by thumping of desks by
MPs of various parties, including the DMK.
DMK president M. Karunanidhi announced in Chennai that the
scheduled high-level party meet Tuesday and his fast Thursday had
been called off. "It is a victory for the Sri Lankan struggle and
for those who struggled," he said.
The prime minister said his government fully shared "the concerns
and sentiments" raised by MPs regarding the welfare of Sri Lankan
Tamils and stressed that their resettlement and rehabilitation has
been of "the highest and most immediate priority for our
government".
Alluding to the resolution that deals with alleged human rights
violations during the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka, Manmohan
Singh said India has conveyed to the Sri Lankan government "the
importance of a genuine process of reconciliation to address the
grievances of the Tamil community".
"In this connection, we have called for implementation of the
recommendations contained in the report of the Commission
appointed by Sri Lankan government that has been tabled before the
Sri Lankan Parliament. These include various constructive measures
for healing the wounds of the conflict and fostering the process
of lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."
Manmohan Singh also exhorted Colombo "to act decisively and with
vision" to puruse a political process through a broader dialogue
with all parties, including the Tamil National Alliance. The
dialogue, he stressed, should lead to the full implementation of
the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution so as to achieve
meaningful devolution of power and genuine national
reconciliation.
"We will remain engaged with them through this process and
encourage them to take forward the dialogue with the elected
representatives of Sri Lankan Tamils," he said.
The Indian government is under intense domestic pressure to vote
against Sri Lanka for the "war crimes" committed against the
Tamils during the end of the civil war.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had earlier said the Indian
government normally does not vote on a country-specific
resolution. This had angered the DMK, which threatened to quit the
central government.
The Geneva vote, which has created a major diplomatic crisis for
Sri Lanka, is scheduled for Friday.
The allegations of "war crimes" against Sri Lanka and the
resolution sparked an uproar in parliament last week, with DMK and
AIADMK asking the Indian government to vote against Sri Lanka on
the resolution.
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