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| Voting at UNHRC on SL resolution , March 2012 |
GoSL rejects joint resolution, stage set for Geneva vote By Shamindra Ferdinando
Sri Lanka’s refusal to move a joint resolution on accountability issues, at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, has set the stage for a vote on the second US motion, targeting the country, since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. The vote will take place on March 21.
The first US resolution was passed in March last year with 24 voting for and 15 against with eight abstaining. The UNHRC comprises 47 countries and is divided into five regional groups – African States (13 seats), Asian States (13 seats), Latin American and Caribbean States (8 seats), Western European and other States (7 seats), Eastern European States (6 seats). Members serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
The US explored the possibility of having Sri Lanka’s consent to present the resolution, co-sponsored by those who had voted in support of the first resolution, at its 19th sessions last year.
Government sources told The Island that a vote would expose those who had sided with the US for their benefit as well as countries influenced by the LTTE rump. Sources claimed that the US had been seeking to move the resolution with Sri Lanka’s consensus as many countries wanted to avoid a high profile vote. Responding to a query, a senior official said that many governments had indicated to the US their reluctance to throw their weight behind a country specific resolution targeting Sri Lanka.In fact, the US had been always opposed to country specific resolutions, sources said. India’s position on country specific resolution, too, had been the same sources said.
Well informed sources said that the number of governments likely to abstain at the forthcoming vote was expected to exceed the eight registered last year. ….
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Sources said that Sri Lanka would request a friendly country to call for a vote.
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IS