Lanka vote’s got nothing to do with human rights

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
There seems to be no moral justification behind the United States-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council. The massacre of ‘40,000 civilians’ and continued persecution of Tamils is a fit case for international censure; even an international intervention could be justified. That the US, motivated, or rather compelled, by a moving human rights crisis decided to sponsor a resolution against Sri Lanka is the ostensible explanation, which is difficult to fathom. The very day the US-sponsored resolution backed by 24 countries — ironically, including India — was passed, the US also voted against a resolution ‘ordering the first probe into how Israeli settlements may be infringing on the rights of the Palestinians’. The resolution against the illegal Israeli settlements was passed by 36 votes in favour and 10 abstentions; the US alone voted against the resolution. This underscored the US’s moral bankruptcy and also highlighted the majority international sentiment against illegal Israeli settlements.Full Story>>>