Like It Or Not Sri Lanka Faces Investigation

By Veluppillai Thangavelu -March 30, 2014 

Veluppillai Thangavelu

Although the outcome of the US resolution during the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council was a foregone conclusion, many were worried about the margin of victory.

The UNHRC has 47 member-nations elected by the UN General Assembly on a rotational three-year term representing five geographical groups – Africa-13, Asia-13, Eastern Europe-6, Latin America & the Caribbean -8, and Western European and Other states-7.

This was the third showdown by US at Geneva against Sri Lanka.  In 2012, US sponsored resolution titled Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka got the support of 24 (including India) out of 47 member states of UN Human Rights Council, while 15 member-states voted against and eight abstained.

In 2013 the voting was 31 in favour, 15 against and 1 abstained giving a majority of 16 votes.

This year the US resolution was supported by 23, 12 against and 12 abstained giving a majority of only 11 votes.  India was one of the countries that abstained from voting.

UN member nations are usually reluctant to vote for country specific resolutions demanding international probes into internal issues. The voting reflected the mindset of such countries.  Voting shows more countries abstained this year than in 2013. Also support for the resolution dropped from 31 to 24 and those opposed from 15 to 12. The reason is due to new member states elected to the UNHCR during 2013.

The following shows how member states voted this time.

Countries that voted ‘Yes’: Argentina, Austria, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Montenegro, Peru, South Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, United Kingdom and the United Station of America. Read More