In a major diplomatic victory to Sri lanka, a group of nations including Russia, China and Pakistan has come down heavily on the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) for violating the United Nations resolutions related to human rights.
The group of countries, titled as like Minded Group (lMG), pointed out that “the mandate given to the High Commissioner of Human Rights by the resolution 25/1 to carry out investigations on Sri lanka is unwarranted especially in the context where the country is implementing its own domestic processes”.
India, though did not sign the joint statement, expressed its strong reservation over the suspense and mystery behind the composition of the OHCHR team probing into the allegations against Sri lanka.
“The composition of the OHCHR investigating team, its work methodology and sources of funding have not been shared with the Human Rights Council and it is disturbing,” said the Indian representative. The Indian move came immediately after Tamil chauvinist groups in Tamil Nadu and led by DMK chief M Karunanidhi staged a protest day on Thursday wearing black costumes. The Dravidian zealots were protesting against the speech delivered by Mahinda Rajapaksa, president of Sri lanka in the United Nations General Assembly.
The lMG which include Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, North Korea , Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, in a joint statement to the High Commissioner of Human Rights on Saturday pointed out that the United Nations Resolutions on Human Rights adoped by the General Assembly do not confer any authority to the OHCHR over sovereign countries. “Any external assistance to countries should expressly be in consultation with and with the consent of that country,” said the statement which was handed over to the OHCHR. This is in response to the statement made by the newly appointed High Commissioner for Human Rights asking Sri lanka to allow the HRC to visit the island nation for a probe into the alleged human rights violation during the 2009 civil war which ended the reign of terror by the liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
India wanted the OHCHR to maintain transparency in all its actions. “The High Commissioner has not indicated how he intends to proceed with his investigation in the absence of cooperation from the country concerned,” said India. The country has already made it known that it would not allow any team deputed by the OHCHR to use its territory for probing the charges against Sri lanka.
Interestingly, Cuba, too has come out openly supporting Sri lanka and criticising the OHCHR for trying to jeopardize the delicate process of reconciliation that is already underway in Sri lanka.