Human Rights report:

Tamil Nadu denounces but TNA hails

by P. Krishnaswamy

Although Sri Lanka's Tamil leaders, especially leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), have welcomed UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka which calls for the settling up of a hybrid special court to investigate violations,Tamil Nadu political leaders denounced the UN report and its recommendations.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Pic:Janpakareporter.com

The UN report blames both sides for crimes committed during the conflict. High Commissioner Ra'ad Al Hussein categorically told a journalist that the UN did not perceive 'genocide,'a key accusation of Tamils overseas, as having occurred.

Following the release of the report, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution demanding the Union Government to call for an International probe into human rights violations by the Sri Lankan Government.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution came 24 hours after the Indian and Sri Lankan governments decided to strengthen defence ties and economic cooperation.

In showing protest, the ruling AIADMK and rival, the DMK, have spoken in unison, demanding from the Centre, a tougher stand at the UNHRC, in case the US opts to soften its stance on Sri Lanka.

The resolution adopted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly demanded that India should move a strong resolution at the UNHRC, calling for an international probe against those who committed human rights violations and war crimes against international treaties.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has already drawn the attention of the State Assembly to a previous resolution, adopted by the Tamil Nadu Legislature in 2012, to suspend friendly relations with Sri Lanka and introduce economic embargoes against the island. Meanwhile, TNA leader R.Sampanthan has openly welcomed Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera's statement at the UNHRC in Geneva promising positive steps on accountability and this is a turning point in the long-unsettled national ethnic issue and should not be jeopardized by hardline communal sentiments here or overseas, Tamil political observers told the Sunday Observer.

The High Commissioner has welcomed the positive steps taken by the new Government of President Maithripala Sirisena since January this year and has recommended a range of measures to develop a comprehensive transitional justice policy.

The fact that the High Commissioner has urged all communities and sections of society, including the diaspora, to view the report as "an opportunity to change discourse from one of absolute denial to one of acknowledgement and constructive engagement should be taken into consideration by all stakeholders, the sources said.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously asked the Centre to move a 'strong resolution' in the UNHRC for an international probe into the alleged war crimes and genocide in the final phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka.

In the event the UN took a pro-Lankan stand, India should make diplomatic efforts to change it.The resolution was passed unanimously.

Previous resolutions adopted by the State Assembly against Sri Lanka, including the one urging India not to treat Sri Lanka as a 'friendly nation' and impose 'economic sanctions' on the island nation for its war crimes were detrimental to neighbourly relations and regional security, the sources said.

Meanwhile, leader of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) Vasudeva Nanayakkara, founder Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and many other civil society organisations welcomed Minister Mangala Samaraweera's Geneva speech stating that he acknowledged ground realities and practical remedial measures.