India is to mull over a variety of factors before it takes a
decision on the draft of a letter which Egypt, the current chair of the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), had written to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
expressing opposition to the expert committee on the human rights situation in
Sri Lanka that he had set up recently.
About a week ago, the Egyptian Ambassador in the UN had
circulated the draft letter among the 118 countries that are members of NAM.
Official sources told Express on Sunday that Indiawould first have to take into account the fact that the Mahinda Rajapaksa
government has refused to cooperate with the panel, arguing that its mandate
seriously erodes the country’s sovereignty.
Indiawill also have to bear in mind the fact that Chinahas publicly backed Sri
Lanka on this issue. India cannot be seen to be opposing Sri Lanka on this matter and allow China to get the advantage in the intense
India-China rivalry that is going on in Sri Lanka.
Indiacannot ignore Colombo’s argument that Ban had
been arbitrary in Sri Lanka’s
case. He had appointed the panel without any resolution by the UN General
Assembly or the Security Council or even the Human Rights Council asking for
it. In contrast, the UN panel on the Israeli attack on the civilian flotilla inGaza on May 31
had the prior sanction of these UN decision-making bodies.
New Delhi is constrained to
take into account the growing pressure on the Manmohan Singh government from
its ally in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, to take a tougher line against Colombo on the Tamil question, which is at the bottom of
the human rights situation in Sri
Lanka.
Indiawill wait and see as to how the other members of NAMreact to Egypt’s
letter. It is not clear how many in the 118-country NAM group will oppose or support
the panel.
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