The DMK wants India to support a U.S.-sponsored United Nations resolution.
The U.N.’s Human Rights Council this week is set to vote on a resolution expressing concern about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, four years after the end of a 26-year-long civil war there.
The U.S. and others say the Sri Lankan government has failed to probe into allegations of human rights abuses against its minority Tamil population.
Colombo denies the allegations, saying they are fuelled by Tamils and separatist forces in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Human rights activists allege that the Sri Lankan army is torturing suspected members or supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a militant group also known as the Tamil Tigers.
Victoria Nuland, spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, addressed the issue late Monday during a press briefing in Washington D.C.
Here are excerpts of her remarks.
QUESTION: If I can check with you on Sri Lanka. The U.S. delegation which is going to – in Geneva right now, the kind of talks you’re having with the Sri Lankan government and also the Indian government on this issue, do you have something to say on that?
MS. NULAND: Well, you know when we’ve spoken about it here that we are sponsoring a new resolution in the Human Rights Council and we’re working with a lot of governments who share our concerns about the lack of progress in Sri Lanka. It is not a surprise to the Government of Sri Lanka that we are doing this. We made clear publicly and privately that this was a response to the fact that we just didn’t see the kind of movement that was necessary. We didn’t see promises fulfilled. So we’re being very transparent with the Government of Sri Lanka, and we’re expecting strong support for the resolution that we’ve put forward.
QUESTION: But there are sections from the pro-LTT groups which are coming up very strongly in support of the resolutions in Geneva. Do you think that this – there are some critics who say the passing of this resolution will give boost to LTT activities not only in Sri Lanka but world over.
MS. NULAND: Well, the best thing that the Government of Sri Lanka could do for its own people and to undercut the claims of these groups would be to fulfill the obligations that it made to the international community to take the process forward. So that hasn’t happened, and we are taking more measures in the Human Rights Council to make clear that progress has been insufficient.
QUESTION: And then lastly, has the Indian government approached you for any change in the draft resolution?
MS. NULAND: I don’t have any details about the discussions that are ongoing…
