ET in the Clasroom: Why is India wary of UN resolution

A US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC has thrust itself onto the national stage and threatened the stability of the UPA government, reports Sanjay Vijayakumar. Here are details of the resolution and why it matters:

What is the un resolution on Lanka?

The UN Human Rights Council will put to vote on March 21-22 a US-sponsored resolution, which urges Lanka to deliver on its promises to probe violations of human rights by its army in the final months of a bloody 25-year civil war. In March 2011, a UN panel of experts had issued a report saying that about 40,000 civilians were killed during the final stages of the war.

What does DMK want?

DMK wants an international, independent and time-bound investigation into the alleged war crimes. It also wants India to introduce stronger language, including the word “genocide” in the resolution. The word conjures up images of Nazi Germany and the Killing Fields of Vietnam, stigma that the Sri Lankan government is keen to avoid.

What will now satisfy DMK?

After it said it was withdrawing support to UPA, DMK said a resolution in the Indian Parliament is an acceptable solution. But Congress will have its hands full mustering the support it needs for the Plan B proposed by DMK.

What India can do?

India is concerned about growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka. A similar resolution last year was watered down by India, which ended up voting against Sri Lanka. The Chinese voted against the resolution. India’s leverage is limited, especially with President MahindaRajapaksa — the man who crushed LTTE — in power.

What is the origin of the fight for Tamil Eelam?

When Lanka achieved independence from the British in 1948, it passed laws that disenfranchised Indian Tamil plantation workers and made Sinhala the sole official language. This was seen as discriminatory towards minorities and led to increased ethnic tensions. Initially, Tamil parties in Lanka fought for equal rights, but in the 1980s, the tensions took a violent turn & LTTE, which demanded a separate Eelam state, emerged as a strong force.

LTTE received active support from India in the initial days, which led it to gaining control of the northern and eastern part of the island. Things changed after LTTE plotted the assassination of PM Rajiv Gandhi, leading to its decline and defeat in 2009.