Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding The Need For A Strong Resolution In The United Nations Human Rights ... on 19 March, 2013
> Title: Regarding the need for a strong resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka for human rights violation against Sri Lankan Tamils.
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI (KARUR): Madam, thank you very much for allowing me to raise a very important and serious matter regarding the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
We have already discussed this matter many times in the House and I could not get any categorical reply from the Government. That is why, once again I want to reiterate and say that the hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Amma had sent a letter to the hon. Prime Minister on 18th March, 2013 reiterating our Party’s stand and urged that India should take a very strong stand in support of the US-sponsored Resolution about genocide committed by the Sri Lankan army in 2009, in civil war and also to move necessary amendments to strengthen the Resolution. I would like to quote certain items which the Government has to take into consideration. But in spite of that, it was disappointing that India had maintained a deafening silence when the US-sponsored draft was taken up for discussion in the on-going UNHRC Session.
Madam, India has to come forward with initiatives to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and also they have to take up this issue in the international forum. When the US has taken up this matter, it is our bounden duty to see that the Resolution must be a strong one and give some amendments.
First, in the operative paragraph 1, there should be an unequivocal call for a credible, independent, international mechanism to prosecute genocide, war crimes and war criminals and the accused should stand trial before an international court. This process should be completed within a period of six months and the outcome reported for a special discussion in the 25th session of UNHRC in 2014.
Also, another very important thing is that in operative paragraph 3, there should be a strong call to the Government of Sri Lanka to accept the establishment of an impartial, international institution to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equality, accountability, including investigation of violations of international law and reconciliation of all Sri Lankans, including Tamils. … (Interruptions) I am going to conclude, Madam.
This should include Sri Lanka providing a pragmatic political package to the Sri Lankan Tamils and restoring their equal rights of citizenship on par with the Sinhalese Community.
I want to know from the Government what stand they have taken seriously to see that the US-sponsored Resolution is strengthened. Today is the last day. If the Government is not giving any amendment to the US-sponsored Resolution, there is no point. Therefore, I want a categorical reply from the Government as to whether they are going to take up this issue and move some kind of amendments to strengthen the US-sponsored Resolution to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils. Madam, I want reaction from the Government. Let the Minister react to this please. Without reaction, what is the use? It is because we have raised this issue many times. It is a deafening issue. Let the Government react to this.… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER:
Shri Shivkumar Udasi, Shri P. Lingam and Shri P.L. Punia are allowed to associate with the matter raised by Dr. Thambidurai.
Now, Shri Elangovan.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY (KOLKATA UTTAR): Madam, whether the DMK has pulled out support from the Government. It is very much in the air that DMK has withdrawn support and the House is in Session. So, the Home Minister should report to us about it further as to how far it is true.… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: No, let Mr. Elangovan speak.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY : Why do you not communicate it to the House? It is already in the media that they have withdrawn the support. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Why are you standing? Please sit down.
SHRI T.K.S. ELANGOVAN : Madam Speaker, Tamil Nadu is burning. The students are on the streets. Every section of the society is on the streets. They were expecting a strong Resolution.
SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): Madam, we want to know whether he is speaking on behalf of the Ruling Party or Opposition Party.… (Interruptions)
SHRI T.K.S. ELANGOVAN : I am speaking on behalf of the DMK Party.… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Nothing else will go on record.
(Interruptions) … * MADAM SPEAKER: Let him speak.
SHRI T.K.S. ELANGOVAN : Madam Speaker, the entire State is burning. The people are on the streets. The students have gone on fast unto death. The US Resolution, which was to be passed in the UNHRC, has failed to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamils in the Island and in the mainland of India. Madam, my question to the Government is this. The Government of Sri Lanka and the President of Sri Lanka had given various promises to the Government of India that include demilitarization, democratization, de-escalation and then giving powers to the regional groups. The assurances given by the Government of Sri Lanka to the Government of India have not been carried out by the Government of Sri Lanka. My question to the Government of India is: what are you looking for or what are you waiting for? What happened to the assurances given to the Government of India by the Government of Sri Lanka? Why is the Government of India allowing human rights violation in the Island? Why is the Government of India allowing genocide in the Island? We are not bothered about the Resolution in the UNHRC. We said that the Government of India has a moral and bounden duty when they have got certain assurances from the Government of Sri Lanka. It is the moral duty of the Government of India to see that these assurances were fulfilled or else to ask or put pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka that these assurances are kept up. Why is India a silent spectator? … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please conclude.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI T.K.S. ELANGOVAN : When there was trouble in the year 1989, when there was trouble in the year 1987, the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, intervened and called the Sri Lankan President and signed an agreement with them to protect the Tamils in the Island. What is the Government doing now? … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you very much.
Hon. Minister, Shri Kamal Nath.
… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, let the hon. Member, Shri Yashwant Sinha speak.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI YASHWANT SINHA (HAZARIBAGH): Madam, there is a statement, which is being broadcast and telecast all over the place, for some time, about the majority of this Government in this House. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: I have given you time to speak on Sri Lankan issue.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI YASHWANT SINHA : Madam, the House has the right to know it. … (Interruptions) My appeal to the DMK is, don’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. … (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI KAMAL NATH): Madam, the Government has expressed concerns and viewed with serious concern the happenings in Sri Lanka. … (Interruptions) The Government is open to a discussion on this subject and you may like to call a BAC meeting to fix a time and date for such a discussion. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet again at 2 pm. 12.23 hrs The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Fourteen of the Clock.