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India renews call for 13th Amendment plus
India used Thursday’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) here to remind Sri Lanka of its “commitment” to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and “go beyond” to address Tamil grievances.
The call came in a report when the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) reviewed Sri Lanka’s human rights record during a three and half hour session. A total of 99 speakers were given a minute and 20 seconds to make their presentations.
The Indian call came as at least three parties in the UPFA coalition strongly called for the repeal of the 13th Amendment. They have also mounted campaigns to build public opinion for the repeal. The parties are the Jathika Hela Urumaya, the National Freedom Front and the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna.
The Indian report said “we recall the commitments made by Sri Lanka on the implementation of the 13th Amendment, and building on it, to achieve a meaningful devolution package. We urge expeditious action to take forward the political process for early political settlement.”
The report added that “we have noted the announcement on holding Provincial Council elections in the Northern Province in 2013. We urge that the people of the province be able to exercise their democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution as early as possible.”
Though the Indian statement was viewed by diplomats here as a reiteration of its policy, particularly in the wake of recent calls for the repeal of the 13th Amendment, the Sri Lanka delegation was cool.
Delegation leader, Mahinda Samarasinghe told the Sunday Times, “The UPR was a good opportunity to explain Sri Lanka’s situation as opposed to what happened in the Human Rights Council in March this year. We were able to show the progress we have made. We should be able to present a better report in March, next year. “
Western nations, however, were critical of the Government. Both Britain and the United States said that accountability must be established for what they called breaches during the final stages of the separatist war in May 2009. They also voiced serious concern over attacks on journalists, human rights activists and lawyers.
A report on the UPR on Sri Lanka, prepared by India (Chairman), Spain and Benin will be tabled before the UNHCR tomorrow.
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