Tamil Nadu against any move to allow Sri Lanka internal probe on 'war crimes'

Chennai: Tamil Nadu on Wednesday opposed any move to allow Sri Lanka hold an internal probe into alleged human rights violations and war crimes during hostilities in 2009 and urged the Modi government to take the lead at the UN and press for an international investigation on it.

Moving a resolution which was unanimously adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa accused the previous UPA government of not fulfilling the state's demands vis-a-vis the ethnic issue.

She charged the Sri Lankan government with carrying out 'planned' attacks against Tamils in 2009 and said a UN appointed commission had found out that many "inhuman" acts were performed against the ethnic minority.

The resolution demanded that India itself should move a "strong resolution" at the UNHRC seeking an international probe against those who had committed human rights violations and war crimes contravening international rules and conventions.

Jayalalithaa said that the "same America which brought a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka" earlier seeking international investigation on these issues had now proposed an internal probe by Colombo.

"There are reports that US could move a resolution at the UNHRC (in this regard.) This is contradictory to natural justice," she said.

"The Tamil Nadu Assembly requests the Government of India that if America takes a stand supportive of Sri Lanka (at the UNHRC), then India must take diplomatic efforts to change that," the resolution moved by Jayalalithaa, said.

The Chief Minister said Sri Lanka's opinion had been reportedly sought on a UN report on alleged human rights violations and that the country may be allowed to constitute its own probe after getting its explanation.

"A situation has emerged at the UNHRC wherein Sri Lanka, based on its response,will be allowed to probe the war crimes. Indian government has the responsibility to stop this," she said.

Further, the Northern Provincial council in Sri Lanka headed by Chief Minister N Wigneswaran had adopted a resolution against any internal investigation into war crimes, saying it would not ensure justice to Tamil victims, she said.

And, in this situation, a need has arisen to insist that India press for an international probe in UNHRC against those who committed alleged war crimes, she said. Recalling her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here last month, Jayalalithaa said that in her charter of demands presented to him, she had also sought India's role in ensuring "punishment" at the UNHRC for those involved in war crimes.

Targeting previous UPA government, she said a slew of resolutions by the Assembly and her own demands on the vexed issue were never heeded to.

She recalled that in order to address the issue of alleged human rights violations and war crimes against Tamils, the assembly had adopted resolutions and had sought for, among others, slapping economic sanctions on Colombo and to stop treating it as a friendly nation.

Tamil Nadu had also demanded that the then government headed by Manmohan Singh move the UN for holding a referendum among Lankan Tamils and the diaspora over a separate homeland even as her government had asked India to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013 held in Colombo, she said.

Another Assembly resolution had sought suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth till Tamils achieved equality with majority Sinhalas, she said, adding when this was not heeded to, another resolution was passed "expressing regret."

"To top it all," she had sought a separate resolution by India for an international probe.

"The then Central government never paid heed to these. And the result is that the situation has turned upside down," she said while referring to the US reportedly altering its stand--from pressing for international investigation to proposing an internal probe.

The CM also recalled she had opposed participation of Sri Lankan players and officials in IPL fixtures scheduled in Chennai and that the matches would be allowed only after an assurance was given in this regard.

Till today, IPL matches are held here without Lankan participation and this was a success of her government's insistence, she said.

Meanwhile, opposition parties inside and outside the Assembly welcomed the resolution.DMK's Deputy Floor Leader in the Assembly, Durai Murugan, said it was a "timely resolution". Congress, Left parties, MDMK and PMK welcomed it.