PC signals at vote against Lanka in UN

What is not known as yet is if India will move amendments to the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka on its own on the floor when its turn to speak on the resolution comes, or whether India will turn to the United States at the last minute since the United States is the originator of the resolution and ask it to include its amendments in the final draft resolution. Though a possibility, it appears a difficult task given the late nature of the request, if made. Among those who appeared to take a tough stand on Sri Lanka was Union finance minister P. Chidambaram, who also represents the Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat in Parliament. “India’s position has always been and remains that the United Nations Human Rights Commission should adopt a strong resolution that would send a resolute message to Sri Lanka and goad Sri Lanka to accept an independent and credible investigation,” Mr P. Chidambaram said at a press conference. There were several meetings in the government at the top level as it worked to come up with “strong amendments”. The matter was discussed at a meeting held by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh where Union finance minister Chidambaram, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon, foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai and India’s permanent representative at the United Nations in Geneva Dilip Sinha were present. It is also unlikely that words like “genocide”, as demanded by the DMK, will be in the amendments India is to move. However, India may ask that the portion of the resolution seeking provincial elections in Sri Lanka’s northern province in September 13, which is in the preamble, be moved to its operative part, which will make it binding upon the island nation to implement the provision.