The government’s decision to abstain on an American-led resolution at the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, seeking an independent international probe into alleged rights violations by Sri Lankan troops against Tamil civilians, marks a return to thoughtful diplomacy after voting in recent times along with the United States.
India has been second to none in seeking answers from Colombo in the matter of human rights violations in the last stages of the war against the LTTE, but New Delhi has sought to press its point without resorting to an intrusive approach in the affairs of a sovereign country which is a valued neighbour and traditional friend.
When ethnic passions are not whipped up, it will be appreciated that India’s capacity to influence Colombo to do right by the Sri Lankan Tamils expands significantly if New Delhi is seen to be genuinely helpful to the island nation while securing the autonomy of the Tamils.
The legitimate rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils are not a trifling thing and have to be secured. The holding of the provincial elections in the Tamil areas by Sri Lanka is a good example of India being able to persuade the Mahinda Rajapakse government to heed its advice.
However, the holding of an election does not go far enough. Needless to say, India’s leverage with Sri Lanka must be preserved and exercised for the betterment of ties between New Delhi and Colombo, of which the Tamil question is an important, though not exclusive, element.
