By IANS,
New Delhi : Welcoming Colombo’s decision to withdraw emergency from the island nation, India Friday said it would want Sri Lanka to investigate human rights violations during its war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in a “transparent” manner.
“We have also noted the president of Sri Lanka’s decision announced yesterday (Thursday) to withdraw the state of emergency when it lapses at the end of this month. This, in our view, is a welcome step,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said while replying to a short duration discussion on steps taken by the government on relief and resettlement of Sri Lankan Tamils in the Lok Sabha
“We hope that this will be followed by effective steps leading to genuine national reconciliation in the country.”
A day after MPs cutting across party lines voiced concern at human rights violations during the armed conflict with LTTE and after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Krishna said New Delhi would like Sri Lanka to make “transparent” investigations into such allegations and that the probe should not be a “make believe” one.
“I wish to emphatically state that during the conflict, particularly its last phase, government of India repeatedly called upon the government of Sri Lanka to be mindful of the welfare and safety of civilians caught in the crossfire and consistently emphasised that the rights and the welfare of the Tamil community of Sri Lanka should not get enmeshed in the ongoing hostilities.”
However, Krishna added that India would not like to “endanger” its relations with Sri Lanka and work with it for relief and resettlement of internally displaced people.
He added that since India has always championed the cause of human rights, it has taken up “in strongest possible terms” to address the issue of human rights.
Referring to reports of harassment of Indian fishermen “allegedly” by the Sri Lankan Navy, Krishna said Colombo has denied the role of its navy in such incidents and promised to investigate “some of the incidents”.
The minister said the incidents of Indian fishermen either being killed or missing have come down in the past three years. This year, six Indian fishermen have died.
During the discussion, T.R. Baalu (DMK), who had moved the motion, wanted to know whether India would press to treat those found guilty of human rights violations as “war criminals.”
Responding to the issue of property of displaced Sri Lankan Tamils raised by Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, the minister agreed that it was an important aspect and he would once again raise it with that government.