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![In this Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 photo, a Sri Lankan traditional dancer performs during the annual Buddhist temple festival, known as Navam Perahera, in Colombo, Sri Lanka [AP]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sri.jpg)
In this Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 photo, a Sri Lankan traditional dancer performs during the annual Buddhist temple festival, known as Navam Perahera, in Colombo, Sri Lanka [AP]
In what could be a major boost for Sri Lanka, Russia, India, China and South Africa on Thursday decided not to support the US-backed United Nations human rights resolution against the island nation.
“Yes we intend to abstain,” India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told The BRICS Post on Thursday.
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted on Thursday morning in Geneva on whether to order an international investigation into alleged war crimes.
The UNHRC vote to keep para 10 in the resolution calling for Sri Lanka inquiry resulted in 23 States voting in favour, 14 against, and 10 abstained.
Russia and China have voted against the motion while South Africa and India have abstained.
“India abstaining on SriLanka resolution at UNHRC citing resolution’s potential to hinder efforts rather than contribute constructively,” tweeted India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
A recent UN report states many thousands of civilians were killed, injured or remain missing after the 26-year civil conflict between government forces and separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north of Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009.
The West and rights groups have blamed the Sri Lankan government for failing to bring those guilty of “emblematic” wartime crimes to justice.
Colombo has insisted it is trying to usher in a post-war reconciliation process. The government has also claimed of investing heavily on infrastructure in northern Sri Lanka where Tamil minority is concentrated.
President Mahindra Rajapaksa’s current term ends in 2016.
TBP
