US disappointed with India on vote on US resolution

   Marie Harf Deputy Spokesperson speaking at the US state Department Daily press briefing on 28 March 2014 stated that the “It is disappointing to us that India abstained from voting on this resolution when they voted yes for the last two years. We have made our disappointment known to Indian officials. Beyond that, I’d refer you to them in terms of how they voted.”

MS. HARF: Uh-huh, I do. Give me one second. It was a U.S.-led resolution – and the Secretary actually put out a statement on this, I hope you saw that, I think yesterday or the day before – adopted by a vote of 23 yes, 12 no, and 12 abstentions. For the first time, this resolution requests a comprehensive investigation to be undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission report, which was 2002 to 2009. In addition, it requests that OHCR monitor, assess, report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including any relevant domestic processes dealing with reconciliation and accountability.

QUESTION: And what was the – do you have any comments on what role India played? They didn’t vote; they abstained?

MS. HARF: Yes, I do. Just give me one second to page back here in this book. I do.

It is disappointing to us that India abstained from voting on this resolution when they voted yes for the last two years. We have made our disappointment known to Indian officials. Beyond that, I’d refer you to them in terms of how they voted.