Updated 13:45 Hardeep S Puri retired last month from the Indian Foreign Service.
In an op-ed in The Hindu, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Hardeep S. Puri, calls for a “full and final” investigation of allegations of Sri Lankan war crimes in 2009.
Arguing that “sovereignty has never succeeded in providing a cover against genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Amb Puri asks:
“Why should Sri Lanka not be held to account for not respecting understandings given bilaterally to India, such as those of April-May 2009?”
Defending India’s support for the ‘minimalist’ UNHRC resolutions in 2012 and 2013 sponsored by the United States, he argues:
“To suggest that India does not support country-specific resolutions is absurd. Even more, that we have a principled position on this. …
“[In fact] We have never hesitated to take a position on country-specific resolutions … whenever our national interest so demanded.”
Warning Sri Lanka that “To dismiss popular sentiment in Tamil Nadu as the machinations of politicians is both a misreading of the situation and a recipe for disaster,” Amb Puri dismisses the 'China threat':
“Exaggerated projections of Chinese inroads and influence are a bogey which many of our smaller neighbours periodically try on us.”
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