Thursday, March 15, 2012

Asian Centre for Human Rights:Press Release

 (ACHR has Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC)
            C-3/441-C, Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058, India
                  Phone:                         +91-11-25620583            , 25503624
       Email: suhaschakma@achrweb.org: Website: www.achrweb.org


                                               Date: 15 March 2012

                             PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi: The Asian Centre for Human Rights in a letter to Foreign
Minister Shri S M Krishna requested to expel Sri Lankan High Commissioner
to India, Mr Prasad Kariyawasam to convey India’s strong disapproval with
his statement alleging the link of the Indian Members of Parliament with
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist organisation, in
an interview to The Indian Express yesterday.

“The Members of Parliament have the right to freedom of expression and as
elected public representatives of India, they are empowered to instruct
the Government of India with respect to its foreign policy including as to
how India should vote on specific resolutions at the United Nations. MPs
cutting across the party line intervened in the parliament demanding India
to vote in favour of the United States sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka
at the ongoing 19th Session of the Human Rights Council demanding
accountability from Sri Lankan government”. – stated Mr Suhas Chakma,
Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

By demanding investigation from India against all the MPs who spoke in the
parliament for their alleged links with the LTTE, High Commissioner Mr
Kariyawasam has breached diplomatic protocols and lowered the image of
Indian Parliament and the parliamentarians who specifically intervened on
India’s foreign policy matters.

Asian Centre for Human Rights also requested India to vote in favour of
the resolution at the ongoing 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
demanding accountability from Sri Lanka.

“It would be extremely unfortunate if India is to be influenced by such
blatant breach of diplomatic protocols and vote against the resolution at
the UN Human Rights Council that demands accountability from the Sri
Lankan government” –further stated Mr Chakma.[Ends]

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[For any further information or clarifications, please contact Mr Suhas
Chakma at                         9810893440            ]