India raises concerns over non-transparency of UNSC subsidiary

Describing the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee as the "most non-transparent" of the UN Security Council's subsidiary bodies, India has voiced its concern over the lack of criteria of listing individuals and organizations on whom sanctions are applied.

"In this debate about transparency we need to mention that the most non-transparent of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council is the 1267 Al Qaida Sanctions Committee," visiting Lok Sabha MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab said at an open debate on 'Working Methods' of the Security Council here yesterday.

He said no information is shared on the criteria of listing or not listing individuals and organizations on whom sanctions are applied.

"It is our apprehension that there may, in fact, be no criteria at all. And that any of the 15 members may be allowed to exercise a veto without assigning any reason and without the wider membership being informed of their having done so," he said.

He pointed out that in April this year, the new Chair of the Sanctions Committee had organized a briefing for the wider membership of the UN and said that he would hold such meetings periodically.

"No meeting has, however, since been held. His predecessor had also kept the work of the Committee cloaked in secrecy," the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP said.