Karuna wants Centre to support US-backed resolution at UNHRC

As a debate on the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council is expected later this week, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today appealed to the Centre to support it and insist on an international, independent and just probe into the alleged war crimes in the island.
"To bring about an end to the destruction of cultural symbols of the Tamils by the Sinhalese, for peaceful living of Tamils, an international and independent inquiry should be conducted. I repeatedly urge that India should support the US-proposed resolution, when it is brought for a debate," Karunanidhi said in a statement.

Contending that it was India, which watered down the essence of the two resolutions brought earlier at the UNHRC, the 90-year old DMK patriarch claimed that Indian officials at the international body were gathering support for Sri Lanka.
Referring to the large presence of military forces at the northern and eastern parts of Lanka, which he claimed were "operating dangerously," where large Tamil population was present, Karunanidhi alleged that Sinhalese were grabbing land belonging to ethnic Tamils and defacing cultural symbols.
The DMK chief also acknowledged that the US-sponsored resolution was not to the satisfaction of the Tamils living world over. A debate on the resolution against Lanka over human rights violations in its alleged war crimes was expected on March 24 or 25, while a voting would take place on March 26, he said.

Karunanidhi also recalled his party-backed Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO)'s resolutions in this regard earlier.