The European Union has once again shown that it is an inadequate body to stand up for human rights. Recently new evidence of war crimes has come to light which reveals again the UN’s complicity with the Sri Lankan regime. New figures reveal the numbers of lives lost in the 2009 massacre. But, disgracefully right-wing EU MEPs muscled in to soften a resolution proposed by the left.

Below we publish the text of the GUE’s left resolution and the text of the compromised resolution voted in by MEPs.

GUE-proposed resolution:

28. Calls on the UNHRC to take practical measures arising from the report of the Internal Review Panel on United Nations action in Sri Lanka published in November 2012, which states in particular that, as regards the situation of civilians caught up in the civil war in recent months, the United Nations has failed in its responsibilities, calls on the UNHRC to condemn the increase in attacks on democratic rights in Sri Lanka, including freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of association and the right to free and fair elections, and to call for a solution to the conflict based on respect for democracy and human rights, including the right of self-determination of the Tamil people; calls on the UNHRC to consider, and express its concern about, the plan to revoke Amendment 13 to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which accords a certain regional autonomy to the north and east of the island;

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2013-0061&language=EN

Following is voted by the EU members: (compromised resolution):

26. Welcomes also the resolution on Sri Lanka emphasising reconciliation and accountability in that country; reiterates its support for the recommendations made by the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka, including the strict upholding of the independence of the judiciary with a view, inter alia, to the effective prosecution of past war crimes;