A key United Nations committee has passed a resolution slamming Myanmar, Iran and North Korea for human rights abuses despite objection by several developing nations, including India, which questioned singling them out for criticism.
India voted against the resolutions, supported by an overwhelming number of western States, on Myanmar and Iran and abstained on one criticising North Korea's human rights record.
Several delegations also protested that the texts represented an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of member states and were politically motivated with no real interest in human rights.
The resolution strongly condemning Myanmar was adopted by 88 votes to 24 with 66 member states abstaining.
The one expressing deep concern over human rights violations in Iran passed with 72 votes to 50 with 55 abstentions and the North Korea's systematic and widespread abuses were condemned by 97 votes to 23 with 60 abstentions by the General Assembly's humanitarian, social and cultural committee on which all 192 members of the world body are represented.
Explaining India's vote on the resolution criticising Myanmar's human rights record, its delegate Kunwar Sarvraj Singh stressed on the need to promote human rights through dialogue, consultations and cooperation, saying this approach has a better chance of leading to genuine improvement.
"We need a self critical appraisal whether the international community has managed to achieve genuine improvement in human rights through giving of report cards against countries or even by undertaking intrusive monitoring," he said.
As far as Myanmar is concerned, Singh pointed out that India has consistently maintained that all initiatives should be 'forward-looking, non condemnatory.'
"They should seek to engage the Myanmar government in a non intrusive and constructive manner. We believe that such an approach will also support the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission and his special advisor Ibrahim Gambari's ongoing dialogue with Myanmar," said Singh.
India, Singh said, has impressed upon Myanmar that the process of political reform and national reconciliation should be taken forward expeditiously.
By adopting a condemnatory, intrusive and unhelpful tone, this draft resolution will not contribute or strengthen the initiatives being taken by UN and may prove counter productive, he warned.
The resolution on Myanmar strongly condemned the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators who had been exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression.
It expressed grave concern over ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, arbitrary detentions, repeated violations of international humanitarian law, discrimination suffered by persons of ethnic nationalities, the absence of genuine participation by representatives of the National League for Democracy and other political parties, and the continuous deterioration of living conditions as well as increasing poverty.
It also called upon the government to put an immediate end to the recruitment of child soldiers, and to take urgent measures to end military operations targeting civilians.
The resolutions on Iran expressed deep concern at ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee sharply criticised the resolution and Canada which had introduced it.
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