SRI LANKA'S FRIENDS AND FOES

Friends and foes of Sri Lanka exposed in Geneva

   The US Draft Resolution against Sri Lanka presented at the Human Rights Session concluded yesterday. It was adopted with a majority of 12 votes with 25 voting in favour, 13 against while 8 had abstained from voting. Among countries that voted against Sri Lanka were India, Argentina, Austria, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Chech, Ivory Coast, Estonia, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Ireland, Libya, Montenegro, Peru, Poland, Korea, Moladova, Rumania, Sierra Leone,  Switzerland, America and Spain.
   Those who voted in favour of Sri Lanka were, Congo, Equador, Kuwait, Indonesia, The Maldives, Pakistan, Mauritania, The Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, United Emirates, Venezuela and Uganda.
   Those who abstained from voting, thus favouring Sri Lanka by being 'silent' were, Japan, Angola, Botswana, Burkinapaso, Ethiopia, Karkastan, New Guinea and Malaysia.

   The Resolution presented last year against Sri Lanka received 24 votes and 15 votes were against it.
   This year 25 votes were For and 13 Against.

It is reported that during the voting session,
 Seeman -- leader of Nam Thamilar Party who favours Tamil Nadu Tigers had been present. It was also reported that certain Activists of NGOs such as Nimalka Fernando, Sunanda Deshapriya and members of Tamil organisations too had been present there.
   As a result of this voting manner, it was possible to recognise true friends and foes alike of Sri Lanka and it was a clearcut phenomenon to notice that, perhaps because of American opposition, a number of Muslim States had voted infavour of Sri Lanka.
   The Jathika Hela Urumaya Party issued an announcement last evening requesting