India criticizes UN Security Council

United tions, November 24 :India has accused the Security Council of legitimising a “morally challenging” response to the refugee crisis by calling for the destruction of boats they use to flee across the Mediterranean to Europe. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative Bhagwant S. Bishnoi referred to an October resolution by the Council and said Monday it “leads one to conclude that those risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean are doing so out of greed for pecuniary gain and not to escape persecution and death.”

The resolution authorised countries to seize and destroy boats, rafts and dinghies used for smuggling migrants from Libya to Europe and described it as a measure against human trafficking. For this, the Council invoked the UN Charter provisions for restoring “intertiol peace and security” in the face of threats to peace.

Speaking at a General Assembly discussion on migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean region and the Syrian refugee crisis, Bishnoi said, “The boats that they use, the resolution would lead us to believe, constitute a threat to intertiol peace and security and that they, therefore, need to be seized and destroyed.” “It would seem that the Council has decreed that people cannot flee for their lives unless they use vessels whose sea worthiness comes up to the standards set by the Intertiol Maritime Organization,” he said. Through these measures, “the Council has legitimized a response that is morally challenging in extraordiry proportions,” he added.

Calling for the renunciation of “the language of racism and xenophobia,” Bishnoi said, “Saving lives, providing protection and upholding human dignity cannot but be the first priority. The need is to maintain open borders and not close them.” (IANS)