US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI3080

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DRL FOR ACTING A/S KOZAK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, CU, IN, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: INDIA BREAKS RANKS TO OPPOSE GUANTANAMO RESOLUTION 
 
Classified By: Charge Robert O. Blake, Jr., for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1. (U) Following up earlier approaches by the Charge, MEA 
Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar called PolCouns on 
April 25 to make sure we had noticed the GOI's April 21 "no" 
vote on the Cuba-sponsored UNHRC resolution condemning US 
practices at Guantanamo.  Jaishankar noted that most South 
Asian counties (Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) had 
abstained, while other major powers including China, South 
Africa, Malaysia and Mexico voted for the resolution (which 
failed 22-8-23).  He argued that India, in going on record 
against the Cuban resolution, associated itself with a group 
composed mainly of NATO allies and other close partners like 
Japan and Australia. 
 
2. (C) Comment: This was a positive gesture for the GOI, made 
easier by the fact that New Delhi could invoke its policy of 
generally opposing country-specific UNHRC resolutions.  That 
policy results in incongruities such as democratic India 
abstaining on a UNHRC resolution to sanction North Korea and 
opposing resolutions against Cuba and Belarus.  As with the 
DPRK, the path of least resistance in this instance would 
have been an abstention.  India's willingness to vote against 
the Guantanamo resolution reflects New Delhi's firm line on 
GWOT issues and suggests we may be getting through with our 
reminders to the GOI that countries aspiring to UNSC 
permanent membership need to step up to the plate 
occasionally.  It also provides a useful starting point for 
discussion at the May 17/18 Global Issues Forum regarding 
US-India efforts to better synchronize our approach to 
multilateral human rights issues and coordinate in global 
efforts at democracy promotion, as we have done recently in 
Nepal. 
BLAKE