Tamil People in Sri Lanka - - Westminster

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Tamil People in Sri Lanka - - Westminster

Hall debate on Sri Lanka

Westminster Hall

Wednesday 28 January 2015

[Martin Caton in the Chair ]

Tamil People in Sri Lanka

Motion made, and Question proposed, Thatthe sitting be now adjourned. (Gavin Barwe !"

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Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North) (Con): $t is a pleasure to ser%e under &our'hairmanship( Mr Caton. Ma& $ ask e%er&one)s *orgi%eness as( perhaps to alot o* people)s delight( $ am losing m& %oi'e( so $ might not speak *or as
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long as $ would normall&+

The timing o* the debate is opportune( be'ause the Minister o* State(,oreign and Commonwealth -**i'e( m& right hon. ,riend the Member *or

ast /e%on 0Mr Swire1( is in Sri Lanka as we speak. He arri%ed this morningand is sta&ing until ,rida&. Perhaps some o* what we dis'uss will be rela&edto the new Sri Lankan 2o%ernment.

-n behal* o* e%er&one( whate%er our politi'al part&( we should o**er anapolog& to the Tamil 'ommunit& o* Sri Lanka *or what has happened o%erthe &ears. Man& people( in'luding 2o%ernment and -pposition Members(said that atro'ities were taking pla'e. Sadl&( howe%er well meaning peoplewere and howe%er mu'h the& wanted to a't( those words were not listenedto( and man& thousands o* inno'ent li%es were lost( whi'h should ne%erha%e happened. The House o* Commons as a whole although $ 'an speakonl& *or m&sel*( not the whole House should sa& sorr& *or that( althoughwe 'annot repla'e the li%es that ha%e been lost.

,ollowing the re'ent ele'tions in Sri Lanka( we ha%e seen a 'hange *romPresident 3ajapaksa to President Sirisena. $ am 'on'erned( howe%er( thatthe new 2o%ernment o* Sri Lanka ha%e stated that the& will not 'hange thepoli'& towards the Tamil 'ommunit& in Sri Lanka or demilitarise the areas inwhi'h Tamil people li%e.

Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): The hon. 2entlemanmakes a %alid point be'ause the new President was a member o* the

pre%ious 2o%ernment. We ha%e not &et seen an& indi'ations o* what thenew President intends to do( or whether he intends to end harassment andtorture. Will the hon. 2entleman 'omment about that+

Mr Scott: The hon. 2entleman is right. The new President was a membero* the same part& as his prede'essor. He then 'hanged parties and stoodagainst the pre%ious President( and some o* the things that ha%e happenedearl& in his presiden'& are o* 'on'ern. ,or e4ample( 2eneral Sarath,onseka( who is named as an alleged war 'riminal b& the 5nited 6ationspanel o* e4perts it is the 56 sa&ing that( not us is now an important

senior member o* the new 2o%ernment( so $ ha%e gra%e 'on'erns that thenames are 'hanging( but the poli'ies are sta&ing the same.

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 2#$%&

'ame ngela %at in*on (&ornchurch and +,min*ter) (Con): 2i%enthe 'omposition o* the new 2o%ernment in Sri Lanka( what 'an our Ministersa& on his %isit there to persuade them to sign up to the 3ome statute


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establishing the $nternational Criminal Court+

Mr Scott: The Minister needs to sa&( 7Please honour what the 56( thePrime Minister o* 8ritain on his %isit to Sri Lanka( the President o* 9meri'aand %arious other Heads o* State ha%e asked *or.:

There is onl& one wa& in whi'h there 'an be justi'e. $ emphasise( as $ ha%ein man& pre%ious debates( that m& role is not to sa& who is guilt& orinno'ent( but we need answers about those people who lost their li%es andwho disappeared( and someone needs to be held a''ountable. The onl&ones who 'an help that to happen are the 2o%ernment o* Sri Lanka( in 'o;operation with an international independent in


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not be used as an e4'use to dela& that justi'e *urther and ki'k it into thelong grass. $ am *airl& sure that with e%er&thing else going on in the world(the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment hope that the issue will esterda& morning( $ stood in silen'e at the holo'aust memorial( where were'ognised the %i'tims o* not onl& 6a?i perse'ution( but other geno'idesthat ha%e taken pla'e throughout the world sin'e the end o* the se'ondworld war. $ am a*raid to sa& it gi%es me no pleasure to sa& this thatgeno'ide has happened. We 'annot pretend that it has not happened. Weare not talking about a war in whi'h a regime tried to stop terrorism $ amthe *irst to 'ondemn terrorism in an& shape or *orm b& an&one but aboutthe women and 'hildren who disappeared( and the people who were in'amps *or &ear a*ter &ear. Were the& terrorists+ 6o sane;minded personwould sa& that the& were.

The justi'e that is deser%ed and needed 'an be a'hie%ed onl& throughpressure *rom the 5nited =ingdom( the 5nited States o* 9meri'a( Canada(,ran'e and e%er& 'ountr& $ 'ould go on and on. Sri Lanka must heed the'all o* our Prime Minister and 'o;operate *ull& with the 56 in%estigation onSri Lanka b& the -**i'e o* the High Commissioner *or Human 3ights. SriLanka must also sign the 3ome statute on the $nternational Criminal Court(to whi'h @A" states are part&( in'luding the 5nited =ingdom( todemonstrate its intent to be a good global 'iti?en.

'r %illiam McCrea (South ntrim) ('+-): $ 'ongratulate the hon.2entleman on se'uring the debate. $t has been reported that the new SriLankan 2o%ernment are spending man& hundreds o* thousands o* dollarsto boost their image throughout the world. $s not the wa& to boost theirimage *or them to 'o;operate properl& with a proper in%estigation into whathas gone on in Sri Lanka+

Mr Scott: $ agree with the hon. 2entleman. $ am not going to be an ad%ert*or the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment( but we know *rom wat'hing our TB sets theamount that is being spent on tr&ing to en'ourage people to %isit Sri Lankaand showing it as a *ree demo'rati' 'ountr&. $* the Sri Lankan 2o%ernmenttrul& want people to %isit and to show that it is a *ree demo'rati' 'ountr&(the& should pro%e that b& abiding b& the all the rules o* the 5nited 6ations.


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'avid Sim,*on (+,,er .ann) ('+-): $ am sure the hon. 2entlemanagrees that Sri Lanka as a whole has made great progress 'ommer'iall&.There is a lot o* e4port a'ti%it& the 5= made D" million o* e4ports to SriLanka last &ear so in other wa&s the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment are makingprogress( but on this issue the& ha%e badl& *ailed. We are dealing withman& thousands o* li%es( and so( although $ understand that the PrimeMinister has 'alled *or 'o;operation( surel& the onus is on us to put morepressure on the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment to deal with this situation so that itdoes not last *or a number o* &ears( as did the situation with the holo'aust(whi'h the hon. 2entleman mentioned.

Mr Scott: The hon. 2entleman is absolutel& 'orre't( and that is wh& $ askthe Minister to 'onsider 'are*ull& the idea o* %etoing *uture loans *rom the$nternational Monetar& ,und to Sri Lanka until the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment'o;operate. $ am not *or one se'ond sa&ing that i* 'o;operation is gi%en(that will 'hange e%er&thing.

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$ know that it has been onl& a *ew weeks( but $ ha%e not seen one sign o* a'hange in position *rom that o* the pre%ious Sri Lankan 2o%ernment.

'ame ngela %at in*on: /oes m& hon. ,riend agree that one importantthing that the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment need to do is to 'hange the'onstitution to allow retrospe'ti%e legislation so that past atro'ities 'an bein%estigated+

Mr Scott: M& hon. ,riend is absolutel& right. 9n&one who has 'ommitted a'rime has to be seen to be brought to trial *or that 'rime. There 'an be nosa&ing( 7We)ll e4'use them be'ause the&)re m& mates(: or( 7We)ll e4'usethem be'ause it suits us *or this not to 'ome out.: $ am not going topretend that $ 'an gi%e a politi'al anal&sis o* the *orth'oming Sri Lankanele'tions( but m& understanding is that a lot o* the people who will besitting around the table a*ter them will not be too di**erent *rom thosesitting around it be*ore them( under the pre%ious 2o%ernment. $* thathappens( justi'e must still be done.

Man& hon. Members wish to 'ontribute to the debate( so $ will not speak *ormu'h longer( but $ want to implore e%er&one to re'ognise one thing. Shouldwe ha%e done more when the atro'ities were taking pla'e+ Withoutes( we 'ould. We 'annot 'hangethe past( or the traged& and atro'ities that happened( but we 'an build *orthe *uture to make sure that the women and 'hildren the nie'es andnephews o* m& 'onstituents and the 'onstituents o* man& hon. Members


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present get the justi'e that the& deser%e. $* we do not do that( we shouldhang our heads in shame. Let us all work together( whoe%er the2o%ernment o* 8ritain are a*ter E Ma&( to make sure that the Sri Lankan2o%ernment and( spe'i*i'all&( those responsible *or the atro'ities do notget awa& with these atro'ities( and that we honour the memories o* thosewho lost their li%es.

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Siobhain Mc'onagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): $ 'ongratulate thehon. Member *or $l*ord 6orth 0Mr S'ott1 on se'uring the debate at what is areall& e4'iting time in Sri Lanka( gi%en Maithripala Sirisena)s stunning%i'tor& in Sri Lanka)s re'ent presidential ele'tions. The wel'ome demise o*Mahinda 3ajapaksa)s regime has remo%ed a serious impediment *rom theprospe't o* se'uring truth( justi'e and re'on'iliation on the island.

President Sirisena has a laudable programme *or re*orm( and $ hope that(as he has stated is his aim( he is able to la& the *oundations o* a dis'iplined so'iet& ri'h in 'ultural and moral %alues where all 'ould li%e inharmon& irrespe'ti%e o* di**eren'es:.

Howe%er( Sri Lanka will be trul& set on the path to a sustainable and lastingpea'e onl& i* the new 2o%ernment take meaning*ul steps on se%eral ke&issuesG *irst( the& must address the allegations o* war 'rimes and 'rimesagainst humanit& arising *rom the end o* the 'ountr&)s armed 'on*li't

se'ondl&( the& must end the 'ulture o* impunit& that has blighted the'ountr& *or so long thirdl&( the& should negotiate a 'omprehensi%e politi'alsettlement to the Tamil national


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'ommunit& 'an he hope to se'ure a just and lasting pea'e:.

$ there*ore intend to dis'uss wh& the 8ritish 2o%ernment must remaineternall& %igilant with regard to the situation in Sri Lanka. $nternationale**orts to ensure a''ountabilit& and re'on'iliation on the island deser%e our*ull and unwa%ering support. With the -**i'e o* the 56 High Commissioner*or Human 3ights 'lose to publishing its 'omprehensi%e report on war'rimes allegations( the 8ritish 2o%ernment( in 'on'ert with other 'ountriesand members o* the 5nited 6ations Human 3ights Coun'il( must beprepared to hold the 2o%ernment o* Sri Lanka to a''ount i* the& reje't thereport)s *indings and *ail to 'o;operate with its re'ommendations.

Ste,hen 0imm* (1a*t &am) (Lab): $ agree with the point that m& hon.,riend makes. /oes she agree that it is hard to understand how Sri Lanka(under its new 2o%ernment( 'an be admitted as a *ull member o* the *amil&o* nations( and regarded as su'h around the world( i* it does not 'o;operatewith the 56)s work to in%estigate the war 'rimes at the end o* the 'i%il war+

Siobhain Mc'onagh: $ 'ompletel& agree with m& right hon. ,riend.

$ make no apologies *or e4pressing m& delight at seeing the end o* Mahinda3ajapaksa)s brutal de'ade;long reign. This is a man who presided o%er theslaughter o* F#(### Tamils at the end o* the 'ountr&)s 'i%il war( whose'ontempt *or human rights and the rule o* law *urther intensi*ied a 'ultureo* impunit&( and who led an in'reasingl& auto'rati'( nepotisti' and 'orrupt2o%ernment. 3ight up until the end o* the ele'tion 'ampaign( %iolen'e and

threats were being meted out against his politi'al opponents and( sin'e hisde*eat( serious allegations ha%e emerged regarding both an attempted'oup to remain in power and alleged 'ompli'it& in the death s


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attempts to re%i%e the Liberation Tigers o* Tamil

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elam in Tamil;majorit& areas were 'omplete nonsense. Tamils want not areturn to armed 'on*li't( but the opportunit& to li%e with dignit& in a

pea'e*ul( demo'rati' so'iet&. Se'ondl&( gi%en the support that Sirisenare'ei%ed *rom Tamils and Muslims( the& ha%e e%er& right to e4pe't him toengage with them 'onstru'ti%el& and to address their long;standinggrie%an'es about war 'rimes( human rights %iolations( politi'almarginalisation and religious intoleran'e( among other important issues.

Sri Lanka)s new leader has shown a willingness to rea'h out to Tamils onse%eral issues. ,or e4ample( he has remo%ed the militar& go%ernor o*6orthern Pro%in'e( who did so mu'h to undermine the work o* thepro%in'ial 'oun'il( and repla'ed him with a 'i%ilian( Mr Palihakkara( e%en

though it must be noted that Mr Palihakkara was a senior 2o%ernmentrepresentati%e during the 'on*li't and de*ended them against a''usations o* war 'rimes 'ommitted against Tamils. Sirisena has also stated an intentionto re%iew the sei?ing o* Tamil land b& the arm& and has ordered the releaseo* some Tamil detainees against whom no 'ase has been brought. $ hopethat means that the likes o* Ie&akumari 8alendaran( a Tamil mother o* oneo* the disappeared who has been detained without 'harge *or "## da&s( willsoon ha%e a taste o* *reedom again.

Sirisena has ambitious and worthwhile plans *or go%ernment. His proposals

*or his *irst @## da&s in o**i'e in'lude notable pledges to abolish thee4e'uti%e presiden'& and to restore independen'e to the judi'iar&( poli'eand other bodies. Howe%er( he will ultimatel& be judged not b& his words(but b& his deeds. The ke& 'onstitutional re*orms ma& pro%e di**i'ult toena't( gi%en the need *or a two;thirds majorit& in Parliament and thepossibilit& o* needing to seek the support o* aggrie%ed 3ajapaksa allies.Signi*i'antl&( although Sirisena ma& ha%e stated that his 2o%ernment)spriorit& will be 7ethni' and religious re'on'iliation:( it is deepl& un*ortunatethat his @##;da& plan pro%ides no e4pli'it measures to address the ke&'on'erns o* minorit& 'ommunities.

$t is on that issue that the 8ritish 2o%ernment( through their bilateralrelations with Sri Lanka( and as part o* multilateral organisations su'h asthe 56( must make their %oi'e heard. We should do all that we 'an toensure that President Sirisena)s 9dministration understand the importan'ethat we atta'h to Sri Lanka)s addressing the outstanding issues arising *romthe armed 'on*li't and its a*termath.


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9 matter o* da&s a*ter Sirisena)s presidential ele'tion %i'tor&( Pope ,ran'isarri%ed on the island. 9ddressing the 'rowds at Colombo airport( HisHoliness saidG

Sri Lanka *or man& &ears knew the horrors o* 'i%il stri*e( and is nowseeking to 'onsolidate pea'e and to heal the s'ars o* those &ears. $t is noeas& task to o%er'ome the bitter lega'& o* injusti'es( hostilit& and mistrustle*t b& the 'on*li't. $t 'an onl& be done b& o%er'oming e%il with good andb& 'ulti%ating those %irtues whi'h *oster re'on'iliation( solidarit& and pea'e.The pro'ess o* healing also needs to in'lude the pursuit o* truth( not *or thesake o* opening old wounds( but rather as a ne'essar& means o* promoting

justi'e( healing and unit&.:

$ agree wholeheartedl& with His Holiness)s sentiments( and his statement isan impli'it endorsement o* the 56 in


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Sirisena to be gi%en more time and spa'e to deal with issues o*re'on'iliation and a''ountabilit&( gi%en the job that lies be*ore him. His2o%ernment ha%e e%en indi'ated that the& intend to establish &et anotherdomesti' in%estigation into the allegations o* war 'rimes during the *inalstages o* the 'i%il war. 4perien'e tells us where that will leadG nowhere.The Lessons Learnt and 3e'on'iliation Commission that was set up in A#@#b& Mahinda 3ajapaksa was 7deepl& *lawed: and *ailed to satis*& ke& international standards o* independen'e and impartialit&:(

a''ording to the 56 Se'retar&;2eneral)s panel o* e4perts on Sri Lanka.$mpunit& has been the rule in the 'ountr& *or too long and( as the 56 high'ommissioner has said( the 'onse


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a *uture where the rule o* law and respe't *or human rights repla'e the'ulture o* impunit&. Without that *oundation( it will be %irtuall& impossibleto re'on'ile the di**erent 'ommunities on the island( and Sri Lanka will'ontinue to su**er as a result.

$n the weeks and months ahead( $ there*ore 'all on the 8ritish 2o%ernmentto undertake a number o* measures. The& should urge the 2o%ernment o*Sri Lanka to 'o;operate with the war 'rimes in%estigation b& the -**i'e o*the 56 High Commissioner *or Human 3ights and engage 'onstru'ti%el&with the 56 Human 3ights Coun'il)s 'on'erns about the promotion o*re'on'iliation and a''ountabilit&. The& should also state what the'onse


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rule o* 3ajapaksa 'all on Sri Lanka to demilitarise the Tamil majorit& areaso* the island( release all politi'al prisoners who ha%e not been 'harged withan& o**en'e and re%oke the dra'onian measures in the Pre%ention o*Terrorism 9't( whi'h allows *or @J months) detention without 'harge and'losel& monitor the human rights situation on the island( parti'ularl& in

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relation to religious and ethni' minorities. $ look *orward to the2o%ernment)s response( and $ apologise to hon. Members *or speaking *orso long.

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4obert &alfon (&arlo5) (Con): $t is a pleasure to ser%e under &our'hairmanship( Mr Caton( and $ 'ongratulate m& hon. ,riend the Member *or

$l*ord 6orth 0Mr S'ott1( a near 'onstituen'& neighbour o* mine( on his'onstant battle to support the Tamil 'ommunit&. He is re'ognised a'rossthe House *or that work.

There are not man& Tamils in m& 'onstituen'& $ wish there were. $ amtaking part in the debate be'ause $ am *rom the Iewish *aith and belie%ethat it is m& dut& to help ra'es and nations that ha%e su**ered geno'ide. $belie%e that there has been a geno'ide o* the Tamils. $ de*ine geno'ide ass'ienti*i' murder. The Tamils ha%e *or de'ades been demonised andmarginalised. The& ha%e been imprisoned in 'amps and annihilated. $

'ommend the 56HC3 *or its renewed e**orts to appraise the situation o* theTamil 'ommunit& in Sri Lanka( espe'iall& a*ter last month)s regime 'hange.

$ agree that( although the 2o%ernment might ha%e 'hanged( we shouldbear in mind some issues o* 'on'ern that un*ortunatel& remain( and a*undamental issue is the treatment o* the Tamil 'ommunit& in the past andnow. $ will brie*l& speak about three mattersG *irst( the need *or2o%ernment re'ognition o* war 'rimes and a show o* willingness towardsin%estigation se'ondl&( the need to introdu'e sa*er regulations *or

journalists and in%estigators and( *inall&( the absolute ne'essit& to s'rap a

repressi%e 9't that 'ontributes to the 'ontinuing oppression o* the Tamil'ommunit&.

$( along with man& other hon. Members( applaud the regime 'hange in SriLanka( but we must not sit ba'k and let the 'urrent 2o%ernment repeat theerrors o* the past. 2i%en the *a't that one o* the ke& parti'ipants in the2o%ernment( 2eneral Sarath ,onseka( is an alleged war 'riminal( and thela'k o* a 'onstitutional obligation *or Sri Lanka to undertake war 'rimes


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in%estigations( there is still a huge wa& to go. ,irst and *oremost( the56HC3 'ommission must 'arr& on in%estigating the 'i%il war and e4ertpressure in whate%er wa& it 'an on the new 2o%ernment to pass newlegislation on the treatment o* war 'rimes. The a'tions 'ommitted duringthe 'i%il war 'ould then be appraised b& a re'ognised 'ourt.

The 'ontinuing oppression o* the Tamils( despite a *ew re*orms here andthere( is allowed to 'arr& on unpunished be'ause o* the di**i'ult&en'ountered b& 5nited 6ations teams when the& in%estigate the situation.That must stop( and we need to en'ourage the new 2o%ernment to takethe initiati%e on making it stop. $ wel'ome the *a't that our Prime Ministerhas alread& 'alled *or Sri Lanka to 'o;operate with the -**i'e o* the 5nited6ations High Commissioner *or Human 3ights in Sri Lanka( and PresidentSirisena should heed that 'all( as well as signing the 3ome statute o* the$nternational Criminal Court( to show his 2o%ernment)s good will onrepairing mistakes *rom the past.

Howe%er( the e**orts o* the new Sri Lankan 2o%ernment should e4tend *arbe&ond simple re'ognition o* the horrors on both sides o* the war. The&should start b& impro%ing their re'ord on the prote'tion o* journalists. -%erthe past @# &ears( "E# journalists ha%e been killed

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 2/2%&

in Sri Lanka. -* those "E# 'ases( onl& @#K resulted in 'on%i'tions. $* SriLanka wants to impro%e its human rights re'ord( it needs to set that

straight and ensure that those %er& people whose mission is to denoun'eand in%estigate( to unearth and to e4pose( are sa*e enough to allow themto 'ontinue as the pea'e*ul poli'emen o* this world. 7Ie suis Charlie:applies as mu'h in Sri Lanka as in Paris.

Mar 'ur an: $ endorse( e4a'tl&( what the hon. 2entleman has said about journalism. $n addition to the journalists who ha%e been killed( o* 'ourse(man& others ha%e been atta'ked and threatened( and man& ha%e had to*lee. Surel& one o* the best indi'ators that Sri Lanka had turned a 'ornerwould be *or some o* those journalists who ha%e had to absent themsel%es

to be able to return.

4obert &alfon: The hon. 2entleman( who does so mu'h in Parliament *orhuman rights( is absolutel& right. The right o* return *or Tamils and thosewho ha%e been oppressed( to li%e *reel&( would be the biggest e%iden'ethat the regime had reall& 'hanged.

,inall&( and perhaps most importantl&( the new Sri Lankan 2o%ernment


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need to repeal the terribl& oppressi%e Pre%ention o* Terrorism 9't( whi'hallows the poli'e to hold a suspe't *or @J months on moti%es as light assuspi'ion o* 'onne'tion to unlaw*ul a'ti%it&. Su'h a %ague and liberti'idallaw largel& 'ontributes to the abuses in human rights and must be stopped.$ urge the 8ritish 2o%ernment to harr& the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment on that.$ hope that the Minister will respond on that point.

We must en'ourage the Tamil minorit& in their struggle *or sel*;determination. 9s the representati%es o* a 'ountr& that has alwa&s upheldthe %alues o* human li*e and *reedom( we 'annot let the new Sri Lankan2o%ernment 'arr& on the repression and errors o* the past. The Tamilsdeser%e international re'ognition o* the geno'ide o* their people( and $ askthe Minister to 'omment on that. The& deser%e their right o* sel*;determination( and to be treated e


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uprising in @!J"( a*ter 'omplaining o* dis'rimination against the thenminorit& Tamil 'ommunit&. Horrendous atro'ities were 'ommitted in the'on*li't b& the LTT b& and 2o%ernment troops. Thousands upon thousandswere killed and thousands are still missing. The numbers are enormous.9lthough the 'on*li't ended in A##!( the impro%ements made in northernSri Lanka tend to be more super*i'ial than real. M& hon. ,riend the Member*or South 9ntrim 0/r M'Crea1 made the point that the 2o%ernment arespending mone& on the wa& things look outwardl&( rather than looking atthe internals and 'hanging things on the ground. $ would like to see thathappen as well.

'r McCrea: The House is united in wanting the truth about what happenedin Sri Lanka. There should be no hiding pla'e *or an& person( e%en those inele%ated o**i'e. Howe%er( do not the 5nited =ingdom 2o%ernment need tobe 'are*ul o* a''usations o* h&po'ris&( gi%en that in 6orthern $reland weha%e a /eput& ,irst Minister who was part o* the $39 arm& 'oun'il( whi'h(with his leader( 2err& 9dams( ordered the slaughter o* the Protestantsalong the border+ >et there has been no in%estigation o* that( and when weask about an in%estigation people seem to be in ele%ated o**i'e we aretold the books are 'losed.

Jim Shannon: $ thank m& hon. ,riend *or that salient point( on whi'h we'an all agree.

Sin'e the end o* the AD;&ear 'ampaign( " billion has been spent one'onomi' and in*rastru'tural de%elopment in northern Sri Lanka. 9s 9lan=eenan( the Sri Lanka proje't dire'tor at the $nternational Crisis 2roup(noted( the situation in northern Sri Lanka has impro%ed 7in some wa&s:(but the go%ernment has made too mu'h o* large in*rastru'ture andde%elopment proje'ts( whi'h it is able to show o** to the international'ommunit&( and not enough o* the situation on the ground:

as m& hon. ,riend said( and as we all adhere to and understand.

$ remain e4tremel& 'on'erned about not just the dis'rimination against theTamil people( whi'h seems to be ongoing( but the risk o* se4ual %iolen'e towomen as the hon. Member *or Mit'ham and Morden 0SiobhainM'/onagh1 mentioned( and whi'h is so important and the perse'ution o*Christians. There are 'on'erns *rom some members o* the Tamil 'ommunit&that the 2o%ernment are undertaking a pra'ti'e o* 7Sinhalisation: o* thearea. Man& Sinhalese *led the north due to the atro'ities being 'arried outb& the Tamil Tigers during the 'i%il war. Some ha%e returned( and there are


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'on'erns about the number o* Sinhalese 'oming to the area. stimatesha%e suggested that there are @D#(### Sinhalese soldiers in the Banni.

Mr 7regory Cam,bell (1a*t Londonderry) ('+-): M& hon. ,riend isoutlining a litan& o* issues that need to be addressed( but does he agreethat another matter

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 2/$%&

is that almost (### persons are still reported missing in the area+ Thatneeds to be addressed not just internall&( but internationall&.

Jim Shannon: $ thank m& hon. ,riend and 'olleague *or that inter%ention.$n 6orthern $reland( we ha%e e4perien'ed the disappeared( although inmu'h smaller numbers( but e%er& one o* those people is still important.When the number is multiplied to (### missing persons( the magnitude is

in'redible. This is a te'hni'al detail( but $ wonder whether the Minister willaddress it as it is important. $n 6orthern $reland( we ha%e been able to *indsome o* the bodies o* the de'eased and ha%e an e4pertise in doing that.Perhaps that e4pertise 'ould be loaned in some wa& to Sri Lanka to enablethe remains o* the disappeared to be returned to their *amilies( be'ausethat heartbreak is %er& real *or e%er& one o* those (### *amilies.

9t one soldier *or appro4imatel& e%er& *i%e 'i%ilians( the ratio o* soldiers to'i%ilians is 'onsidered one o* the highest in the world. 2i%en the *igures( itis unsurprising that people are 'on'erned b& the so;'alled Sinhalisation.

The 'on*li't saw a large number o* men and bo&s either killed ordisappeared a generation lost and there are J!(### war widows in northand east Sri Lanka alone. 2i%en the high militar& presen'e in the 'ountr&(there are 'on'erns that those women are more %ulnerable to se4ualharassment and %iolen'e. 9lthough the Sri Lankan militar& are held in highadmiration in the south o* the 'ountr&( *or man& in the north( espe'iall& in*ormer LTT ;'ontrolled areas( the arm& is still the enem&.

That *ear and dislike o* the militar& are %indi'ated b& %er& 'redibleallegations o* human rights %iolations( in'luding rape and se4ual andemotional abuse o* women. Tamil women are also %ulnerable to se4ual%iolen'e( be'ause the& are o*ten 'oer'ed into se4ual relationships withSinhalese soldiers( sometimes *or the promise o* marriage and sometimes*or mone&. That 'ontinues to be a serious problem in Sri Lanka and( *orman& women( se4ual harassment is simpl& a''epted as a wa& o* li*e( butthat should not be the 'ase. We need to 'hange that mindset and we mustdo all that we 'an to help the -**i'e o* the 56 High Commissioner *or


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Human 3ights to stop rape and se4ual assaults.

9nother 'on'ern $ must e4press( be'ause this issue is %er& 'lose to me( isthe perse'ution o* Christians in Sri Lanka. We must not let the opportunit&to mention that issue toda& pass us b&. 8uddhists make up E#K o* thepopulation. That is *ollowed b& Hinduism at @AK( $slam at JK andChristianit& at JK. $n northern Sri Lanka( the majorit& o* people are Hindu(but there is a large Christian population li%ing there( too. The perse'utiono* Christians has es'alated in re'ent &ears( with the rise o* militant8uddhist nationalist groups in Sri Lanka. More than AD# 'hur'hes ha%ebeen destro&ed or damaged in se'tarian %iolen'e. That is una''eptable(and that must be stated in this Chamber toda&.

'r McCrea: 9s $ am sure m& hon. ,riend would agree( the perse'ution o*Christians is an important issue that the Minister should be raising with theSri Lankan 2o%ernment in the meetings he will be ha%ing.

Jim Shannon: $ hope that the Minister has taken note o* that importantissue. Through our own 'hur'hes in

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 2/"%&

6orthern $reland( and a'ross the 5nited =ingdom( we ha%e missionar&'onta'ts in Sri Lanka and we are aware o* what is taking pla'e theperse'ution( the destru'tion( the abuse and( in some 'ases( the injur& andmurder o* those who ha%e Christian belie*s.

9lthough the 'onstitution guarantees religious *reedom while *a%ouring8uddhism( minorit& Protestants ha%e e4perien'ed %iolent perse'ution( aswell as dis'rimination in emplo&ment and edu'ation( whi'h is alsouna''eptable. Sri Lanka is ranked 6o. FF on the -pen /oors world wat'hlist.

Last &ear( there were # in'idents in whi'h Christian ser%i'es and pra&ermeetings were disturbed and disrupted( in 'hur'h buildings and in pri%atehomes. Sri Lanka has a small group o* e4pat Christians( mainl& in Colombo(and a large group o* traditional and re'ognised 'hur'hes( both Catholi' andProtestant. 6on;traditional Protestant 'hur'hes as well as 'on%erts *rom a8uddhist ba'kground *a'e the most perse'ution. 9lthough there are plent&o* 'hur'hes in the 'apital Colombo( the pi'ture 'ompletel& 'hanges in morerural areas. Most Christians meet in house 'hur'hes and are *or'ed to keepa low pro*ile. 9s one pastor in the 'entral highlands saidG $* $ had put a 'ross on the building( the& would ha%e killed me.:


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That 'an ne%er be tolerated in an& so'iet& and 'ertainl& not in Sri Lanka.

We need to ensure that what is happening stops. $ know the Minister isinterested in the matter and that we will be assured b& his response( buthe and the 2o%ernment need to work with the -**i'e o* the 56 HighCommissioner *or Human 3ights to stop the perse'ution o* minorit&religious groups( in'luding Christians( as well as stopping se4ual andph&si'al %iolen'e against women.

@#.@ am

.ob .lac man (&arro5 1a*t) (Con): $ apologise *or being late( MrCaton $ was in an une4pe'tedl& li%el& /elegated Legislation Committee( so$ was dela&ed. $ rise to support m& hon. ,riend the Member *or $l*ord 6orth0Mr S'ott1 in his debate and to raise some issues on Sri Lanka that $ hopewere not mentioned in his introdu'tor& spee'h or in the other spee'hesthat ha%e been made.

We should *a'e up to the *a't that we are talking about a *ero'ious( blood&'i%il war o%er a "#;&ear period. The LTT ( in parti'ular( eliminated allopposition among the Tamil 'ommunit& and were responsible *or a wholeseries o* war 'rimes. $t was a terrorist organisation with its own air *or'e(arm& and na%&( making it almost uni


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were eliminated murdered those were war 'rimes( so the Sri Lankan2o%ernment and the indi%iduals responsible ha%e to answer the


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9s the land is re'laimed( Tamils go ba'k to *arm it. $mmediatel& the land is'lear( the opportunit& is a%ailable *or people to grow 'rops( har%est themand ensure that the& 'an *eed their *amilies. Howe%er( our proje't seems tobe dragging on &ear a*ter &ear. There is still an opportunit&( $ belie%e( *or8ritain to take a lead in in%esting more mone& in 'learing the mines more


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to %isit Ia**na and the areas o* the east and see things at *irst hand so thathe 'ould make the demands *or human rights *or the people o* Sri Lanka.The opportunit& is there( as we e4tend( hope*ull&( the hand o* *riendship toSri Lanka( to sa&( 7We want to be *riends and support Sri Lanka( but it is%ital that &ou open &oursel%es up to s'rutin& o%er the war 'rimes that were'ommitted( that we *ind out what happened to the indi%iduals who aremissing and that the indi%iduals responsible *or the de'isions and a'tionsare held to a''ount.: 5ntil that happens( there will be this lingeringsuspi'ion and the demands will 'ontinue. The people who ha%e le*t SriLanka and made this 'ountr& their home rightl& demand answers.

The opportunit& is there. $ hope that the response *rom the Minister willdeal with those demands. When the Minister o* State( m& right hon. ,riendthe Member *or ast /e%on 0Mr Swire1( returns *rom Sri Lanka( we will( wehope( get a report sa&ing( 79'tions ha%e been taken( a'tions ha%e beendemanded o* the new 2o%ernment and we ha%e good news.: $ am notholding m& breath(

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 2/8%&

be'ause in this 'ase there has been no histor& o* transparen'& oren'ouragement( but the opportunit& now e4ists.

@#.A am

John Mc'onnell (&aye* and &arlington) (Lab): $( too( thank the hon.

Member *or $l*ord 6orth 0Mr S'ott1 and m& hon. ,riend the Member *orMit'ham and Morden 0Siobhain M'/onagh1 *or their dogged pursuit o* thisissue o%er the &ears. $ am also grate*ul *or their work in the all;part& group*or Tamils.

The realit& is that we ha%e been here too man& times. There ha%e been tooman& o* these debates( to be *rank( and limited mo%ement. We were herewhen the last onslaught on the Tamil 'ommunit& took pla'e and F#(###people died. We were here when( as the hon. Member *or Harrow ast 08ob8la'kman1 said( the disappearan'es started in earnest( and also when the

ethni' 'leansing o* the Tamil areas started.

There has been some mo%ement. The establishment o* the -HCH3in%estigation was a signi*i'ant breakthrough. Let us 'ongratulate people ontheir 'ontribution. The 5= 2o%ernment made a signi*i'ant 'ontribution toenabling that to happen( as did our 'urrent Prime Minister. $ am grate*ul *orthat. 3ajapaksa)s losing the ele'tion was also a signi*i'ant ad%an'e. $t wasa brutal regime and i* there is an in%estigation( he will ha%e a lot to answer


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*or. He ma& well 'ome be*ore the $nternational Criminal Court at somestage.

9ll the speakers so *ar ha%e treated the ele'tion o* President Sirisena withsome 'aution( and $ agree that we 'annot get 'arried awa&. He has at leasta'knowledged that 'rimes took pla'e under the state and that there is anissue that needs to be in%estigated. Howe%er( the non;'o;operation with theinternational in%estigation is( *or me( the ke& issue. There has been theo**er o* a domesti' in


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should be part o* the re'on'iliation pro'ess( whi'h in%ol%es mo%ing towardsa general( agreed 'onstitutional settlement that re'ognises the rights o* theTamil people( tr&ing to bring ba'k normalit& to Tamil areas andimplementing the demilitarisation that has been 'alled *or.

-ur message *or President Sirisena is that we want to work with him in 'o;operation. Howe%er( unless a deadline is set *or su'h 'o;operation(parti'ularl& with the 56 in%estigation( $ belie%e that we should seriousl&'onsider san'tions. $n our role as 5= parliamentarians( we should send amessage to the President that we are not going awa&( and that we will'ontinue our sear'h *or pea'e and justi'e using whate%er parliamentar&me'hanisms and in*luen'e we ha%e.

@#."@ am

erry McCarthy (.ri*tol 1a*t) (Lab): $ 'ongratulate the hon. Member*or $l*ord 6orth 0Mr S'ott1 on se'uring the debate. $t is not the *irst timethat we ha%e debated this matter( although it is notable that there is more'onsensus in the room than there has been on pre%ious o''asions. We ha%eheard *rom hon. Members about %arious minorit& groups in Sri Lanka( andthe hon. Member *or Strang*ord 0Iim Shannon1 talked about theperse'ution o* Christians. There is also an issue with the Muslim minorit&'ommunit& in Sri Lanka and( indeed( people *rom the majorit& 'ommunit&su**er su'h things as repression and *alse arrest. Howe%er( as toda&)sdebate is about the Tamil people and the impending report( $ will 'on*inem& 'omments to that.

9s we ha%e heard( the Minister o* State( ,oreign and Commonwealth -**i'e(the right hon. Member *or ast /e%on 0Mr Swire1( is in Sri Lanka. $understand that the joint 'hair o* the all;part& group on Sri Lanka( m& hon.,riend the Member *or dmonton 0Mr Lo%e1( was also due to go out on AEIanuar&( although $ do not know whether that is a 'oin'iden'e. $ hope thatthe Minister *or urope( when he responds to the debate( will be able to tellus a little bit more about his *ellow Minister)s %isit and with whom he will bemeeting. $ e'ho the 'omments o* those who ha%e said that it would behelp*ul i* the Minister o* State made a statement on his return *rom SriLanka( or wrote to those hon. Members who attended this debate( to tell uswhat has been a'hie%ed. 9t this time o* great un'ertaint&( 'aution hasrightl& been e4pressed about what the result o* the presidential ele'tionswill mean *or Sri Lanka( so it would be use*ul to hear the Minister)s *irst;hand take on what he has seen there.

$t is to be hoped that the presidential ele'tion marks the beginning o* anew era *or Sri Lanka( but we should not a''ept the argument that it is


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time to draw a line under Sri Lanka)s past and mo%e on( as some peopleha%e suggested. There has been too mu'h injusti'e( espe'iall& towards theTamil people( *or that to be appropriate. $t is imperati%e that the 56in%estigation

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 28 %&

'ontinues and reports to the 56 Human 3ights Coun'il in Mar'h( and theele'tion o* a new President should not be used as a reason to dela& that.Labour 'alled *or an international in


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*ought against the Liberation Tigers o* Tamil elam *rom *a'inginternational justi'e.:

The President)s senior ad%iser is meeting the 5nited 6ations high'ommissioner *or human rights this week and the Sri Lankan ,oreignMinister was reported as sa&ing that the 2o%ernment would take a'tionagainst perpetrators i* there was e%iden'e o* war 'rimes. Those are positi%esignals( but there are mi4ed messages about whether the Sri Lankan2o%ernment will a''ept the 'on'lusions o* the 56 in%estigation( whetherthe& will work with international judi'ial me'hanisms and whethermembers o* the pre%ious 2o%ernment or the militar& will *a'e justi'e in SriLanka. The Sri Lankan ,oreign Minister has said o* the allegationsG Whether those are war 'rimes or whether su'h 'rimes amount to geno'ideor not will ha%e to be de'ided b& a domesti' in


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its Parliament last 9ugust. Worr&ingl&( the ,oreign 9**airs Committee hasnoted that the ,oreign -**i'e was not able to 'lari*& whether the humanrights de*enders( journalists and others who met the Prime Minister in6o%ember A#@" had been targeted. $ hope that the Minister will be able toupdate us on the steps that the ,oreign -**i'e took to prote't those SriLankans and monitor their ongoing sa*et&.

Mr Scott: /oes the hon. Lad& agree that arresting people who are gi%inge%iden'e is not in an& wa& help*ul or bene*i'ial to an in%estigation( and thatthe new 2o%ernment o* Sri Lanka must put an immediate stop to that+9n&one who gi%es e%iden'e to su'h an in%estigation should be able to do it*reel& and in an un*ettered manner.

erry McCarthy: $ absolutel& agree( and there is nothing $ 'an add. Thehon. 2entleman makes his point %er& power*ull&. The *a't that su'hpre'autions and sa*eguards are ne'essar& highlights the *a't that our'on'erns about Sri Lanka should not be 'on*ined to what happened duringthe 'i%il war. This is not something under whi'h we 'an draw a line. 9ssu''essi%e Human 3ights Coun'il resolutions ha%e do'umented( there wereongoing 'on'erns about human rights( demo'ra'& and the rule o* law in SriLanka that President 3ajapaksa *ailed to address. $ndeed( in man& wa&s(his 'ondu't e4a'erbated those issues.

The new President)s pledges during the ele'tion 'ampaign to 'orre't those'on'erns were a signi*i'ant *a'tor in his su''ess. His 'ommitments to endnepotism and 'orruption( to restore the independen'e o* the judi'iar& andto repeal the @Jth amendment are wel'ome. $t is also 'ru'ial that he seeksto work with the Tamil 'ommunit& and to repa& the *aith it in%ested in himduring the ele'tion. ,or Tamils it is about not just the 56 in%estigation( butaddressing the injusti'es that the& ha%e su**ered sin'e A#@@ and thepubli'ation o* the LL3C report.

9s the high 'ommissioner)s September update to the Human 3ights Coun'ilnoted( the 3ajapaksa 2o%ernment pros'ribed a number o* Tamil diasporagroups as terrorist organisations. The new President must take positi%e

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 282%&

steps to sa*eguard *reedom o* e4pression( to deli%er justi'e regarding theen*or'ed disappearan'es( to end the arbitrar& arrests( to ensure that*reedom o* religion is respe'ted and to ensure that Tamil and Muslimminorities are prote'ted. /emilitarisation will also be ke&( espe'iall& in thenorth. 9s m& hon. ,riend the Member *or Mit'ham and Morden said( thePresident)s de'ision to repla'e the go%ernor o* the northern pro%in'e with a


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'i%ilian has been taken as a positi%e signal o* intent and an indi'ation thathe is listening to the Tamil 6ational 9llian'e. $ hope that will 'ontinue. $also hope the Minister is able to update us toda& on dis'ussions relating notonl& to the 56 in%estigation( but to 'omplian'e with Human 3ights Coun'ilresolution AD @ more generall&( and to agreeing the outstanding re


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&ear 'annot simpl& be the publi'ation o* the 56 report. The aim must be justi'e( a''ountabilit& and meaning*ul progress *or not just the Tamil'ommunit&( but all Sri Lankan people.

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 286%&

@#.F" am

0he Mini*ter for 1uro,e (Mr 'avid Lidington): $ 'ongratulate m& hon.,riend the Member *or $l*ord 6orth 0Mr S'ott1 on se'uring the debate. $note the 'ontributions o* Members on both sides o* the House and thankthem *or taking part.

The debate is timel&( 'oin'iding as it does with the %isit to Sri Lanka b& theMinister o* State( ,oreign and Commonwealth -**i'e( m& right hon. ,riendthe Member *or ast /e%on 0Mr Swire1( although that timeliness ine%itabl&

means that there are limits to what $ am able to sa&. We will know a lotmore and be able to make a 'learer assessment o* the new Sri Lankan2o%ernment a*ter his meetings toda& and tomorrow. He hopes to see thePresident( the Prime Minister( the ,oreign Minister and the new go%ernor o*the northern pro%in'e( and he intends to tra%el to the north to meet theChie* Minister and representati%es o* Tamil politi'al parties( engage withinternall& displa'ed persons and talk to journalists. He is making a pointnot onl& o* talking to the 2o%ernment( but o* tr&ing to see *or himsel* thesituation on the ground in the north and talking to people there *rom theTamil minorit&( who will be able to gi%e him a *irst;hand %iew o* the 'urrentsituation and their hopes and e4pe'tations *or the *uture.

-* 'ourse( we await the publi'ation o* the report *rom the -**i'e o* the5nited 6ations High Commissioner *or Human 3ights( whi'h is due to bepresented to the Human 3ights Coun'il in Mar'h. The 2o%ernment do notknow what that report will sa& or what its re'ommendations will be. Weawait the report)s 'on'lusions and re'ommendations on some o* the issuesraised in the debate( su'h as whether what happened in Sri Lanka shouldbe 'lassed as geno'ide( whi'h( as m& hon. ,riend the Member *or Harlow03obert Hal*on1 knows( 'arries legal( not just politi'al( impli'ations.

The new 2o%ernment)s 'ommitments are promising. The& ha%e said thatthe& will end the e4e'uti%e presiden'& within @## da&s restore theindependen'e o* ke& institutions( in'luding the judi'iar& and the poli'ereinstate media *reedoms end Sri Lanka)s international isolation andreturn powers to the pro%in'ial 'oun'ils. We ha%e seen some earl& positi%esigns o* progress( su'h as repla'ing the militar& go%ernor o* the northernpro%in'e with a 'i%ilian( but $ stress that these are earl& da&s( whi'h is


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pre'isel& wh& m& right hon. ,riend the Minister o* State wanted to go toColombo and the north o* the island as soon as possible to meet the new2o%ernment and urge them to 'ontinue li%ing up to the high e4pe'tationso* the people o* Sri Lanka and the international 'ommunit& and to make hisown judgment on what the 2o%ernment intend to do. We will not ignore the'hallenges that Sri Lanka *a'es( in'luding the 'hallenges *a'ed b& Tamil'ommunities in the north and east o* the island. There are man&'hallenges( in'luding the settlement o* internall& displa'ed people.

erry McCarthy: $ am pleased with what the Minister has to sa& about the%isit to Sri Lanka b& the Minister o* State( ,oreign and Commonwealth-**i'e( the right hon. Member *or ast /e%on 0Mr Swire1( parti'ularl& thathe is going to the north. The Minister ma& be 'oming on to this( but whenwill we hear about the right hon. 2entleman)s %isit+ Will he be able to writeto MPs or gi%e a written ministerial statement+

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 28$%&

Mr Lidington: $ will ensure that m& right hon. ,riend is aware thatMembers on both sides o* the House ha%e e4pressed great interest in his%isit and hope that there will be *ull 'ommuni'ation when he gets ba'k. $will lea%e it to him to de'ide whether he wants to meet Members who areparti'ularl& 'on'erned or to o**er either a written statement or letters toMembers who ha%e taken part in the debate. $ undertake that there will betransparen'&( and $ am sure that he will want to ensure that Members whoha%e maintained a long interest in Sri Lanka are *ull& brie*ed on his'on'lusions a*ter his %isit.

The 'hallenges *a'ed b& the Tamil 'ommunit& in'lude the settlement o*internall& displa'ed people( land issues( militarisation and the need *or ano%erall and enduring politi'al settlement. M& right hon. ,riend the PrimeMinister saw those issues *or himsel* during the Commonwealth Heads o*2o%ernment meeting in 6o%ember A#@". He was the *irst *oreign leader to%isit the north o* Sri Lanka sin'e as *ar ba'k as @!FJ. The 2o%ernment'ontinuall& raised those issues( in'luding( most ob%iousl&( human rightsabuses( with the *ormer Sri Lankan 2o%ernment( and we will 'ontinue toraise them in all our dealings with the new Sri Lankan 2o%ernment.

The re'ent %ote was 'learl& a %ote *or 'hange $ sa& that in answer to thehon. Member *or 8ristol ast 0=err& M'Carth&1. -ur judgment is that theresult on the da& re*le'ted the will o* the Sri Lankan people( but we notethe %iew o* Commonwealth obser%ers that there was an inade


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international ben'hmarks *or demo'rati' ele'tions. We hope that Sri Lankaand its new 2o%ernment( with the support o* the international 'ommunit&(will address those short'omings ahead o* *uture ele'tions.

The new Prime Minister has 'ommitted himsel* in Parliament to implementthe @"th amendment to de%ol%e more powers to pro%in'es( in'ludingpoli'ing powers( and we wel'ome the new 2o%ernment)s mo%es to rea'hout to the Tamil 6ational 9llian'e to dis'uss Tamil issues. We en'ourageboth sides to work together to rea'h a politi'al settlement.

President Sirisena)s mani*esto 'ommitted him to a number o* a'tions thatwould bene*it the Tamil people e'onomi'all& through edu'ation and bettergo%ernan'e. ,or e4ample( he made 'ommitments to pro%ide better a''ess*or Tamil students to s'ien'e edu'ation( impro%e relie* to displa'ed people(put in pla'e a demo'rati' 'i%il administration in the north and south o* theisland( put a stop to ra'ial and religious hatred( and take steps to promotere'on'iliation between 'ommunities. $ a'knowledge that it is still earl&da&s. The important thing is that those publi' 'ommitments ha%e beengi%en( and we are keen to talk to the Sri Lankan 2o%ernment about howthe& propose to translate those mani*esto 'ommitments into pra'ti'e.

We want to strengthen ties between the 5= and Sri Lanka. We ha%e astrong shared histor& through our people( edu'ation and trade( and westand read& to support the new 2o%ernment as the& implement ambitiousre*orms. We will en'ourage them to make progress on human rights( andwe wel'ome their earl& 'ommitments on media *reedoms( the prote'tion o*religious minorities and the restoration o* judi'ial independen'e. We also

28 Jan 2 !" : Column 28"%&

ha%e %er& high on our list o* priorities *or our 'on%ersations with the newSri Lankan 2o%ernment the need *or a lasting politi'al settlement *or thenorth( and a 'redible domesti' re'on'iliation pro'ess( along witha''ountabilit& *or alleged %iolations and abuses o* human rights duringwhat was( as has been said in the debate( a long and blood& "#;&ear'on*li't.

$ think the 5=)s position is well understood( and unless we see progress inthose areas o* poli'& the realit& is that Sri Lanka will not be able to thri%eas the strong( pea'e*ul and in'lusi%e nation that e%er&bod& in the Housewould wish it to be.

The 5= joined an 5 heads o* mission statement on A Ianuar& 'alling *orthe ele'tions to be pea'e*ul( 'redible and transparent( and we en'ouraged


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the pre%ious 2o%ernment o* Sri Lanka to ensure that internationalobser%ers were in%ited. /uring the ele'tion 'ampaign( o**i'ials *rom ourhigh 'ommission in Colombo tra%elled around the 'ountr&( 'o;ordinating'losel& with 'ounterparts *rom other *oreign embassies and with lo'alele'tion monitoring groups. We also pro%ided a grant o* @AJ(### to arange o* independent ele'tion obser%ation groups to ensure that theele'tions 'ould be monitored as thoroughl& as possible.

-n the


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about missing persons( the e4perien'e o* 6orthern $reland will 'ertainl& berele%ant to the work that needs to be done in Sri Lanka to tr& to establishwhat happened to those whose *ate is unknown. There is also( tragi'all&(e4perien'e elsewhere in urope in 8osnia and Her?ego%ina( and inC&prus( parti'ularl& that o* the Committee on Missing Persons in C&prusthat 'ould be o* %alue to the authorities in Sri Lanka and the internationalagen'ies as the work on Sri Lanka)s missing persons progresses.

$ agree with what was said about the need to press the Sri Lankan2o%ernment to stop the perse'ution o* Christians( Muslims and otherreligious minorities. $t is important that the rights o* all minorities in SriLanka are *ull& respe'ted.

$n response to the


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'han'e to show that the& are indeed willing to deli%er on their ambitiousprogrammes *or 'hange and re'on'iliation. $* we are asked( we will beread& to support them in that work. $ hope that the earl& %isit to Sri Lankab& m& right hon. ,riend the Minister o* State sends a strong signal o* the5=)s intentions. We want a 'onstru'ti%e relationship that bene*its both our'ountries and all our people( but we will not retreat *rom 8ritish %alues o*promoting demo'ra'&( good

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Tamil People in Sri Lanka - - Westminster