Britain tells world – Stop violence in Lanka

The Britain yesterday urged the international community to continue efforts to end violence in Sri Lanka while building a credible environment for a sustainable peace process.

It also expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to invite the TNA to be part of the APRC deliberations.

Expressing his views during the adjournment debate on Sri Lanka in the House of Commons on Thursday Deputy Foreign Minister and West Asian Minister Kim Howells said after ending the ceasefire agreement, Sri Lanka has a clear responsibility to live up to its commitment to address the grievances of the Tamil people and urged the APRC to go beyond constitutional provisions to protect minority rights.

“The TNA was not invited to participate — a big mistake, in my view. The committee is due to present its final recommendations in a little over a week. We think it important that those recommendations go beyond the current constitutional provisions to protect minority rights. We have called on the President to take a bold and courageous lead from this foundation to set out a framework for a just solution

within a united Sri Lanka that satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans. The international community will be watching carefully and we do not want to see another false dawn,” Dr. Howells said.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also condemned the Buttala bus attack and said he did not believe the LTTE which advocated the use of murder and terrorism represented the hopes and aspirations of the majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka and around the world.

“The LTTE must renounce terrorism and demonstrate a real commitment to democratic principles if it is to be regarded internationally as a legitimate political movement. There needs to be a full debate among the Tamils, free of intimidation and polarisation, on what an acceptable political settlement might look like for the Tamil people,” he said.

“The message that we have for the Sri Lankan government — that there can be no military solution to this appalling conflict — applies equally to the LTTE. Some Tamils argue the Tiger pursuit of self-determination is generated by a sense of despair that their grievances will never be addressed in a united Sri Lanka. It is vital that the Government allay those fears and give them hope. For Sri Lanka to find a way forward, we need to see signs of genuine good will from the Government to any proposals for devolution that might emerge and a readiness on the part of disillusioned Tamils to contemplate alternatives to self-determination. Without generating trust and confidence, that will not happen.”

He said Britain’s support calls for a much more effective UN human rights monitoring presence on the island adding that the case is made stronger following the departure of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

“Peace will not happen until the parties to the conflict understand that nothing can be gained from continuing violence. Some in Sri Lanka did not welcome our involvement. We regret the fact that they do not understand, or chose not to, that our aim has been simply to do what we can to help the Sri Lankans find a way forward. We have no ulterior motives. We remain ready to help with the search for peace in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Source : Dailymirror