Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathy for all those affected by the civil war in Sri Lanka.  After more than 25 years of conflict, we at the European Parliament welcome the moves by the international community to conduct a fair and through investigation into alleged crimes during the war.

In its resolution of May 2011, the European Parliament expressed concern over the allegations outlined in the UN Panel of Experts Report, and called for these allegations to be addressed for lasting reconciliation to be possible.  We also called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission performs in an impartial and transparent manner, and that the results of the investigation are made public at the earliest possible date.

At present, the LLRC report is in the hands of the Sri Lankan government.  Although there is widespread criticism of the Commission, I believe any positive proposals in the report should not be dismissed and the Sri Lankan government should take a lead role in implementing such proposals.  I encourage the Sri Lankan government to firstly release the report into the public domain, and promote genuine and effective debate on its findings. Furthermore, I would support a move by the Sri Lankan Parliament to ensure it plays its democratic role in scrutinising the report and ensuring its implementation.

We at the EU level welcome the cessation of the Emergency Regulations and look forward to the subsequent removal of restrictions on civil and political rights: They should not simply re-appear in other legislation.  The ending of these laws should now open the way for the release or trial of many of those detained without charge; a practice which we criticise in any country.  Furthermore, we continue to push for investigations into both past and ongoing reports of disappearances, and for any perpetrators to be held accountable, whoever they may be. It is my hope that efforts in this direction will lead to a more democratic and inclusive future for Sri Lanka.

Finally, the European Parliament is aware and active on the need for lasting reconciliation in Sri Lanka. In my capacity as Chair of the South Asia delegation, we continue to identify issues of language, land education and political involvement of minority groups as key focus areas.  Through bilateral and public meetings, we strive to promote the active inclusion of the Tamil people, minorities and disadvantaged groups at all decision-making levels in Sri Lanka.  We also call for genuine participation, free from fear and in full compliance with internal standards of civil and political rights.

I wish to see lasting peace for the Tamil community, and all Sri Lankan communities affected by the war.  Only through mutual recognition of respect for human rights, democractic processes, accountability and inclusion of society as a whole, can Sri Lanka move forward. 

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Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP for London, joined members of the Tamil community in London this weekend to discuss the conflict in Sri Lanka.

About 100 people attended a public meeting with the Thames Tamil Association in Greenwich on Saturday [February 7], among them those with relatives in the area currently suffering the terrible effects of the conflict. Jean heard from Tamils living in London of their concerns for loved ones in Sri Lanka. Many have had no contact with them for days; others spoke of relatives who have been injured or killed in the fighting.

Jean is calling for an immediate ceasefire on the island, and for urgent action to free the 250,000 civilians trapped at the heart of the war zone.

She said:

“An immediate ceasefire on both sides is imperative. The situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating by the day. A quarter of a million people are now trapped, and the fighting is getting ever closer to these civilians. It is crucial that the humanitarian corridor is opened up, to let these people out and to let desperately needed help, in the form of medical care, food, and mobile phones, in.

“It’s also time to let the rest of the world in. We have to ensure that international aid agencies are allowed safe access to the most vulnerable people, and can carry out their vital work without impediments of the kind we saw last Friday [February 6], when the Red Cross came under attack after false rumours that it had ordered 35,000 body bags in expectation of huge fatalities among Tamil fighters.

“While it remains impossible to build up a clear picture of exactly what is happening inside the conflict zone, because of the restrictions on journalists, we must maintain the pressure from the outside, and ensure that bringing an end to the suffering of innocent civilians remains a priority in the UK, Europe, and across the world.

“We need international monitors in Sri Lanka as a matter of urgency to assess the scale of the humanitarian crisis and lead moves towards a long-term political solution that will bring peace to the island and an end to violence and intimidation”

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