Michael de Laine

Lasting peace and stability in Sri Lanka need political solution, European Parliament says

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 6th February 2009

The capture of LTTE strongholds by the Sri Lankan army “may constitute a turning point in the crisis” and could pave the way for peace and stability, says the European Parliament, which warns that a political solution needs to be found and the humanitarian crisis addressed before there is lasting peace.

The recent capture of Tamil Tiger (LTTE) strongholds by the Sri Lankan army “may constitute a turning point in the crisis” and could pave the way for peace and stability, the European Parliament (EP) said this week. But the EP warned that lasting peace depends on a political solution and the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in the area.

Over a period of 25 years, fighting between the armed insurgency of the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government has caused the deaths of over 70,000 people. Since the beginning of the government’s military offensive in October 2008, the LTTE has retreated into the northern area. However, civilians have been forced deeper into territory controlled by the separatist group, leaving hundreds dead and some 250,000 civilians caught in deadly crossfire.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) called on the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to “abide by the rules of war, to minimise harm to civilians during military operations and to immediately allow the thousands of civilians trapped in the conflict zone safe passage and access to humanitarian aid.”

They also underlined the need for international monitors to “assess the humanitarian needs of a quarter of a million people trapped in the Wanni region and to ensure proper distribution of food and other humanitarian assistance, particularly as the fighting comes closer to the trapped civilian population.”

According to the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, press access in the conflict zone has been denied, journalists covering the conflict have been assaulted or intimidated, and there has been self-censorship by the media.

The EP welcomed the Sri Lankan government’s pledge to ensure full, open and transparent investigations into all alleged violations of media freedom in order also to “address the culture of impunity and indifference over killings and attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka.”

Turning to other areas of concern, the European Parliament reiterated its condemnation of the “appalling abuse of children constituted by the recruitment of child soldiers” by rebel groups. The parliament also urged the Sri Lankan government to give urgent attention to the clearance of landmines, “the presence of which may present a serious obstacle to rehabilitation and economic regeneration.”

The EP endorsed the statement by the co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka (Tokyo Co-Chairs - Norway, Japan, the US and the EU), which calls on the LTTE to discuss with the government of Sri Lanka the “modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence, acceptance of the government of Sri Lanka’s offer of amnesty, and participation as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution.”

The EP resolution concluded by calling on the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the governments of the EU members to “redouble their efforts to help bring a stable and just peace to Sri Lanka and to restore security and prosperity.”

Responding to the Tokyo Co-Chairs statement, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said it has been the firm and consistent position of the Tamil people that the island of Sri Lanka is inhabited by the Tamil nation and the Sinhala nation.

“It is on the basis of recognising this reality and by the respective authentic representatives of these two nations, namely the LTTE and the Sri Lankan state, engaging in negotiations on how these two nations shall associate with each other for the future security and mutual benefit of both nations, can a just and sustainable solution to the Tamil National Question be found,” the Tamil National Alliance said.

Noting that it was the need to resist the physical/military subjugation of the Tamil people by the Sri Lanka state that led to the advent of Tamil armed resistance, the TNA expressed disappointment regarding the joint statement of Norway, Japan, the US and the EU.