Reconciliation, accountability and human rights, basis for the lasting peace in Lanka: British Foreign Secretary

“Conditions in the camps have improved and there has been progress in the return of IDPs. UN official figures estimate that as of 15 January around 187,500 people have been released from the camps, of which 158,500 have been able to return to their home areas, whilst 29,000 vulnerable people have been housed with host families or in institutions.”

This is said by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband' in his Written Statement to the House of Commons on the recent developments in the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.

He further said, “it is important that vulnerable people have been housed with host families or in institutions. It is important that IDPs continue to be able to return to their home areas as soon as it is safe to do so.”

David Miliband’s update on recent developments in Sri Lanka also made a mention that it was a positive step when the Lankan government announced on December 1 that all IDPs still in the camps would be granted freedom of movement. “However, some restrictions remain in place and we will continue to encourage the government to ease those.”

He said : “We will continue to work with international partners and with the Sri Lankan Government to encourage progress on reconciliation, accountability and human rights as a basis for the lasting peace all Sri Lankans want and deserve.”

David Miliband said that following the Presidential election of January 26, his Prime Minister wrote to President Rajapaksa, and he had also spoken to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Bogollogama. Together with others, such as the Secretaries-General of the UN and the Commonwealth and the EU High Representative, they have urged President Rajapaksa to use his new mandate to make real progress on national reconciliation. “The President has made some positive comments about the need to focus on the concerns of Tamils and to discuss the devolution of powers. Setting out his plans for political reform would be a welcome next step,” he said.

He also said they have been encouraging the Lankan government to address the concerns of those voiced about the aspects of the election campaign, including incidences of violence and allegations of electoral malpractice. They are for Sri Lanka conducting a thorough investigation into any allegation and to encourage an atmosphere of calm by reaching out to those who did not support the President.

“There have, however, been worrying reports of a clampdown on those who did not support President Rajapaksa. The arrest of his principal challenger in the election, Sarath Fonseka, has done nothing to ease tensions. The government needs to ensure that all detainees, including Fonseka, are treated strictly in accordance with Sri Lankan law,” the British Foreign Secretary said.

“The next opportunity for Sri Lankans to elect their political representatives will be the Parliamentary elections that are expected to take place on 8 April. The Prime Minister (British) has encouraged the President (Sri Lankan) to ensure that measures are in place to remove the scope for allegations of malpractice. I have underlined to Foreign Minister Bogollogama the importance of making it possible for all Sri Lankans to vote.

“Whilst we welcomed the high national turnout in the Presidential election of 70%, this dropped to less than 30% in the north and east. An election in which all communities can select their representatives of choice could advance the prospects for genuine reconciliation.

“We will continue to engage with the government and other political parties in Sri Lanka to encourage a process of political reform. In recognition of the potentially positive contribution they could make to that process, we also continue to engage with the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities based in the UK. This includes the activities of Des Browne MP, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Sri Lanka. I will be addressing the forthcoming London conference of the Global Tamil Forum to encourage a forward-looking, constructive approach.,” David Miliband said.

He said that the EU has made clear its view that a credible process to address alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law by both sides during the conflict could also contribute to the process of reconciliation. He pointed out the US State Department’s report on the conflict in Sri Lanka and the statement by Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, that underlined the need for a credible and independent investigation. “We continue to make this clear to the Sri Lankan government, most recently when I spoke to Foreign Minister Bogollogama earlier this month. We await with interest the findings of the committee set up by President Rajapakse to look into the State Department report.”

A third way in which the Government of Sri Lanka could encourage genuine reconciliation would be through greater promotion and protection of human rights, including media freedoms, and by tackling the culture of impunity, the British Foreign Secretary said. “I have reinforced to Foreign Minister Bogollogama the importance of producing and implementing a human rights National Action Plan, as was agreed at the UN Human Rights Council Periodic Review of Sri Lanka in 2008.”

“On October 19 the European Commission published its report into Sri Lanka’s compliance with three of the conventions linked to Sri Lanka being a beneficiary of the GSP+ scheme. The report was clear about Sri Lanka’s failings in its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The report reinforces our concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and we share the Commission’s assessment,” he said.

He further said: “On February 15 the UK and other Member States supported the Commission’s formal recommendation to withdraw GSP+ benefits from Sri Lanka. This will come into effect on 15 August, six months following the date of the decision. We continue to urge the government to engage constructively with the European Commission and to take all necessary steps to address the serious concerns highlighted in the Commission’s report.”

- Asian Tribune -