The World Calls On UN To Stop Genocide
Of Tamils In Sri-Lanka
By Dr C P Thiagarajah
17 February, 2009
Countercurrents.org
Robert Evans, Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Asia, (according to IANS on 13 February 2009) called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Mun to send a peacekeeping mission as soon as possible. This clarion call is most timely in view of the non-compliance of the Govt of Sri-Lanka (GSL) to UNHRC request to abide by international war laws in protecting civilians.
About a month earlier, on 14 Jan 2009, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in a debate at United Nations Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict said that, the Council's focus must be on the conduct of hostilities and the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian law. In Sri Lanka, strict compliance with international humanitarian law was all the more critical with the intensification of fighting in the Vanni. Consequently humanitarian needs assessment was difficult. He was, concerned about the 350,000 civilians trapped in an increasingly confined space.
NORIHIRO OKUDA ( Japan) emphasized at the same session at UNHRC the importance of a) protecting and empowering civilians in armed conflict from a human security perspective. b) taking care of the dire situation of vulnerable civilians in armed conflicts worldwide, including Sri-Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. c) stopping deliberate attacks against civilians, journalists, aid workers as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, restriction of humanitarian access and other human rights violations.
The surprising aspect of the UN declaration with the expectation that the Sri-Lankan polarised government would abide by it assiduously have had tragic consequences. It had been estimated that 2000 were massacred within the period 1 January and 15 February 2009. The scene of the carnage heaped on the Tamils by the Sinhala GSL is heart rending and cannot be looked at.
Further, Ranjith Jayasundera, a Sinhalese, in Sunday Leader of 14 December under the title “Govt's war costing more lives than in Lanka's history” revealed that the Sri-Lanka Air Force already holds the unenviable record of being the first, only and thus most frequent dropper of bombs on its own citizens, and the government would gain little from being seen in the eyes of the world as having used cluster munitions on a refugee camp as alleged by some NGOs and the LTTE.
When the GSL is not paying any attention to the UN the only remedy lies in a more united drastic action by the UN. Canada and UK had already called for such a move. Here are some of the Western parliamentarians who sincerely felt that immediate action should be taken by the UN.
Mr Bob Ray Canadian MP told The Star, on February 04, 2009 “The UN can’t allow the Sri Lankan government to say “it’s an internal matter” and stay away”.
UK Parliament had a one and a half hours adjournment debate on 5 February 2009. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab):
I endorse the strength Minister’s call for a ceasefire. That said, if the Government of Sri Lanka are simply not prepared to listen to the international community's calls for a ceasefire, is it not time for some degree of sanctions, such as suspension from the Commonwealth or the suspension of military or trade agreements, to show that the rest of the world means business in trying to bring about peace in Sri Lanka?
Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con):
Is it not important for the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Sri Lanka as soon as possible so that they can see at first hand what is going on and have face-to-face meetings with the President of Sri Lanka?
Mr. Keith Simpson (Mid-Norfolk) (Con): we should spell out to the Sri Lankan Government the types of ultimate sanction that the international community could impose. A number of organisations could do that.
Joan Ryan (Enfield, North) (Lab): A recent report by the Genocide Prevention Project highlighted Sri Lanka as one of eight red alert countries where genocide or mass atrocities are under way or at risk of breaking out. I do not think that any of us can afford to ignore such an alert. We have said many times in the aftermath of genocide that we could have seen it coming and that we could and should have done more to prevent it. We must say and do more to prevent it from happening in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) (LD):
I am also delighted that the Foreign Secretary achieved, through his discussion with Secretary Clinton in the United States, a joint US-UK call for a ceasefire. However, I urge the Government to go further. As I said in a letter to the Prime Minister recently, they should go to the United Nations Security Council. We need the whole international community to speak as one. We need to work for that, because the Sri Lankan Government should be in no doubt about how the international community feels.
Mr. Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow) (Lab):
Members have suggested, we should think seriously about sanctions. For years, the Government there have not been interested in listening to any criticism.
Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) (LD
Said firstly Sri-Lankan government should accept the proposed ceasefire immediately, allow the presence of the UN and the relief agencies. He wanted media freedom restored because Sri Lanka has the second worst record on press freedom in the world, behind only Eritrea.
Secondly, there has to be a reference to the UN, the Commonwealth and other bodies, so that the international community can make their voices clearer. There may be a case for reference to the International Criminal Court. At least one Sri Lankan Minister is an American citizen, and there may be a war crimes issue to be dealt with.
Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab):
He wanted the suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth. He urged the members to do something that hurts.---We need to do something large and bold. We need to take a step.
Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con
We must ensure that any sanctions that we impose hurt the people we intend to hurt.
Canada parliament also took very serious decision after two and half hours debate and concluded that Tamil’s genocide be taken to UN.
Hon. Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Lib.):
We must support the call for the appointment of a United Nations special envoy for Sri Lanka to monitor and guard against abuses and to assist the peace process, as has been recommended by the United Nations itself, by the United States Department of State and by other international actors. Free press be allowed unfettered access to the conflict area to report on the ground situation.
Hon. Maria Minna (Beaches—East York, Lib.
an immediate ceasefire with international monitors put in place to ensure that it is respected. The UN should appoint a special representative to monitor the ceasefire and also to start the peace talks immediately.
It is time that the Government of Canada be aggressive on this issue with the United Nations. The Security Council of the UN should also be involved
Hon. Albina Guarnieri (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.)
Canada must call for immediate posting of international observers and peacekeepers towns in the north and east . If not this tragedy will continue to reach catastrophic proportions. Canada can also demand that Sri Lanka submit fully to an international war crimes tribunal where the actions of leaders on all sides of this conflict can be investigated and judged. The suffering in Sri Lanka will continue as long as there is no legal consequence, no opportunity for justice and no international will to bring a just peace.
Mr.John Cannis : Thanks for using the true word "Genocide", pointing these statements "go nowhere", urging "we need solutions, not papers"
Hon. Jack Layton (Toronto—Danforth, NDP)
He called for sustained effort for all possible diplomatic pressure to achieve the ceasefire. We are also calling for an immediate end to the apparent use of cluster bombs by the Sri Lankan military. We know that this is against international law. We also have to do everything we can to ensure the supply of emergency aid and access to the conflict zone for international aid organizations.
We have to use all available channels including our influence at the United Nations and at the Commonwealth to achieve these goals
Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
He indicated that the international community has to face the problem of the Sri Lankan government prohibition of independent journalists and human rights monitors from accessing the area of conflict. But one thing is very clear, Sri Lankan civilians are being maimed and are dying in this conflict.
Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP):
is it plausible for Canada to raise in the UN General Assembly the issue of ceasefire to the Security Council? How realistic is that idea, and what can we do to advance it?
U.S. Judiciary Committee Chairman and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy said that "it is imperative that the government and the LTTE agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid further loss of life, permit access to UN monitors and humanitarian organizations, and permit civilians to leave for areas of safety. The Obama administration, the British, Indian and other concerned governments, should be publicly urging the same,"
If no action is taken expeditiously there will be genocide of a quarter million Tamils within a week. Just look what happened in Rwanda when UN delayed action. Nearly a million Tutsi were murdered within 100 days. Will the UN take action? Yes I am sure for Ms Navaneethan Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a press release issued 29 Thursday January 2009 had made it clear that the UN is aware of HR violation in Mullaitivu where GSL last battle against the LTTE is taking place. She reiterated that “it is imperative that we find out more about what exactly has been going on”.
