U.S. Senator Russ Feingold urged the President Rajapaksa to take steps now to demonstrate a serious commitment to a political solution, the rule of law, and most importantly, to genuinely addressing the needs of the Tamil people.
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on Wednesday, June 3 addressing the senate said that the fundamental grievances of the Tamil minority have been overshadowed, distorted, and in some cases silenced by the military tactics of the LTTE. At the end of the conflict, a military ceasefire will not hold if the underlying causes that led to this conflict are not addressed.
He added "if we are to see legitimate reconciliation in Sri Lanka, the grievances of the Tamil minority must be seen as distinct from the violence of the LTTE and addressed thoroughly and justly."
At the same time, in proportion to the passion and effort with which the world’s diplomats have demanded peace and respect for civilians throughout this conflict, donor countries must remain actively engaged and dedicated to helping bring about a lasting resolution to this decades old conflict, he stressed.
Expressing concern over the 290,000 internally displaced people languishing in squalid humanitarian camps, "the safe and voluntary return of these people must be a top priority for post-conflict recovery" he said.
The Sri Lankan government must not shirk its responsibility to help these people return to their homes swiftly and safely.
He urged the U.S. government to join with its international partners to work with the Sri Lankan government to develop and rebuild infrastructure, and ensure that those who have been displaced are able to reclaim the land that is rightfully theirs.
Senator Russ Feingold noted that obtaining a clear picture of this conflict, especially the situation of the estimated 290,000 people living in internally displaced persons camps, has been obscured by the Sri Lankan government’s severe restrictions on access for media, international observers, and humanitarian aid workers. And added that to see a sustainable solution to this conflict over the long term, it is vital that the Sri Lankan government remove these restrictions now and allow access to all independent actors.
If we seek to address this conflict comprehensively, we must learn from past setbacks and help identify new opportunities for the people of Sri Lanka. It will not be easy, but on behalf of all the innocent civilians whose lives have been caught in the crossfire of this conflict, we must support this opportunity to finally achieve lasting and long awaited peace in Sri Lanka, the Senator said.
On Thursday the Senator Patrick Leahy
said in the senate chamber that the tremendous loss and grief suffered by the families of both sides needs to be acknowledged in order for reconciliation to occur.
He called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately account for all persons detained in the conflict and to provide access by international humanitarian organizations and the media to affected areas and to populations of internally displaced persons who remain confined in camps, which should be administered by civilian authorities. These people should be allowed to leave the camps as soon as possible so they can start to rebuild their lives, he said.
Adding further he said as soon as possible the government must address the longstanding, legitimate grievances of the Tamil population through political process. so they can finally enjoy the equal rights and opportunities to which they, like other Sri Lankan citizens, are entitled.
Noting that though the Sri Lankan Government prevented access for journalists to the war zone in order to avoid scrutiny of the military’s conduct, there is abundant evidence that they were deliberately targeted with relentless shelling and aerial bombardments, he expressed the growing fears of retaliatory attacks against those who criticized such tactics.
He also said that the recent decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council is unfortunate but not surprising. Several of the Council’s members routinely arbitrarily imprison and torture political opponents in their own countries.
The Sri Lankan Government, which seeks international aid to rebuild, insists that what occurred there is an “internal” matter and that for outsiders to call for an independent investigation and justice for the victims is an “infringement of sovereignty”. To the contrary, the denial of basic rights and freedoms is a legitimate concern of people everywhere, whenever it occurs, he said.
Senator Patrick Leahy said, it is now incumbent on the Sri Lankan authorities to demonstrate that the rule of law is respected, that sweeping security measures that have been used to silence journalists, doctors, lawyers and other citizens who have criticized government policies are revised or repealed, that the government takes seriously its duty to defend the rights of all Sri Lankans irrespective of religious affiliation or ethnicity, and that those responsible for crimes against humanity or other violations of human rights are held accountable.
The wary has ended, but it is the next chapter that will determine whether justice and lasting peace can be achieved. If the Sri Lankan Government seizes this opportunity to unite the Sri Lankan people in support of an inclusive effort to address the causes of the conflict, the United States will be a strong partner in that effort, he assured.
News edited by Tamil National [
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
]
