The British Parliament Wednesday debated on a motion forwarded by Mr. Edward Davey from Liberal Democrats calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and peace talks. At the end of the long debate the house resolved to strongly supports the efforts of the Government within the United Nations, the European Union, the G8 and other international bodies to bring about an end to the conflict in Sri Lanka, to open the way for an international humanitarian relief effort and to promote a process of political reconciliation.
The Resolution reads;
"That this House strongly supports the efforts of the Government within the United Nations, the European Union, the G8 and other international bodies to bring about an end to the conflict in Sri Lanka, to open the way for an international humanitarian relief effort and to promote a process of political reconciliation; welcomes the £7.5 million the Government has already committed to the relief effort; supports the Foreign Secretary’s joint visit to Sri Lanka with his French counterpart; endorses the Government’s calls for the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to declare an immediate ceasefire and to allow the civilians trapped in the No Fire Zone to leave unhindered, facilitated by the UN; urges both parties to the conflict to allow full and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid to be safely delivered; supports the Government’s efforts to persuade the government of Sri Lanka to allow international oversight of all internally displaced persons, including a transparent registration process and improved conditions within the camps with better access to food, water and medical facilities; urges the government of Sri Lanka to allow freedom of movement in and out of the camps so that families separated by the conflict can be reunited; and endorses the Government’s efforts to persuade the government of Sri Lanka to initiate a process of political reconciliation with all speed as the only way of ensuring a lasting peace between the communities."
The motion presented at the start of the debate by Mr. Edward Davey from Liberal Democrats called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and peace talks; urged the British Government to continue energetically and increase its efforts within the United Nations, European Union and Commonwealth and with others to broker a ceasefire and to make it clear to all sides that those who are proved to have committed war crimes in this conflict will be in danger of arrest, prosecution and punishment wherever they go for the rest of their lives.
Moving the motion at House of Commons for Liberal Democrats, Mr. Edward Davey said that the House is concerned that the fighting in Sri Lanka has already had a devastating effect on hundreds of thousands of civilians, with thousands killed and wounded, and many tens of thousands traumatised and suffering from lack of food, water and basic medicines.
He said he believes there is a real danger of an even greater bloodbath in the next few days if a ceasefire is not immediately agreed between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
And further believes that access is vital for humanitarian assistance, human rights monitors and members of the international media throughout the conflict zone and to all internally displaced persons, each of whom must, like every Sri Lankan citizen, have all their internationally recognised rights guaranteed.
He said that the British Tamil community has brought its protest to the steps of Westminster and Whitehall, and made its voice heard with dignity in a peaceful protest and in an effective manner.
He reminded the members that the Sri Lankan Government is suppressing their own media in Colombo, the Sinhala media.
And pointed out that answer to problem will not be achieved by the destruction of civilians and, indeed, the Tamil rebels, because millions of Tamils throughout the world will resent such a settlement? One cannot achieve a final settlement by military destruction.
It was accepted at the house that obtaining a ceasefire now will be desperately difficult, but it is utterly vital to avoid a massacre.
Mr Davey said, on one side, an army intent on crushing the Tigers and determined to avoid a ceasefire, and on the other, a small force, determined never to surrender, offering up proposals for a ceasefire but desperate for the civilians to remain with them as a human guarantee against the final attack.
At this dramatic hour, he said that the international community, by hard argument and threats, has to persuade both sides to back away from the abyss of slaughter.
Keith Vaz from Labour said that we shall not just talk about the EU’s role, the Indian Government has a very important role to play. Any discussions among the international community must include the countries in the region, he said.
International Crisis Group's (ICG) recommendation a week ago was brought in at the discussion as a mode to settle the immediate crisis. First, the ICG calls on the Sri Lankan Government to halt their offensive a self evident but crucial first step given that they hold the cards. Secondly, and diplomatically, it speaks of a “humanitarian pause”, rather than a ceasefire to make it easier for the Sri Lankan Government of initially a two-week period, overseen by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Thirdly, it calls on the UN and the ICRC to be part of a process, unhindered by the Sri Lankan Government that would bring strong, international guarantees of safety to any civilians or Tamil Tigers prepared to lay down their arms and cross over into Government-controlled areas.
It speaks of pressure on the Tamil Tigers from the Tamil diaspora, and pressure on the Sri Lankan Government, especially from Sri Lanka’s international funders. It says that they must be told that all non-emergency development funding will end if there is a bloodbath. That is an important financial sanction that they must be made aware of.
The group also speaks of pressure on both sides, to be delivered to their leaders in clear statements by the wider international community, making it clear that “they are liable to be held personally accountable for breaches of international humanitarian law”.
In other words, the world has to use the strongest possible threats of future financial and legal sanctions on the leaders of both sides unless they step back from the brink.
Mr. Davey wanted to seek an assurance from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, that the Government will oppose any proposal for that $1.9 billion loan that is put to the IMF.
Joan Ryan reiterated that no one there supports violence or fighting, only want a permanent ceasefire.
She said the previous ceasefire led to negotiations and it is important to recognise that the LTTE did not walk away from them, thus ending the ceasefire.
Mr Danvey said he believe that we can get negotiations that include everybody who needs to be involved and commit ourselves, as the Foreign Secretary has done, to a political solution. There is no military solution to the problem, it must be political. That must involve everybody.
He pointed out that the Government of Sri Lanka has shown no commitment to a ceasefire, yet the LTTE have called for one on numerous occasions.
He said he is saddened by the failure to achieve a resolution and demand for a ceasefire at the UN.
Further details on debate will be updated.
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