British Government recognises Sri Lankan Government s democratic right to fight terrorism
Fri, 2008-12-19 14:55
By Janaka Alahapperuma-London
'British Government recognises the Government of Sri Lanka s democratic right to fight terrorism' The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hon Bill Rammell said at the adjournment debate on 'Sri Lanka' initiated by Andrew Pelling MP (Ind) for Croydon Central on 18th December at the House Of Commons, British Parliamnet, London.
Minister Bill Rammell further said 'The LTTE has no democratic mandate to represent the Tamil population. It is reported to recruit civilians, including children, into its ranks forcibly, to extort food and money from an already impoverished people, to abduct and kill Tamil civilians who disagree with its views or methods and to break all norms of international humanitarian law by preventing civilians from leaving conflict areas, effectively holding them as a human shield. The LTTE has conducted a terrorist campaign across the whole of Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, deliberately targeting thousands of individual civilians, as well as assassinating Government figures.'
At the debate, members of the Tamil community in the UK are concerned about proscription of the LTTE an issue raised by Leicester- East MP Keith Vaz (Labour Party), Minister Rammell answered 'It is important not to forget that the LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organisation, which is responsible for serious human rights abuses against civilians throughout Sri Lanka. So British Government has outlined the LTTE s record as a terrorist organisation and until it renounces terrorist activities in word and deed, there is little prospect of the proscription being lifted.'
He further said 'British Government concerns for civilians in Sri Lanka and it is primary responsibility of the Government of Sri Lanka to protect them. The conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE has gone on for more than 25 years, and it has claimed the lives of at least 70,000 people in Sri Lanka. We recognise that the causes of the conflict, and the legitimate concerns of all communities in Sri Lanka, need to be addressed.'
Edited By - bolanda - 19 Dec 2008 10:13:50 GMT |
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