The UK Government must ensure the establishment of an independent, international war crimes inquiry

 Friday, 31 January 2014 

The UK Government must ensure the establishment of an independent, international war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka, says UK Labour Party leader

 Rt. Hon Mr Ed Miliband MP, the leader of the UK Labour Party, has reiterated his Party’s support for the establishment of an independent, international inquiry to investigate the allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka.

At the crucial UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Session in March, Mr Miliband pledged his full backing for a resolution to initiate an international commission, under UN auspices. His Party would continue to bring pressure to bear upon the UK Government to use their position as a current voting member of the UNHRC to support such action. He urged the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Mr David Cameron MP, to push for this process to begin now, given the Government of Sri Lanka’s failure to establish a credible accountability mechanism.

Meeting with a number of representatives from the UK Tamil community, including Tamils for Labour, Global Tamil Forum and British Tamils Forum, at his office in Parliament, on Wednesday 29th January, the Labour leader discussed a wide-range of concerns relating to Sri Lanka and the plight of the Tamil people. The militarisation and Sinhalisation of Tamil lands in the North and East was raised, as was the on-going perpetration of human rights abuses committed by State forces against Tamils and others.

Given the imminence of the next UNHRC Session, the main talking point was the prospective resolution on Sri Lanka. Sen Kandiah, Chair of Tamils for Labour, stated that for reconciliation and lasting peace to take root there had to be truth, accountability and justice for what happened during the conflict. An independent, international investigation was the only means by which this would come about, he said, and Mr Kandiah suggested that the resolution should include a clause stating that any non-compliance by the Government of Sri Lanka on this matter should result in sanctions. Attempts by the Rajapaksa regime to undermine the accountability process should be given no quarter. In light of the above, Mr Miliband agreed that the Prime Minister had to be held to the promises he made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2013, when Mr Cameron first acknowledged the need for an international inquiry.

The leader of the Labour Party said he looked forward to continuing his, and the Labour Party’s, engagement with the Tamil community on all the matters discussed. Labour will continue to press the UK Government to do all they can to support accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka and Labour will demand action from the Government of Sri Lanka as well.

Speaking after the meeting, Sen Kandiah said “I am incredibly grateful to Ed Miliband for finding the time to meet with us all. The Labour Party has shown genuine leadership on matters relating to Sri Lanka and has led the way for all major UK political parties by calling for an independent, international inquiry in 2011. As a result of the interest and concern they have shown on relevant issues, and the means by which they have consistently sought to challenge the culture of impunity and on-going human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, the Labour Party has a special place in the hearts of the Tamil people. The pressure that Labour can exert on the UK Government is crucial at this time and I am most appreciative that the Party will continue to closely engage with the Tamil diaspora community, in order to ensure that their aspirations of truth, justice, accountability and peace are secured.”