MEPs attend White Pigeon's tsunami remembrance event

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 00:34 GMT]
Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Jean Lambert and Robert Evans participated in Tsunami anniversary remembrance event organized by UK Tamil Charity, White Pigeon, held at the Trafalgar Square during on the 22nd Sunday, a press release from Jean Lambert's office said. Director of White Pigeon, Dr Moorthy, also spoke at the event where the participants stood in silence, and then held multi-faith prayers, the release added.

Ms Lambert, London’s Green MEP, as a member of the European Parliamentary delegation to South Asia, visited the area shortly after the Tsunami struck. On Sunday Ms Lambert spoke of her experiences and praised the Sri Lanka community in the UK for their continued support, the release said.

“There are regions that have been completely devastated by the Tsunami but with the support from others around the word they are able to pull themselves back together. Sadly the North East region of Sri Lanka has not been given its fair share of the resources available due to recurring tensions and problems with security. It is vital that we restore peace in the area – without it sustainable development will be impossible."

“Sadly the tsunami brought with it a new danger. Landmines in the area, that were mapped out and avoidable, have been moved by the force of the water and could be anywhere. This is a disaster waiting to happen in a country that doesn’t need any more problems,” the press release quoted Ms Lambert as saying at the event.

Ms Lambert also said that other areas although not directly hit by the tsunami, are facing equally severe problems: “The Maldives has rapidly become the forgotten victim of the Tsunami. Even though there was no wall of water, the huge swell destroyed islands. While relatively few people died, relatively more have been affected. One third of the population has been severely affected and 4% of the population displaced. We must ensure they are given long-term solutions to help them restructure their lives,” the release said.

The event, organised by White Pigeon, held multi faith prayers and heard from Dr Moorthy, Director of White Pigeon, Jean Lambert MEP, Robert Evans MEP and Carmel Budiardjo, Indonesia Human Rights, the press release said.

In October 2005 Jean Lambert was named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights. Ms Lambert was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-elected in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament.

Robert Evans is the longest serving of London’s nine MEPs, having been first elected for London North West in 1994. Under the current electoral system Robert is now a Labour MEP covering the whole of the capital but with special responsibility for 10 boroughs.

External Links:

UK:		Jean Lambert, MEP
MEP:		Robert Evans Biography