Sri Lanka's Rights violations dominate TNA's European talks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 18:57 GMT]
Senior members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) after concluding their month long visit to European capitals to meet with top Government officials, said in a press release issued Wednesday, that the meetings focussed on the "horrendous human rights situation" in Sri Lanka, the "retrogressive movement in regard to the political process," and the Sri Lanka Government's attempt to "impose a military solution" to the Tamil National conflict.

TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, R. Sampanthan M.P., General Secretary ITAK, Mavai S. Senathirajah M.P., General Secretary ACTC, G. G. Ponnambalam M.P., Secretary General EPRLF, Suresh Premachandren M.P., and Leader TELO, Selvam Adaikalanathan M.P. participated in the tour of several European countries.

Full text of the press release follows:

16 August 2007

A delegation comprising of Members of Parliament of the Tamil National alliance (TNA) have concluded a visit to several European Countries to meet with representatives of Governments in the said countries and explain the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Such meetings focused on:

1. The horrendous Human Rights situation prevalent in Sri Lanka caused by extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances, abductions for ransom of Tamils, and killings of and grievous injuries to Tamil Civilians; The destruction of Housing, places of Worship, Public Buildings; The destruction of livestock, farming and fishing equipment, and other livelihood potential by aerial bombardment and heavy artillery fire including the firing of multi barrel rockets into Tamil Civilian populated areas displacing hundreds of thousands of Tamil Civilians and rendering them destitute; Tamil Civilians living in such areas being deprived of food, medicine and other essentials; International and domestic NGOs being prevented or hindered in rendering necessary relief to the affected Tamil Civilian population subjecting the Tamil Civilian population to extreme deprivation.
2. The highest priority being accorded by the Government to its military agenda and the clear determination manifested by the Government to impose a military solution.
3. The retrogressive movement in regard to the political process; the dismantling of achievements hitherto made in the political process, in particular the dismantling of the merged North-East region; and the steps being taken by the Government to institutionalize such dismantling in violation of the advice of the International Community; and the fact that the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) process was no more than a mere pretence.

The delegation impressed upon the said Governments the compulsive need for a reappraisal of the situation, and for effective action to reverse the present trend.

The discussions were free and frank, and the representatives of the several Governments were appreciative of the submissions made by the delegation.

Sgd Hon. R. Sampanthan M.P. (TNA Parliamentary Group Leader)
Sgd Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah M.P. (General Secretary ITAK)
Sgd Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam M.P. (General Secretary ACTC)
Sgd Hon. Suresh Premachandren M.P. (Secretary General EPRLF)
Sgd Hon. Selvam Adaikalanathan M.P. (Leader TELO)