Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-18-Speech-4-231"
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"en.20000518.10.4-231"2
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"The issue of the place of the Tamils in Sri Lanka is a long-standing problem dating back to at least the year of independence in 1948. We have had agreements since then to grant autonomy to the Northeast Tamil region, which have been abrogated by the government.
In this conflict, far too many people have died. There has been a growing catalogue of violence and human rights abuses on both sides – by the Tamil Tigers and, sadly, the government security forces. These are well documented by organisations such as Amnesty and the US Department of State in its 1999 Country Report. Young Tamil men in particular can find themselves being a victim of violent coercion by the Tamil Tigers and violent interrogation by the security services.
It is clear that thousands of people have been displaced within Sri Lanka. Thousands more have sought asylum and the whole population lives in fear of violence. We cannot say what the exact state of affairs is at the moment as there is a complete media blackout in force as part of a set of new restrictive laws introduced in May. The resolution is clear. Those laws must be lifted before the elections in August.
Something has to change. We have to do what we can to work for a peaceful and lasting settlement. It is clear that the international community is no longer prepared to see internal armed struggle as only a problem for the state concerned and that long-term political investment and negotiations are necessary rather than arms sales. Northern Ireland is a clear example of the difficulties of such a process, but also the possibilities. This resolution is important in its call for immediate cessation of hostilities and the lack of preconditions is a welcome move.
The situation would also be helped by agreement between the Sri Lankan political parties themselves and we welcome the efforts of the Norwegian and other governments and feel that the Commonwealth could have a very valuable role to play in this situation."@en1
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