Motion on Sri Lanka in Australian Parliament:
LTTE violated rights of millions of Lankans - Don Randall
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) violated the rights of
millions of Sri Lankans over three decades, Don Randall of the Liberal
Party speaking during the debate on a Private Member’s motion on Sri
Lanka in the Australian Parliament said.
Don Randall |
“Having had a long association with the Australian - Sri Lankan
community and having watched closely the atrocities committed by the
LTTE over many years, few were more thrilled at the prospect of Sri
Lankan peace and unity than me when I saw that the Tigers were defeated
recently,” Randall said.
The member for Fremantle’s motion alleges war crimes have been
committed by the Sri Lankan Government as well as the LTTE. I believe
that this compromises her role as secretary to the parliamentary
friendship group with Sri Lanka. I can only assume that the member’s
views are supported by the member for Lowe, an historical LTTE
sympathiser, based on his statements in this House,” he said.
Randall added: “I understand that the Sri Lankan community in the
member for Fremantle’s electorate are understandably concerned by the
motivations of her motion. Over three decades, the rights of millions of
Sri Lankans were violated by the LTTE and an estimated 80,000 people
were killed in the 26-year civil war. I have said in the House on
several occasions that the LTTE was one of the most brutal and militant
terrorist groups in the world.
In addition to brutalising the Sinhalese people in its battle for
territory, it sacrificed its own minority ethnic group of Tamil people
and used them as human shields and suicide bombers and recruited child
soldiers from them.
As recently as February this year, I wrote to the Attorney-General to
request the immediate listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation
under the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002. The
European Union, the USA, Canada and Britain are among more than 30
nations who have recognised the LTTE as a terrorist group.
My sentiments echoed the calls of Senator Hutchins, who is the chair
of the friendship group. I understand that the Attorney-General began
the prescribing process; however, the states must agree to such a
prescription and New South Wales opposed the prescription and as a
result it was thwarted.”
“Speaking on this motion, it is important to stress at the outset
that Australia has a strong humanitarian record. We will provide aid but
we cannot support or condone aid to terrorists. To cast a slur on the
Sri Lankan Government - quoting their defeat of the LTTE, a known
terrorist organisation - is an insult to the democratically elected
Government and damaging to relations with Australia. As a former Chair
and the current Deputy Chair of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary friendship
Group I have maintained a strong relationship with the Sri Lankan
community over my time in Parliament. I have attended their community
events and have heard their stories and watched with horror as the LTTE
group brutally murdered many innocent civilians,” Randall said.
“The former High Commissioner to Australia, who I was proud to call a
friend, was viciously targeted by the LTTE last year. A suicide bomber
in Anuradhapura killed 27 people and injured 80, including Major General
Janaka Perera and his wife, Wajira. To call for an investigation into
the actions of the Sri Lankan Government is damaging at home and abroad.
To ambush the Prime Minister with calls for an investigation into human
rights abuses is both disturbing and politically motivated. The Sri
Lankan Government maintained a zero civilian casualty policy and to meet
this policy slowed their advanced considerably in consideration of the
ethnic Tamils being used as human shields.
The member for Fremantle, who touts her UN credentials at every
opportunity, should acknowledge that the UN in a special session passed
a resolution praising the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government in
addressing the needs of displaced people and also welcomed the
commitment of Sri Lanka to the protection of human rights. The
resolution also condemns the Tigers and welcomes the liberation by the
Government of tens of thousands of citizens kept by the LTTE against
their will as hostages,” he said.
“While the Sri Lankan community moves forward the LTTE sympathisers
continue to be divisive. The Australian media has reported that LTTE
fronts through various groups across Australia have raised funds to
support the tactics of the LTTE and demonised the Sinhala people. It is
these actions that culminated in recent ethnic attacks in Sydney. The
situation is certainly volatile.
The member for Fremantle also raised the issue of humanitarian aid
into those camps. Her motion says they are detained but they are
actually homeless. An estimated 250,000 Tamil civilians are in
internally displaced persons camps because their homes and livelihoods
have been destroyed during the conflict through the indiscriminate
targeting of the LTTE. The Sri Lankan Government works feverishly to
construct temporary shelters, schools and hospitals,” Randall said. |