PARLIAMENT

Government protects human rights of the Tamils

Sandesan Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met yesterday at 1 pm. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the adjournment motion moved by TNA Parliamentary group leader R Sampanthan.

R Sampanthan (TNA):

The country is in a crisis situation today. We are living in the post-war period. A proper methodology is essential to solve main problems facing us. Sri Lanka is a member of both the United Nations Organization and the Human Rights Commission.

In the post-war period, we should investigate root causes of the main problem affecting the country. Correct decisions have to be made regarding certain things which happened during the war for co-existence and reconciliation.

There was a motion against Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Commission. Several countries voted for and against Sri Lanka. Countries having strong relationships with Sri Lanka have argued that the administrative structure of Sri Lanka should be strengthened. Sri Lanka should improve its governance. Eighteen volunteer workers were murdered in Muttur during the war. An inquiry was held at the international level. The government has not investigated this yet. Sri Lanka has reiterated its strongest commitment to ensure the protection of human rights in keeping with the international human rights law. We cannot see the government engaged in it, fulfilling its duty properly ensuring the people's human rights. Tamils in the North and East are still suffering, though five years have lapsed after the war. It is necessary to provide urgent solutions for the national question accepted by all communities in Sri Lanka.

Mangala Samaraweera (UNP):

I second the motion moved by R. Sampanthan. The people who were sombre after the defeat of terrorism have began to wake up to see the reality. Certain recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission have not been implemented. I think the Commonwealth Secretary General would be able to bring back the drifted democracy of the oldest democracy in the region.

Port and Highways Project Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene:

R Sampanthan has elaborated only one side and attempted to hide important factors. He did not talk to Sri Lankans that consist of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers etc., but the international community who are inimical to Sri Lanka.

He talked of human rights. R Sampanthan is a senior member who has represented parliament for 25 years. But he never talked of the atrocities made by the LTTE to the Tamil people and others in this country. He was afraid to do so. If he had done so, he would have been killed by the LTTE. The Tamil members who talked bravely for the Tamil people, such as Lakshman Kadiragamar, Amirthalingam, Raviraj etc were killed by the LTTE.

It is because of the LTTE that the land issue you are talking today was created. If you talk of human rights, you should speak of D M Dassanayake, R Premadasa, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle assassinations. You have to talk of the human right violations of the devotees who were killed at Kattankudi Mosque and at Temple of tooth relic, Sri Maha Bodhi and the killing of monks at Aranthalawa.

Human rights of all were violated during three decades. Underage girls had to get married to evade forceful recruitment to the LTTE. Their fathers told those stories lamenting, after the elimination of terrorism.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa bravely took measures to wipe out the LTTE that existed 30 years within three years. It is a brave act to attack a terrorist organization that assassinated an Indian Prime Minister and a President of Sri Lanka.

Now the North that was devastated by the LTTE is being developed under the Uthuru Vasanthaya programme.

Today people in the North are more familiar with the name of Basil Rajapaksa than the name of R. Sampanthan. Now, R Sampanthan can go to his home town, Jaffna, without the permission of anybody. But during the period of the LTTE, he had to worship all LTTE leaders to go to Jaffna.

I have to tell R Sampanthan and Mangala Samaraweera that there is no medication for jealousy and envy. This is the time that R. Sampanthan to think of his past flaws and correct them.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame:

It was R Samapanthan that spread racism in Trincomalee one month before the election in 1977.

I recall that he brought the remains of Schelvanayagam from Jaffna to Trincomalee. Schelvanayagam was born in Jaffna. He brought it via Sirimabopura and villages where Sinhalese people lived. He made the people in the tractor to shout slogans that ignited racism. They had poles and knives in their hands.

He wanted to ignite racism to come to Parliament. He knew if he did not do so, he would be defeated by Nawaratnarajah who was a popular political leader in the area.

Mangala Samaraweera is talking nonsense today. In 1988, he was the one who organized a Sathyagraha in Pettah against the 13 amendment which he is requesting today.

Mangala Samaraweera is the one who created a poster of Ranil Wickremesinghe with the face of Mr. Bean. Ranil Wickremesinghe should be ashamed to sit together with him.

He does not have good qualities. That is one reason for the failure of the UNP. Lakshman Kiriella (UNP):

UNFA MP Radha Krishnan takes the Chair.

External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris said Sri Lanka would not accept the Geneva resolution on Sri Lanka and would not negotiate with any country regarding the matter.

I would like to ask the government whether it will reject the assurances given to the international sector that it would hold the Northern Provincial Council election this year. The international sector should be more attentive to the activities of the government.

If the government has the courage and confidence, let it conduct the election this year.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan:

The TNA should corporate with the government to find tangible solution to the ethnic issue. The government has taken steps to accommodate to independence and human rights of the Tamil people. Those who were displaced during the war have been resettled.

Ex-LTTE carders have been rehabilitated and integrated to the society. Most of them have been recruited to the public service.

Sri Ranga (UNP):

The government has failed in providing a political solution even thought five years have passed after eliminating terrorism. The lack of progress on the promises made earlier on a political solution to the Tamils of the Northern and Eastern provinces has led to bring resolutions against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

A. H. M. Azwer (UNFA):

The TNA should support the government to find a political solution to the national question. Only the this government can provide a solution for this problem.

MP Sampanthan, in his speech, mentioned only about the improvement of Sinhala and Tamil culture. He has forgotten to mention the Muslims Culture. MP R. Sampanthan must leave the TNA and should handover reins to another young person.

Social Service Minister Felix Perera:

Today, people belonging to all communities live in harmony. A massive development drive has taken place all over the country. The country has archived a remarkable successes in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, resettling the internally displaced. A considerable amount of work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihoods of the people.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris:

The resolution against Sri Lanka was originally brought by Canada and not the UNHCR. It was Canada which has submitted the resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHCR sessions.

When Canada proposed resolution it did not have votes. When Canada could not do it, the US took over the burden. I travelled extensively in March 2013 to meet leaders in African countries. I presented my views. The US had an office in each capital and I knew the pressure exerted on us by the US.

Influence takes a variety of forms. Those countries had many a difficulties in saying ‘no’ to the US sponsored resolution.

That is the reality of the situation.

Most areas of the European Union had been politicized which has may implication on other countries even on Sri Lanka.

R Sampanthan was defensive of the Commissioner General of the Human Rights of the UN.

But the documents tendered by the Commissioner before the HR Commission were not sanctioned. One is the Darusman Report and Petrig Report.

The Darusman report is one that said the LTTE is one of the best disciplined nationalist organization which killed Neelan Thiruchelvam brutally. But R Sampanthan accept it in Parliament.

An investigation has not been made on these reports. Darusman Report is against natural justice.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Not only us, the African Union and Muslim countries have unequivocally rejected this report. The same has been incorporated by the Commissioner of HRC into the formal documents of the HRC that we reject.

The Darusman Report was being marketed by Yasmin. There credibility is not there. R Sampanthan said there is a need for an international system.

We agree that as they should know what developments are taking place in Sri Lanka.

These are not official documents of the UN system.

We have a close relationship with the UN.

US representatives take part in ‘Galle Dialogue’ in the defence field. It is not correct to think that the US cut down their funds to Sri Lanka.

The US is funding US $ 10 million on tghe Hally Ella project.

Canadian Minister Peter Kent said the Prime Minister is showing an outrageous video on LTTE. The Prime Minister wanted the minister to withdraw the statement.

In Perth in Australia, Canadian Minister John Blared questioned of Sri Lanka and I opposed for taking Sri Lanka on table at that forum.

Fifteen countries gave unsolicited support to Sri Lanka which was an impressive experience to me.

Some countries in the developing world is of the opinion that the leaders of the Commonwealth should come to the developing world. Sri Lanka is to lead the Commonwealth for two years from November this year.

Some countries in the Commonwealth wanted to establish a Human Right Commission. Leaders shut down the thought even before it was presented stating that the Commonwealth need not a policeman on their shoulder. It was because the Commonwealth deviates from its fundamental objectives.

Kamalesh Sharma visited Sri Lanka twice.

R Sampanthan talked of war.

If the war did not end, will Sampanthan be able to behave like this as you do today, move about freely in the North and engage in politics?

Lakshman Kiriella questioned as to why the resolution is not accepted as they are our own recommendations.

Yes, but we implement them. We don't implement them on the influence of others. They want us to present reports every six months. It is not suitable for a dignified nation like us with a history. We will implement recommendations at the correct time.

Kiriella said don't think that international pressures would end up.

Yes, we are not afraid of them. Our strength is the people of this country. The failure of opposition is that they always rely on international pressures.

We clearly say there will be an election in the North in September this year.

I tell R Sampanthan that the international community cannot impose a solution to us and I urge him to corporate with us to find a solution within ourselves.

The House adjourned until 1 pm today.