Strassbourg Plenary session :
EU Parliamentarians caution on elements trying to rouse LTTE
sentiments
"I regret that we are having this debate today. I suspect that it has
been promoted by extremist elements in the Tamil diaspora - the same
people who have helped to sustain the LTTE terrorist campaign," Chair of
the 'Friends of Sri Lanka' group of the European Parliament Geoffrey Van
Orden said during the emergency debate on Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The debate called by the Socialist and Green Parties of the European
parliament at the Strassbourg Plenary session drew attention to the
Darusman Report and attempted to seek the immediate establishment of an
'international justice mechanism on Sri Lanka'.
Orden urged the European Parliament "to remain vigilant concerning
those that seek to reignite members of LTTE terrorism. I call on the EU
and European governments to be more active in dealing with extremists in
our midst".
"Of course there should be an enquiry and openness regarding
allegations of human rights abuse. This is the responsibility of the Sri
Lankan government," he had stressed.
Representing the Majority European Peoples Party (EPP) German MEP
Thomas Mann said in February 2011 he "was in Sri Lanka as a member of
the South Asian Delegation and saw just how much effort was being made
to progressively deal with the post conflict issues like removing land
mines and facilitating displaced people to return to their homes."
European Conservatives and Reformists, UK MEP Dr. Charles Tannock
said the report," it is a far cry from the reality and was heavy on
criticism but light in substance". He said "Sri Lanka has finally
achieved peace by defeating a ruthless terrorist organisation, the LTTE
which rejected all peace bids made by the government".
He added "the term 'Genocide' is being mentioned by some even without
the knowledge of its meaning".
Dr. Tannock questioning the arguments made by the Socialists and
Greens, asked "How any one could accuse the Sri Lanka Army for genocide
or crimes against humanity when the same Army rescued more than 200,000
Tamil civilians from the LTTE and have now helped re-settle most of
them".
- MF
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