EU tells Sri Lanka it wants Real Action and not just Empty Words...!!!

EU tells Sri Lanka it wants action and not just words

By Easwaran Rutnam

The European Union (EU) has continued to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to address several concerns being raised over alleged human rights allegations including media suppression and has insisted that Sri Lanka must respond through actions and not words.

In an email to Daily Mirror online, Mrs Jean Lambert, Chair of the European Parliament (EP) Delegation for Relations with South Asia said that a European Parliament Resolution adopted last week shows beyond any doubt that the apprehensions of the European Parliament on Sri Lanka is widely shared.

The EP Resolution last week follows on from the hearing in the EP Human Rights sub-committee. It is the European Parliament's view on the humanitarian situation, and is there to advise Commission and Council policy decisions and offer proposals to the Sri Lankan Government, Mrs Jean Lambert said.

While noting that the European Parliament will not directly interfere on the GSP plus procedure which is in the hands of the European Commission, Mrs Jean Lambert said that the resolution by the European Parliament last week will be taken into account in the overall analysis of the situation.

“The fact that the views of the EP, expressed on 23 October, were largely echoed by the Council's conclusions which, on Tuesday, stressed that "indiscriminate detention of IDPs is a clear violation of international law", shows beyond any doubt that the apprehensions of the House are widely shared. Impunity, as well as severe harassment of journalists, must come to an end,” Mrs Jean Lambert told Daily Mirror online.

She reiterated that what counts now is whether the Government of Sri Lanka will at last take concrete steps --actions, not words-- in order to remedy the situation and demonstrate its willingness to engage into a meaningful dialogue with the EU institutions and relevant statutory bodies.

The Resolution adopted by the European Parliament last week expressed concerns over the continued detention of internally displaced people, media suppression and other issues but also noted the need for continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s economy and dialogue with the Sri Lankan government.
................dailymirror.lk..................

Comments

Cant fool all the people all the time. The time 4 action has come!

Posted By: Citizen silva

Bravo......!

Posted By: GUNAPALA

She looks very tough. Be careful GOSL!

Posted By: CSP

Yes, must agree, words to our people are just mere words nothing more than that!

Posted By: Nina Kamal

They don't know this is Sri Lanka, if our leaders kept their words our country would be a heaven at the moment. EU we srilanka

Posted By: Vinod

Mrs Lambert, well and correctly said. The GOSL need people like you to be told on the face rather than using "Diplomatic" language. Hope you will follow up and take necessary action and not allow GOSL to keep on just "bla bla".

Posted By: Kugan

EU and Sri Lanka are moving in parallel lines, the former insists on human rights and the latter raises sovereignty. EU cannot flout the law on extending GSP+ but in some third world countries it is not always heeded. If only Sri Lanka understands why Nelson Mandela wanted the international community to impose economic sanctions on apartheid white South Africa they will address to the concerns of EU.

Posted By: Saleem

A good suggestion indeed!! Now, you first show us you practice what you preach may be then we can do business.

Posted By: Charitha

Ms Jean Lambert , dont you know that we have dozens of ministers who only can talk but no work. Where ever , there is a problem , minister to whom that subject belongs , turn to the President for a solution. None of the ministers has intelligence to find a simplest of solutions.

Posted By: Honeybee


Well said Madame, this is the only language the Govt. will understand. The Govts. sugar coated diplomacy is good for the local gallery during elections but the World wont accept. They need action not words. Please remember that Sri Lanka is a part of the world and the world is not a part of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has to go on with the World - Ramzeel

Posted By: Ramzeel

This is a good warning, specially in relation to media suppression and harrassment of journalists. It MUST come to an end as rightly pointed out. Investigations into deaths and attacks have brought nothing. Why? Because the culprits are known.

Posted By: Nimal

Asking us to implement what is there in our constitution and to abide by Chaters and Protocols that our leaders agreed and signed, what's wrong in it. These politicians who are holding on power now said the same when they were in opposition.

Posted By: Muza