Wednesday, 27 April 2005

Breathtaking Hypocrisy of the Misguided EU

A recent BBC news report titled "EU snub for hardline Pakistan MP", states that the European parliament had refused to meet a delegation of Pakistani MPs that included an Islamic scholar who had close links to the Taleban. The article further states that the EU parliament justified its position by stating that "it could not meet an individual who did not meet its ideals of democracy, equality and human rights".

Given the above reasoning, how can EU Governments justify welcoming members of the terrorist group the LTTE? How can they continue to maintain credibility in countries in South Asia like Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan when they indulge in such contemptuous behaviour?

The Tamil Tiger Terrorists definitely do not meet the ideals of democracy, equality and human rights and most probably falls far short of the said Pakistani MP’s perceived conduct. There is no hard evidence to suggest that the Pakistani MP had himself violated any human rights. He is accused of running an Islamic school that is suspected of teaching militancy. On the other hand, the LTTE continues to violate all accepted norms of democracy, equality and human rights despite been a signatory to a ceasefire agreement with the Sri Lankan government.

The LTTE’s list of human rights violations in the past few months alone include:

1. The continuing provision of training and small arms to the Assam Guerrilla movement as observed in the South Indian parliament by their chief minister Hon. Ms Jayalalitha Jeyaram.
2. Imprisoning and torturing the leader of the Tamil Hindu Temple in London, Mr Rajasingham Jayadevan. His ordeal has been recorded blow-by-blow in the Asian Tribune, a Tamil Journal article published on 19 April 2005
3. Abducting as reported by the UNICEF, more than 1600 innocent children affected by the Tsunami as child soldiers
4. Shooting at a Government naval craft, which injured a member of the SLMM(Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission) who was on board at that time.
5. Assassinating Tamil government servants such as Mr D N Thavarajah, the Thirukovil Divisional Secretary for removing a photo of the terrorist leader Prabhakaran.
6. Building airstrips with the aim of launching aircrafts to attack civilians and the Sri Lankan government
7. Kidnapping and assassinating abducted Sri Lankan government soldiers
8. Killing of Tamil civilians and politicians expressing opposing views in Trincomalee and Batticoloa
9. Destroying historic Buddhist archaeological sites

IT is indeed disappointing to see some members of the EU either ignoring or refusing to believe unquestionable evidence corroborating LTTEs continuing violations of human rights and ideals espoused by the EU. The Sri Lankan people will not take the EU seriously in the face of such duplicity and bias in favour of LTTE terrorists. At the very least, the EU owes an explanation of their duplicity to the people of Sri Lanka.

We praise the consistent stand taken by the United States of America against the LTTE terrorists. In the statement issued by Ms. Christina Rocca, the Assistant Secretary for South Asia at the end of her recent visit to Sri Lanka, she urged the LTTE terrorists to renounce violence by word and by deed.

The EU must adopt a consistent approach against all terrorist groups around the world and treat them equally, rather than play favourites. The EU must not be seduced by LTTEs propaganda. It must uphold justice, punish terrorism and reward those who promote democracy.

Yours faithfully,

Dr D Jayasuriya

President

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia

URL of the Media Release is http://www.spur.asn.au/SPUR_20050427_Media_Release_Misguided_EU.htm