Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2009
26 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives that he and the EU will undertake in response to the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan government. [21712/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra58 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21789/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra148 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the emerging situation in Sri Lanka with particular reference to the need to eliminate human rights abuses and restoration of democracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21995/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 58 and 148 together.
As stated in response to the Priority Question today, I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka and in particular about the grave humanitarian crisis taking place there.
I fully endorse the conclusions of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) held on 18 May 2009, which stated that "the EU . . . . . is appalled by the loss of innocent lives as a result of the conflict and by the high number of casualties, including children, following recent intense fighting".
I am also deeply disturbed by the reports of serious breaches of international humanitarian law by both sides in the conflict and I am firmly of the view that these must be subject to independent review. A Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka took place in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ireland made a national statement at this Special Session. I very much regret that efforts by the EU and others to initiate an inquiry into breaches of international law during the recent fighting were resisted by a majority of Council members.
The immediate priority now must be to ensure the safety and welfare of all displaced civilians. This is going to be an enormous undertaking as there are already over 200,000 requiring assistance and at least 50,000 more who are expected to seek it in the coming days. The Government of Sri Lanka must fulfil its obligations under international law to protect all people under its jurisdiction. Camps in which displaced people are being assisted must be transferred from army to civilian control, entry to and departure from them must be strictly voluntary, and the camps must be temporary. Humanitarian agencies and independent observers must be given full access to these areas and the people in them.
The second priority is to get a post-conflict strategy underway without delay. This will need to focus on reconstruction, economic and social development, and the restoration of basic services in the Tamil North. Hopefully, plans can be agreed with the Government to enable a comprehensive programme to be mounted.
Thirdly, an inclusive reconciliation and peace process must be initiated. It will be essential that arrangements and mechanisms are in place to ensure the representation of the Tamil population and facilitate dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation. I welcome President Rajapakse's stated intention to pursue a negotiated settlement with the Tamil community and very much hope that this can begin at an early date. Key to a successful process and sustainable peace will be political dialogue based on the principles of parity of esteem, consent, equality and the rule of law.
It will be important that the international community is involved in the peace process. International experience, expertise and support will be invaluable in terms of guiding the process, keeping it on track and serving as an independent facilitator. As I have stated in this House on a number of occasions, should the relevant parties there seek our advice in relation to the peace process, we would be happy to give consideration as to how we could best help.
Ireland would welcome further action by the international community, in particular by the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council, to assist in this process. In this context, I am delighted that the Secretary-General visited Sri Lanka on 22-23 May. I welcome the emphasis he placed during his visit on the importance of making progress on meeting urgent humanitarian needs, on the fast-tracking of IDP screening processes, and on the initiation by the Government and other parties of a political process of dialogue, accommodation and reconciliation.
The EU has been extremely active in relation to Sri Lanka. As I have indicated above, Sri Lanka was discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 18 May and comprehensive conclusions were issued. An EU Ministerial Troika visited the country on 12-13 May. The EU has decided to allocate €3 million from its humanitarian response budget to address the needs of all the people affected by the conflict.
In view of the serious humanitarian crisis in the affected areas, Irish Aid is now providing funding of €308,000 for an emergency response through NGO partners, to include emergency medical and nutrition support, the provision of shelter, and distribution of food and non-food items. In addition, a member of Irish Aid's Rapid Response Corps has been deployed to Sri Lanka to assist in the emergency response effort of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
