European Parliament: Human Rights Resolution

Parliament adopted three urgent resolutions on the need for the EU to impose sanctions further to the violent repression of a demonstration in Guinea Conakry, the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, and access for humanitarian organisations to the 250,000 civilians displaced by the civil war and held in camps in Sri Lanka.

MEPs deplore the fact that over 250,000 Tamil civilians are still held in camps, contrary to undertakings given by the Colombo government. The resolution asks that their return be organised and that humanitarian organisations be given free access to the camps in order to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.

Tamil leaders must commit themselves to a political settlement and renounce terrorism and violence once and for all. The government must respect human rights in the conduct of trials of LTTE members, says the resolution.

The Sri Lankan government must cease its repression of the media in the name of its anti-terrorist legislation, which must be overhauled, and press freedom must be recognised, stress MEPs.

The Sri Lankan government must also put more effort into clearing minefields, which are serious obstacle to reconstruction and economic recovery in this south-east Asian country. Members call on the government to take measures to comply with the Ottawa Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction).

REF. : 20091021IPR62947 European Parliament