Member of the Australian Parliament for Bennelong, John Alexander, in his address to the Deputy Speaker on the Main Committee Motion on Sri Lanka, on Feb. 28, said turmoil and conflict in Sri Lanka must not be given oxygen and the country deserved international assistance. He stressed the need for a political solution.
Following are excerpts of Alexander’s speech:
"The people of Sri Lanka have endured the pain and suffering of conflict for over 26 years. With estimations of more than 70,000 people killed and nearly half a million people displaced, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief when the fighting finally concluded in May 2009. As with all conflict, it is only when the shellings cease, and when the bullets stop raining down from roof tops that accusations of inappropriate conduct during war can be analysed.
Read more "However, there are dangers in such a process. In an island as small as Sri Lanka, every member of the population will have friends or relatives that have been civilian casualties of war. All will carry scars of the conflict, whether they are physical or emotional. All will embrace the virtue of justice, but also understand the need for reconciliation, for bringing a divided people back together to embrace their common goals – to live together in peace and security; to reach their full potential as individuals and as a united community; to have the will of the majority represented, and the needs of the minority protected.
"United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has established a Panel of Experts to investigate accountability processes with a view towards a durable peace and reconciliation. The Secretary-General is on the record during the final stages of the conflict condemning: "the reckless disrespect shown by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the safety of civilians."
"As we have seen in ethnic-based conflicts around the world, from Rwanda to Spain to Kosovo, the only positive end-result is a strong peace. The Coalition agrees with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who stated: "A durable and lasting peace will only be, achieved through a political solution that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities."
"The Sri Lankan government is a democratically elected institution that deserves our diplomatic cooperation and respect. The Sri Lankan government must engage with the Tamils who do not promote violence or terrorism to further their agenda. It is important that discussions on legitimate power-sharing arrangements, and the strengthening of the workability of the Thirteenth Amendment, are pursued in the hope of achieving a lasting peace and reconciliation. A political solution is essential for long term peace to be developed in this long-suffering nation.
"And whilst serious allegations of human rights abuse anywhere in the world deserve to be aired and investigated, Sri Lanka is at a point in their development where they need the support of the international community to forge a real political solution to continue their process of reconciliation and rehabilitation.
"As strong local representatives of that international community we must ensure that opportunities for further turmoil and conflict within Sri Lanka are not given oxygen. A sustainable peace, with all major parties achieving a seat at the table, must be the first priority during this delicate time in this nation’s history."
The Island
