Extract from Lords debate on Sri Lanka - Oct 12
Friday, 13 October 2017 07:53
Lord Naseby (Con):...I hope and pray that, as a result of this
debate, the UK will recognise the truth that no one in the Sri
Lankan Government ever wanted to kill Tamil civilians. Furthermore,
the UK must now get the UN and the UNHCR in Geneva to accept a
civilian casualty level of 7,000 to 8,000, not 40,000. On top of
that, the UK must recognise that this was a war against terrorism,
so the rules of engagement are based on international humanitarian
law, not the European Convention on Human...Request free trial
(Con):...I hope and
pray that, as a result of this debate, the UK will recognise the
truth that no one in the Sri Lankan Government ever wanted to kill
Tamil civilians. Furthermore, the UK must now get the UN and the
UNHCR in Geneva to accept a civilian casualty level of 7,000 to
8,000, not 40,000. On top of that, the UK must recognise that this
was a war against terrorism, so the rules of engagement are based
on international humanitarian law, not the European Convention on
Human Rights. The West, and in particular the US and UK, must
remove the threat of war crimes and foreign judges that overhangs
and overshadows all Sri Lankans, especially their leaders. We in
the UK should reflect on the sacrifices of thousands of young Sri
Lankan soldiers who died to create peace in that country. Finally,
I reflect that Sri Lanka came to our need in two world wars and had
casualties, and it was one of just a handful of countries who
supported the UK over the Falklands. Now is the time to offer the hand of
friendship and act to lead the international community to recognise
what the truth really was...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
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