UK, the latest to call Sri Lanka to implement political solution

The British government on Tuesday has urged Sri Lanka to urgently draw up a political solution to the ethnic crisis following the fall of a key Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold to the army. “This is the only way to achieve a strong and sustainable peace in Sri Lanka in which all communities can prosper,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission in Colombo.

The joint statement was by Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government and Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development.

It said the British government was closely following developments after the fall of Kilinochchi. “This development makes it even more urgent that all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities,” the statement said.

“We remain concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and call on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.” The statement said Britain was particularly concerned about the need to ensure the safety of civilians, to allow their free movement in the Vanni and to enhance access for humanitarian agencies to deliver aid.

Earlier the powerful neighbour India said military means will not resolve the island nation’s ethnic problem and Colombo would have to look at a political solution. “There is no military solution to the problem, no matter how the military situation might fluctuate. One side may be up or down,” Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters.

Pointing out that there is a political aspect which needs work, Menon said “until there is political understanding within the framework of united Sri Lanka within which all communities of Sri Lanka are comfortable, you cannot speak of a political solution to the situation.” He said there is also a humanitarian aspect, involving civilians caught in the conflict between military and LTTE in northern Sri Lanka.

Also on Monday, Sri Lanka’s top donor, Japan was cautious after the Tamil Tiger rebels’ capital fell, with an official saying that only a political solution could resolve the island’s ethnic war.

A Japanese foreign ministry official told AFP news agency that Tokyo will keep encouraging the Sri Lankan government to pursue a political solution to the ethnic conflict by promoting local autonomy in the northeast region.

“The real solution to the ethnic conflict can be realised only through political efforts,” the Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of Sri Lankan matters told AFP.

 “Capturing the de facto capital of the rebels holds symbolic meaning but its military significance is limited,” he also said that he expected the bloodshed to continue.

Earlier on Friday the US State Department also urged the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers to start negotiating over the “legitimate” demands of the Tamils after Colombo announced a key win over the rebels.

“The Sri Lankan government now seems to have made a gain through a military gain,” Gordon Duguid, a State Department spokesman, told reporters when asked for comment on the development. “But we repeat our call that the differences they have should be resolved peacefully,” he further said.

“We would also like to see that the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil opposition enter into a discussion that will resolve the legitimate issues held by the Tamils,” Mr. Duguid added.

The Sri Lankan conflict over the Tigers’ demand for a separate Tamil homeland has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1972.