 New Jersey Congressman, Frank Pallone, speaking to the House Wednesday night, supported Norway, Co-chairs' call for unconditional talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers, advocated autonomy for Tamils, and endorsed U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher's statement "though we
reject the methods that the Tamil Tigers have used, there are
legitimate issues raised by the Tamil community and they have a
legitimate desire to control their own lives, to rule their own
destinies, and to govern themselves in their homeland.''
Full text of the speech follows:
Mr. Speaker, we are on the verge of a full-scale war in Sri Lanka. The
2002 cease-fire agreement and the peace process in Sri Lanka between
the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE, is
essentially nonexistent.
The violence is escalating and thousands of
Sri Lankan civilians are suffering.
These past few months have resulted in nearly 2,000 deaths with more
than 200,000 displaced persons.
The fighting has also blocked access to
essential supplies for many parts of the northeastern province, cutting
off more than 60,000 Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils from water.
This sinister cycle of war, cease-fire and then more war is not
effective. Each side blames the other side and the situation is only
getting worse.
Hostilities must end and violence must not be the means for resolving
ethnic conflict. All efforts must be focused on restoring and
sustaining peace, and both parties must swallow their pride for the
sake of their Nation.
Norway and the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference, which
includes the United States, have called for a return to unconditional
negotiations in October.
This return to the negotiating table is
critical, and I am fully supportive of this effort.
Both parties must
guarantee the safety of its citizens, aid workers and peace monitors.
Meanwhile, the LTTE must denounce terrorism as a means to its political
aspirations.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe the majority of people in Sri Lanka
would be in favor of a democratic solution to the conflict.
The
political challenges cannot be resolved through war, and that is clear.
In June, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian
Affairs, Richard Boucher stated ``though we reject the methods that the
Tamil Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues raised by the Tamil
community and they have a legitimate desire to control their own lives,
to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their
homeland.''
I echo this sentiment and support a solution that retains Sri Lanka's
unity.
Yet, it should grant a level of autonomy to ethnic minorities
like the Tamils.
We have seen very similar successful situations
throughout the world.
Places like Quebec in Canada, Wales and Scotland
in Great Britain are all part of their Federal Nations but have
significant autonomy.
Mr. Speaker, the situation in Sri Lanka is certainly not getting any
better.
As we have seen over the past few months, international
monitors are leaving the country, scared for their well-being.
The
United Nations has threatened to revoke its international aid. If this
pattern of violence continues without pursuit of a political solution,
the international community may completely rescind its support.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge both sides to recommit to the process of
sustaining peace in Sri Lanka.
The devastating effect this is having on
the civilian population of the country is not just.
It is up to both
parties to find a way to ensure the safety and security of all the
people of Sri Lanka
TN
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