Seanad debates

Wednesday, 5 May 2010

2:30 pm

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)

I ask the Leader for a debate on foreign policy issues, given the recent reports of atrocities in Chad following the withdrawal of the Irish Defence Forces. Amnesty International has raised the issue which the House needs to debate.

I also ask the Leader for a debate on the situation in Sri Lanka which has not received the same level of media attention. A permanent people's tribunal was held in Trinity College over three days in January which produced some important findings about the committing of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Sri Lankan Government's security forces and aligned paramilitary groups. The tribunal found that the international community had neglected its duty to promote peace in the region. It recommended the appointment of a United Nations special rapporteur for Sri Lanka to investigate and identify responsibility for human rights violations, violations of humanitarian law and war crimes committed by all parties in the conflict. There has been little focus on Sri Lanka, but it has serious ongoing security issues, in respect of which there are serious concerns about the complicity of the Sri Lankan Government and security forces.

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