Written answers

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

10:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek an end to the killing of civilians in northern Sri Lanka as a matter of urgency. [15850/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I have said on many occasions in this House, most recently on 24 March, I remain deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka and in particular about the grave humanitarian situation there. Thanks to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Government of Sri Lanka announced a two-day ceasefire on 12 April. While this was less than the full humanitarian pause of several days which the Secretary General had pressed for, it was nevertheless seen as an opportunity to try to relieve the horrendous suffering of the local population trapped in the conflict zone by providing them with some opportunity to evacuate and to access humanitarian assistance. While some civilians succeeded in escaping from the conflict zone during the temporary ceasefire period agreed to by the Sri Lankan government, the figure was not as great as had been expected. There were reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were preventing civilians from leaving the area. Over the last few days, however, it has been reported that up to 40,000 civilians have succeeded in escaping through breaches in barricades, bringing to over 100,000 the number who have fled the zone. Although there are no reliable figures for the numbers still trapped in the rapidly shrinking zone still under the control of the LTTE, it is clear than tens of thousands of civilians are at grave risk as the war moves into what may well be its final and most intensive phase. Earlier this week, the LTTE rejected a call on them from the Sri Lankan army to surrender within 24 hours to prevent further bloodshed. The current indications are that the LTTE intends to fight this out until the bitter end. Army operations have since intensified and gained significant ground.

Together with its partners in the EU, Ireland welcomed the temporary ceasefire but called for it to be extended to facilitate humanitarian operations in the affected parts of the country and ensure the physical safety of all civilians. I regret that this did not happen. I remain gravely concerned about the plight of the many thousands of innocent men, women and children, many of them wounded or ill, who are still trapped in the war zone. I welcome the fact that up to 100,000 of those who have fled the zone have increased access to humanitarian support. I commend the excellent work being done by organisations such as the ICRC, UNHCR, and Médecins Sans Frontières, whose activities Irish Aid have been supporting. I welcome the recent visit by the UN Secretary General's Chef de Cabinet, Vijay Nambiar, to Colombo last week. I hope the UN will be able to engage more proactively with the Sri Lankan government while this appalling humanitarian tragedy continues and beyond.

I continue to take the firm view that there can be no military solution to Sri Lanka's political difficulties. A lasting peace settlement will require serious reconciliation efforts and a negotiated political process aimed at protecting the interests of all the citizens of Sri Lanka and enshrining the principle of parity of esteem among its divided communities. Ireland would welcome further activity by the international community, in particular by the UN Security Council, to help to bring about a swift resolution to the conflict with minimum loss of life and to support a negotiated peace process and reconciliation. If the relevant parties seek our advice in relation to a negotiated peace process, we will give consideration as to how we could best help. I am strongly supportive of the efforts that have been made and are continuing to be made to persuade the Sri Lankan government and the representatives of the Tamil people to engage in serious efforts to resolve their differences through negotiations, rather than warfare, and to seek a sustainable peace based on the principle of parity of esteem among the divided communities. Along with senior UN officials, the members of the Tokyo Co-Chairs group that supports the Sri Lankan peace process - Norway, the US, the EU and Japan - have engaged in diplomatic activities in respect of the humanitarian situation. Some of them have also focused on the broader political context. Following an attack on the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo on 12 April, the Sri Lankan government has regrettably indicated that it is no longer feasible for Norway to act as facilitator in its engagement with Sri Lanka.

Since 2005, the Government has provided more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka. Over $12 million was allocated to Sri Lanka from the UN's central emergency response fund, to which Ireland is the seventh largest donor, in 2008. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Refugee Agency, which are two of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the humanitarian crisis, also receive regular unearmarked funding from Irish Aid. In view of the perilous situation in the affected areas, a decision has been taken to offer additional Irish Aid funding of €170,000 to Médecins Sans Frontières, which is treating large numbers of civilians affected by the conflict. The Government will continue to monitor closely the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. The possible provision of additional emergency funding is being kept under review.

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