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19-05-2006

KARIM CONDEMNS KILLINGS OF SRI LANKA CIVILIANS
10.49.14am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th May 2006
On the day that the European Parliament adopts an Urgency Resolution on Sri Lanka, Sajjad Karim MEP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Human Rights, condemned the killing of over 200 innocent civilians and the displacement of 20,000 others.
"The EU will no longer entertain those who exercise political violence and we are actively considering listing the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. We must put an end to the extortionate racketeering that sees EU citizens of Sri Lankan origin intimidated and threatened to hand over large sums to the LTTE. No longer will EU taxpayers foot the bill for terrorism and we are calling on the Commission and Member States to freeze the assets of the LTTE within the EU."
Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Karim, a signatory of the Urgency Resolution, condemned the use of violence that threatens to extinguish Sri Lanka's fast disintegrating 2002 cease-fire agreement.
"Regardless of who is responsible for these callous attacks, the Sri Lankan Government has a legal obligation to protect the lives of innocent civilians. We have called for the reactivation of Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission and the establishment of a comprehensive Human Rights Agreement. Only through independent investigations can the perpetrators be brought to justice and can we put an end to the cycle of retaliatory violence that is pushing Sri Lanka to the brink of civil war.
"Violence will not bring peace to Sri Lanka. Ultimately the only way to avert war is to return to the negotiating table. The EU, as Co-Chair of the peace process, has a duty to the people of Sri Lanka to put pressure on both sides to return to the Geneva peace talks. Negotiation, with human rights at the heart, is the only way to ensure a durable peace for the island and its people. We understand that the LTTE does not represent the whole of the Tamil and Muslim communities living in the North and East of the Island and realise that the only option for an enduring settlement is to allow for political pluralism and let all the democratic voices in Sri Lanka be heard."

Source-sldf