Importance of accountability

THE European Parliament on Thursday defeated an attempt by the Socialist group to seek the immediate establishment of an international justice mechanism on Sri Lanka, according to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels. However, this further underscores the importance of facing accountability and reconciliation issues head-on and giving more credibility to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).  

The Belarus regime’s harassment of journalists and opposition leaders, the plight of human rights activists in Azerbaijan and the fate of Tamil citizens in Sri Lanka were the three topics selected for urgent debates and resolutions by the European Parliament on Thursday. This emphasises the seriousness of the Sri Lankan situation and the light in which it is perceived by the international community.

Following the debate, the EU Parliament in a statement said that two years after the civil war in Sri Lanka ended with the surrender of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Parliament urges the Sri Lankan Government to take active measures to protect the Tamil people so that they can look forward to a bright and prosperous future, on equal terms with their Sinhalese fellow citizens. This appears to be a reasonable request and perfectly in line with what the Sri Lankan Government, along with the rest of the country, desires.

The EU Parliament while urging the LLRC to take serious account of the UN report; notes that the LLRC is empowered to ask the Sri Lankan Attorney General to institute criminal proceedings based on its findings and implement the panel’s recommendations, starting with the immediate measures. It also calls on the Government to immediately commence genuine investigations into the violations of international humanitarian and human rights law allegedly committed by both sides involved in the armed conflict. Stress is placed on the Government and the LLRC to support further efforts to strengthen the accountability process in Sri Lanka and to support the UN report.

It is clear that the LLRC will have to take credibility inspiring measures to gain the trust not only of its internal Tamil population but the Diaspora as well. Reconciliation overtures are not only for the benefit of the Tamil population, but also for the harmony of the entire country. There is still a genuine need for people who were affected by the conflict, including former combatants and families of people who are being held or have disappeared, to feel that they are free from fear in order to gain closure and move on with their lives.

While creditable work has been done in the spheres of livelihood enhancement and infrastructure, the sense of justice and faith in the Government could be improved. Even though the Government insists on completely dismissing the controversial UN report, there is a need to understand why such censure is being levelled against Sri Lanka before steps can be taken to redress it. There is overwhelming need for the country to stand together and treat all communities with justice and honesty, which is of paramount importance to Sri Lankans more than pacifying the international community.

The role of the LLRC must spearhead this move towards transparent and accountable reconciliation with genuine motives to assist people who have been severely affected by the war. It is Sri Lankans caring for other Sri Lankans that can achieve true peace.