There Will Be Consequences If The Conduct Of The Sri Lankan Authorities Does Not Change – Nick Clegg
May 16, 2013
“I think that we all accept the controversy and unease about this matter, but by attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka we will be using the opportunity to cast a spotlight on the unacceptable abuses there. As I said earlier, of course there will be consequences if the conduct of the Sri Lankan authorities does not change. The Commonwealth matters to us all, and it is based on a number of values.” Nick Clegg the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK said today.
I have to tell my friend that I cannot support the decision of the Prime Minister to go to the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Sri Lanka because of the human rights record of the Sri Lankan Government. What can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us about how we can respond to that terrible regime’s record? What can we do to make sure that in future the Commonwealth does not just say it believes in human rights, but does something about it?We are all aware that the decision that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary will attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka is controversial, especially in the light of the despicable human rights violations during the recent civil war. But I assure my right hon. Friend that the Government condemn those violations, the way in which political trials, regular assaults on legal professionals and suppression of press freedom continue, and the fact that too many recommendations of the lessons learnt and reconciliation commission have not been implemented. If such violations continue, and if the Sri Lankan Government continue to ignore their international commitments in the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, of course there will be consequences.In answer to the question the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes) asked on Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister gave a long list of atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Government. Why, then, are his Government going to the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Sri Lanka, why are they announcing that six months ahead of time, and why do they want to see an alleged war criminal as Chair of the Commonwealth?I think that we all accept the controversy and unease about this matter, but by attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka we will be using the opportunity to cast a spotlight on the unacceptable abuses there. As I said earlier, of course there will be consequences if the conduct of the Sri Lankan authorities does not change. The Commonwealth matters to us all, and it is based on a number of values. Where I accept the hon. Lady’s implicit criticism is in relation to this point: all Commonwealth Governments should do more to not only talk about those values, but ensure that they are properly monitored and enforced.
UK warns Sri Lanka on abuses before Commonwealth summit
LONDON | 
(Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday there would be "consequences" for Sri Lanka if its leaders did not address international concerns over human rights abuses, ahead of a Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told parliament "despicable human rights violations" had taken place in Sri Lanka, but that Britain still planned to attend the Commonwealth meeting there, a stance that has drawn heavy criticism from rights groups.
Sri Lanka has repeatedly rejected calls for an independent, international investigation into accusations of war crimes committed during the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that ended in May 2009.
Tens of thousands of civilians, mostly Tamils, were killed in the final months of the war, a U.N. panel has said.
"All of us accept the controversy around this, accept the unease around this, but what we'll be doing by attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka is using the opportunity to cast a spotlight on the unacceptable abuses in Sri Lanka," Clegg said.
"Of course there will be consequences if there is not a change in conduct of the Sri Lankan authorities," added Clegg, standing in for Prime Minister David Cameron during parliament's weekly question and answer session.
Britain's Foreign Office was not immediately available to outline what consequences Clegg was referring to.
Sri Lankan government officials have repeatedly rejected accusations of human rights violations.
Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague are expected to attend the bi-annual Commonwealth meeting, and in a break with tradition, Prince Charles will represent Queen Elizabeth, who usually attends but is now, aged 87, cutting down on long-distance travel.
The summit is a meeting of leaders mostly from former British colonies, where issues including trade, development and human rights are discussed.
As well as human rights violations, Clegg said media freedom had been suppressed and legal professionals attacked.
Last month, Human Rights Watch called on the summit to be shifted from Sri Lanka, warning the Commonwealth will face "ridicule" if the meeting goes ahead.
Amnesty International has said Sri Lanka is intensifying a crackdown on critics, creating a "climate of fear", an accusation the Sri Lankan government rejected.
(Reporting by Mohammed Abbas; Editing by Alison Williams)
