Miliband calls on British government to put pressure on Sri Lanka

 Thursday, 17 April 2014

Leader of Britain’s Labour Party Ed Miliband has called on the British government and others to put pressure on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that fundamental rights and freedoms of all Sri Lankans are respected.

Miliband has said in a message wishing the Tamils in Sri Lanka and Britain for the New Year, that the Labour Party has supported calls for an independent, international investigation into the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the country’s armed conflict.

“I commend the UN Human Rights Council’s recent resolution which paves the way for such an inquiry, and I am please that there is now cross-party consensus in Britain for such action to be taken,” Miliband has said.

He has noted that the investigation will be a significant step towards securing accountability and helping to lay the foundations for reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

He has further noted that it is vital that strong support is given to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as it undertakes this crucial work.

“However, the Labour Party remains deeply concerned by the plight faced by many Tamils in Sri Lanka, as well as with the on-going perpetration of human rights violations,” Miliband has added.