'Defeat of LTTE a must for a united Sri Lanka', says British
MP-Malcolm Bruce
(By: Janaka Alahapperuma from London)
Liberal Democrat Chairman of the Commons International
Affairs Select Committee and MP for Gordon, Malcolm Bruce accused Tamil
Tigers as terrorists and said "unless you end terrorism you can't
actually build the united Sri Lanka". He made this eye opening statement
on BBC Radio-4 interview after coming back to UK from a two day visit in
Sri Lanka.
At the invitation of Sri Lanka President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, a cross-party group of UK parliamentarians visited Sri Lanka
for 'an independent fact finding mission' on 4th and 5th of May. It was
focused on the ongoing humanitarian crisis largely exaggerated by pro-
Tamil Tiger propaganda network, few British politicians and some NGOs
and INGOs.
The group was headed by the special envoy of the
British Prime Minister, Des Browne, Labour MP for Kilmarnock and
Loudoun. The delegation included John Bercow (Conservative MP for
Buckingham); Malcolm Bruce (Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon); Eddie
McGrady (Social Democratic and Labour Party MP for South Down) and
Mohammad Sarwar (Labour MP for Glasgow Central).
British delegation held meetings with politicians,
civil society figures and personally visited IDP camps in the North of
Sri Lanka. In a different statement MP Macolm Bruce said "Horror stories
in Britain about conditions in Sri Lanka camps housing hundreds of
thousands of Tamil refugees are wrong. There may be shortages, but
refugees I spoke to were happy to have escaped the fighting in the
North".
He highly appreciated the way Sri Lankan government
handle the situation with fewer resources and further said "They have
done an extremely good job. Although it has to be said they are trying
extremely hard, which quite impressive what they are doing".
The full interview of the BBC Radio-4 as follows :
BBC Radio 4: A Group of MPs just returns from
fact finding mission to Sri Lanka. We are joining one of them, Malcolm
Bruce, the Liberal Democrat Chairs of International Affairs Select
Committee. Good morning!
Malcolm Bruce, MP: Good morning!
BBC: What did you find?
MP: Well, we had the opportunity to visit
camps in the North where people have recently managed to find shelter
having escaped from the conflict zone. I think the Sri Lankan
authorities are under extremely pressure 135,000 people escaped from the
area held by the terrorists and of cause they have to provide camps for
very short notice. In that sense they have done an extremely good job.
They are under intense pressure..., and our concern was that they were
not allowing international agencies and UN in fast enough to support the
Government what they are doing and to meet the needs of the people both
in terms of food, shelter and the water and sanitation. Although it has
to be said they are trying extremely hard, which quite impressive what
they are doing.
BBC: But there still lots of people caught in
the fighting. Aren't they?
MP: Well, there are unknown number of
people figure between ten and hundred thousands (10,000 - 100,000)
trapped inside the conflict zone and of course there is a concern if the
Government were to finish off the terrorists and they would have to same
time finishing off their own civilians. I think at the moment it appears
there is an attempt to try and find a solution that will end the war
without causing great colossal damage to local civilians. We did find
quiet lot of people we spoke to, freely told us that they were unable to
leave the conflict zone before they were given the assistance by the Sri
Lankan Army because there were threatened with shooting by their own
side. Many of them were with children not repaired to take that risk.
BBC: It actually you can say you think that
there is a search on some kind of resolution which would avoid further
difficulties for the civilians caught in the conflict zone because until
now the Sri Lankan seems pretty determined to finish off the job they
begun in military terms.
MP: You can't really blame them. I mean the
country....(interruption...)
BBC: I wasn't. I asked a usual question.
I
just want to raise what you say
MP: I think the point is obviously it is
determination trying to end the 30 years of conflict into deal with
terrorists for ever. But I think partly because of the pressure from
international community and also recognition these are Sri Lankan
citizens, they want to find a way of doing it, does not kill more and
indeed many have already died. And in that cause huge frustration for
the military because they want to take out the terrorists but they can't
do it without these hostages getting in between. At the moment it is a
deadlock.
BBC: You are just using the word, terrorists.
It is a very loaded one. We are talking about the Tamil Tiger rebels
here, Aren't you?
MP: Well, I have to say these Tamil
Tigers have assassinated many Tamils including in and out of governments
and the opposition parties and we had very credible evidence many of the
people we met in camps to say they were threatened and shot at by their
own side and told them if they try to leave the conflict zone their
lives be at risk and in those circumstances, I think there is a clear
indication that this is a divided community and the unless you end
terrorism you can't actually build the united Sri Lanka.
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