UK proposes HR monitors for Sri Lanka

Britain has suggested that Sri Lanka accept a UN presence on the ground to monitor human rights. Foreign Secretary David Miliband suggested that Britain would like to see such a presence in keeping with the report of UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour, informed sources said.

Mr. Miliband said so during talks with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who is now in Cairo having concluded a four-day visit to Britain, during which he had a series of meetings with British officials, opposition politicians, the new Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma and representatives of the Sri Lankan diaspora.

Though the joint media statement issued after the talks between Foreign Minister Bogollagama and his counterpart David Miliband only made a passing reference to the fact that the two "discussed human rights", The Sunday Times understands from reliable sources that Mr. Miliband made specific reference to an external field presence in Sri Lanka to monitor adherence to human rights norms.

Sri Lanka had, however, previously dismissed such an idea saying it had sufficient mechanisms to undertake its own monitoring but was ready to discuss other means of cooperation with the UN. Interestingly, both Sri Lanka and Britain are re-contesting for places in the UN Human Rights Council at the elections due to be held in New York next month.

During a meeting between the minister of state for the Home Office, Tim NcNulty, and minister Bogollagama, the British official said his government was fully committed to taking necessary action wherever terrorism laws were breached and that the government had enhanced its capacity to deal with challenges posed by the activities of terrorist groups and their front organisations.

The LTTE is one of the foreign groups banned as a terrorist organisation under Britain's anti-terrorism laws. The TRO, suspected of being an LTTE front organization, was de-listed by the Charity Commissioner a couple of years ago.Minister Bogollagama had earlier thanked Britain for the action taken by the Home Office and its agencies to try and halt the flow of funds to the LTTE and called for further measures, diplomatic sources said.

While underlining the importance of curbing the flow of funds, Minister Bogollagama had stressed that no lifeline should be offered to LTTE operatives in Britain. During his meetings with other British officials and opposition leaders, the foreign minister had explained the steps taken by the Sri Lanka government to open the political space and encourage pluralistic politics by holding local council elections in the Batticaloa district and the preparations being made to follow this up with Eastern Provincial Council elections next month.

The Liberal Democrats shadow foreign secretary Edward Daley is said to have asked Mr, Bogollagama to ensure that next month's elections in the east were free and fair, sources said. Foreign Office minister Lord Mark Malloch-Brown and Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy both of whom have visited Sri Lanka before, have accepted invitations to visit Colombo at mutually convenient times and to give of their experience.At a reception to London-based Commonwealth envoys, Mr. Bogollagama sought their countries' support for Sri Lanka in its bid to retain its seat on the UNHRC.

Meanwhile a joint media Statement by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said that Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband met at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 1 April.

“In a cordial and frank exchange of views on the situation in Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministers discussed the recent political developments in the Eastern province, including the importance of ensuring that the forthcoming provincial elections are credible and conducted in a secure environment,” it said.

The statement also said that Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the Commonwealth and discussed human rights as well as other issues of bilateral importance. “The Foreign Ministers recognized the importance of continued close engagement and regular high level contact”, it added.

Meanwhile a delegation from the All-Party Representative Committee is expected to visit the UK soon to learn about devolution and the extent of the powers devolved to the periphery and related issues.