HOW A SMALL GROUP get UK USA act against a nation-VOTES AND MONEY

UK MPs, Diaspora focus on travel ban, assets freeze targeting Sri Lanka

February 12, 2014, 12:00 pm 

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Senior representatives of Tamil Diaspora have discussed sanctions against Sri Lankan government representatives with Foreign and Commonwealth officials in the House of Commons on Monday (February 10).

The discussion followed consultations British officials had with US Assistant Secaretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal a week before.

UK based sources told The Island that in spite of some differences among various Diaspora groups, those attending the meeting had agreed that travel restrictions should be imposed immediately after the endorsement of the third consecutive US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the 25th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The US moved two successful resolutions targeting Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013.

The Diaspora representatives have also urged the British to include required provisions in the proposed resolution to freeze assets of Sri Lankan leaders. Sources said that British and Diaspora representatives have essentially agreed that the resolution should ensure strong provisions to ensure witness protection among other actions meant to bring the government of Sri Lanka to its knees.

Among the British parliamentarians present were Lee Scott (Conservative) and Siobhain McDonagh (Labour). They represented the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Tamils, an all-party political grouping at the forefront of the campaign against Sri Lanka.

Sources quoted UK government representatives as having told Diaspora that there was a strong possibility of the majority of member states of the UNHRC backing the US resolution.

The UN rights body comprises 47 countries divided into five regional groupings. Asian and African groupings have 13 votes each, while the remaining seats are divided among Latin American and Caribbean states (eight), Western European and other states (seven) and East European states (six).