British Tamils met with parliamentarians from various political parties across the country this week, as they gathered support for accountability in Sri Lanka, calling on British Prime Minister David Cameron to live up to his pledge of ensuring a credible international investigation.
Members of the British Tamils Forum met with Paul Blomfield Labour MP for Sheffield, who personally committed to ensuring the matter is brought to the attention of the Prime Minister stating,
“I’m shocked that the Prime Minister having given a very clear commitment to use all of Britain’s diplomatic efforts to ensure that there is a independent internationally led investigation, has not seen that through, so I’ll be taking that issue up directly with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary.”
Another British Tamil constituent who wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May told the Tamil Guardian that he received a reply from the Home Secretary stating,
“The Foreign Secretary has now confirmed that the UK is pursuing this issue actively at the UN Human Rights Council in order to secure an international inquiry of the type recommended by the UN High Commissioner.”“I hope this is useful in providing reassurance that the UK is playing a leading role in calling for an international inquiry. If we do not see progress in the near future then I will of course be happy to raise the matter with the Foreign Secretary on your behalf.”
Other MPs who met with Tamil constituents this week discussing the issue of a international investigation in Sri Lanka include Labour MP for Edmonton Andy Love, Conservative MP for High Wycombe Steve Baker and Sarah Champion Labour MP for Rotherham.
British Tamil constituents also met with Labour Member of Parliament for East Ham Stephen Timms, who stated,
“I am not sure that the UN resolution that has been drafted fully implements that commitment which the PM David Cameron made, and I shall be pressing him along with others on the Labour party benches in the House of Commons to ensure that that commitment which he made is fully delivered and that Britain does press wholeheartedly for that full international independent credible inquiry, without which nobody will be satisfied that we have got to the bottom of what really happened.”
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