The Conservative MP for Harlow, Robert Halfon, writing on the ConservativeHome website, endorsed the Canadian pledge to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in 2013, if held in Sri Lanka, and urged the UK government to considering doing the same.
Drawing attention to the "reports of violent suppression of Tamil dissidents, disappearing civilians, and secret executions", Halfon said that Sri Lanka was "without doubt a hideous regime".
Outlining basic steps that must be met by the Sri Lankan government, such as, demilitarising the North-East, allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to have full access to detention centres, and complying with the UN panel reports recommendations in order to arrive at "durable justice for the Tamil-speaking minority", Halfon said if those goals were not met, "the international community must then consider what further legitimate and peaceful pressure that it can put on the Sri Lankan regime", including economic sanctions on tourism and overseas investment.
Halfon added,
"I believe that the international community must now outline a clear set of expectations for Sri Lanka, and give them a firm deadline to comply."
"We must make it very clear to the Government of Sri Lanka that they cannot continue to act like a rogue nation. Enough is enough."
"Clearly the Tamil Tigers were highly dangerous, but they are no longer a threat. And yet persecution continues."
"The excuse of “security” must not be used as a cover to wipe out the inheritance of the Tamil-speaking minority."
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