The Labour party would seek to pass a resolution at the European Union in view of facilitating discussions on sanctions against Sri Lanka, party MEPs, MPs and running candidates, said at a press conference on Friday.
Claude Moraes, a Labour party MEP, said that the party stood ready to ask questions that looked to move further than the international war crimes investigation into Sri Lanka by raising resolutions in order to ensure justice for victims through different methods such as sanctions.
Lucy Anderson, a Labour Party candidate for London for the EU parliament, who previously worked as a solicitor in the field of human rights, further added that the EU could be used at crucial times to raise discussion on the right political solution for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The Labour Shadow Minister for Europe and MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, said that the EU would play a role in continuing to shine the spotlight on Sri Lanka, adding that there ‘are still huge concerns about the ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka, and that there was ‘no real attempt to move forward in human rights.’
The party also pledged to work towards finding a political settlement to the island's long running ethnic conflict, that respected the rights of all communities, including the Tamils in the North-East.
“A political solution in Sri Lanka that is accepted by the Tamils in the North-East should be considered,” Mr. Thomas said, agreeing with a member of the audience that some form of political settlement was needed to ensure true justice and reconciliation.
Claude Moraes, a Labour party MEP, said that the party stood ready to ask questions that looked to move further than the international war crimes investigation into Sri Lanka by raising resolutions in order to ensure justice for victims through different methods such as sanctions.
Lucy Anderson, a Labour Party candidate for London for the EU parliament, who previously worked as a solicitor in the field of human rights, further added that the EU could be used at crucial times to raise discussion on the right political solution for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The Labour Shadow Minister for Europe and MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, said that the EU would play a role in continuing to shine the spotlight on Sri Lanka, adding that there ‘are still huge concerns about the ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka, and that there was ‘no real attempt to move forward in human rights.’
The party also pledged to work towards finding a political settlement to the island's long running ethnic conflict, that respected the rights of all communities, including the Tamils in the North-East.
“A political solution in Sri Lanka that is accepted by the Tamils in the North-East should be considered,” Mr. Thomas said, agreeing with a member of the audience that some form of political settlement was needed to ensure true justice and reconciliation.