[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 116 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9676-S9677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               SRI LANKA

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to discuss the 
situation in Sri Lanka, which not long ago was one of promise after a 
cease-fire agreement was signed in 2002 between the former government 
and the LTTE ``Tamil Tigers.'' The cease-fire was never perfect, but 
for several years negotiations on a political settlement offered a ray 
of hope for an end to the conflict. After April 2006, however, there 
was escalating violence and an increasing pattern of violations of the 
cease-fire agreement by both sides.
  On July 20, the LTTE closed a reservoir sluice gate in an LTTE-
controlled area near the eastern town of Trincomalee, cutting the water 
supply to about 60,000 people in Government-controlled territory. In 
response, Sri Lankan Government forces conducted airstrikes over 
several days against LTTE positions in the area and on July 30 began a 
ground offensive to capture the reservoir's control point. This 
increase in violence contributed to the more than 800 deaths reported 
between January and August, including some in which large numbers of 
civilians were killed in flagrant violations of international law by 
both sides, and hundreds more combatants and civilians have died since 
then.
  Politically motivated killings, the recruitment of child soldiers, 
indiscriminate raids on civilians, targeting of international aid 
workers, and torture in police custody are only some of the human 
rights abuses that have been recently committed as reported by Amnesty 
International and Human Rights Watch. Additionally, a looming 
humanitarian crisis exists as the number of Sri Lankans displaced 
within the country by fighting this year has passed the 200,000 mark, 
and an estimated 8,700 citizens have fled to India. Road, air, and sea 
links to the Tamil population in the north have been cut, and food, 
water, and fuel shortages are severe.
  We should be deeply concerned with the collapse of the peace process 
and escalating violence in Sri Lanka. Although it is apparent that 
neither the Government nor the LTTE can defeat the other militarily, 
nor have they demonstrated the political will to stop the fighting and 
resolve this conflict peacefully. A report on September 13 that the 
Government and the LTTE have proposed new peace talks is welcome. But 
the Sri Lankan people have been disappointed countless times before. 
Several steps should be taken immediately, most importantly to prevent 
further harm to civilians who have suffered disproportionately.
  It is critical that humanitarian aid be allowed to reach those who 
have been displaced, whether as a result of the conflict or the 
lingering effects of the December 2004 tsunami. Relief agencies need 
unimpeded access to the affected populations, and civilians should be 
allowed to leave contested areas.
  The LTTE has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. 
Government on account of its wanton attacks against civilians and 
forced recruitment of children. These abusive tactics, which flagrantly 
violate international law, should be universally condemned.
  There is also the issue of U.S. support to Sri Lankan Government 
security forces, who have been responsible for violations of human 
rights. The Department of State needs to be doubly sure that the Leahy 
amendment, which prohibits U.S. assistance to units of foreign security 
forces who violate human rights, is being strictly complied with.
  In addition, we should reaffirm our support for the Sri Lanka 
Monitoring Mission, which reports on violations of the cease-fire by 
both sides. A stronger monitoring presence would deter abuses, provide 
systematic documentation of violations, and help to address the problem 
of impunity that has contributed to the recurrent cycles of violence 
and reprisal in Sri Lanka.
  Sri Lanka is a divided country, but its people, whether Sinhalese, 
Tamil, or Muslim, are as gentle, industrious, and peace loving as any 
in the world. The Tamils have legitimate demands, but the LTTE's 
tactics are deplorable. The Government has been divided, and it has not 
been able to provide the sustained leadership necessary to reconcile 
the interests of the conflicting parties.

[[Page S9677]]

  The chairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference--Japan, the European 
Union, Norway, and the United States--need to find more effective ways 
to convince both sides to return to the bargaining table. There is no 
other way to end this conflict. The longer it takes to resume a process 
of good faith negotiations, the more responsibility the LTTE and the 
Government will bear for the needless deaths of innocent civilians.

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