[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H7489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SRI LANKA CONFLICT SURGES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, we are on the verge of a full-scale war in 
Sri Lanka. The 2002 cease-fire agreement and the peace process in Sri 
Lanka between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, 
LTTE, is essentially nonexistent. The violence is escalating and 
thousands of Sri Lankan civilians are suffering.
  These past few months have resulted in nearly 2,000 deaths with more 
than 200,000 displaced persons. The fighting has also blocked access to 
essential supplies for many parts of the northeastern province, cutting 
off more than 60,000 Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils from water.
  This sinister cycle of war, cease-fire and then more war is not 
effective. Each side blames the other side and the situation is only 
getting worse.
  Hostilities must end and violence must not be the means for resolving 
ethnic conflict. All efforts must be focused on restoring and 
sustaining peace, and both parties must swallow their pride for the 
sake of their Nation.
  Norway and the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference, which 
includes the United States, have called for a return to unconditional 
negotiations in October. This return to the negotiating table is 
critical, and I am fully supportive of this effort. Both parties must 
guarantee the safety of its citizens, aid workers and peace monitors. 
Meanwhile, the LTTE must denounce terrorism as a means to its political 
aspirations.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe the majority of people in Sri Lanka 
would be in favor of a democratic solution to the conflict. The 
political challenges cannot be resolved through war, and that is clear.
  In June, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central 
Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher stated ``though we reject the methods 
that the Tamil Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues raised by 
the Tamil community and they have a legitimate desire to control their 
own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in 
their homeland.''
  I echo this sentiment and support a solution that retains Sri Lanka's 
unity. Yet, it should grant a level of autonomy to ethnic minorities 
like the Tamils. We have seen very similar successful situations 
throughout the world. Places like Quebec in Canada, Wales and Scotland 
in Great Britain are all part of their Federal Nations but have 
significant autonomy.
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in Sri Lanka is certainly not getting any 
better. As we have seen over the past few months, international 
monitors are leaving the country, scared for their well-being. The 
United Nations has threatened to revoke its international aid. If this 
pattern of violence continues without pursuit of a political solution, 
the international community may completely rescind its support.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge both sides to recommit to the process of 
sustaining peace in Sri Lanka. The devastating effect this is having on 
the civilian population of the country is not just. It is up to both 
parties to find a way to ensure the safety and security of all the 
people of Sri Lanka

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