Calls on the government of Sri Lanka to build on its establishment of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
Recognizes that the LLRC report did not adequately address issues of accountability for both the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Calls for the establishment of an independent international mechanism to look into allegations of war crimes and other human rights violations committed by all sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka.
Encourages Sri Lanka to allow for greater media freedoms.
Urges Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian organizations and international human rights groups greater access to the war-affected.
Acknowledges the end of the war and the importance of reaching a power-sharing political settlement.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 247 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 247
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and
reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting
peace.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2013
Mr. Grimm (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Holt,
Mr. Lance, and Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and
reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting
peace.
Whereas it has been 4 years since the end of the 26-year long conflict between
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was declared a
foreign terrorist organization in 1997, and the Government of Sri Lanka;
Whereas the people of Sri Lanka suffered greatly as a result of this conflict,
the impact, and aftermath of which has been felt especially by women,
children, and families;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka established a Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to report whether any person, group, or
institution directly or indirectly bears responsibility for incidents
that occurred between February 2002 and May 2009, and to recommend
measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future and
promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities;
Whereas the LLRC report was presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament on December
16, 2011, and officially translated into Sinhala and Tamil on August 16,
2012, and took note of the LLRC report's possible contribution to the
process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka;
Whereas the LLRC report acknowledges important events and grievances that have
contributed to decades of political violence and civil war in Sri Lanka
and makes constructive recommendations on a wide range of issues,
including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and intentional
targeting of civilians and noncombatants, demilitarizing the north and
the country as a whole, reaching a political settlement with minority
communities on the meaningful devolution of power, and promoting and
protecting the right to freedom of expression for all through the
enactment of a right to information law and additional rule of law
reforms;
Whereas the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and other
governments and intergovernmental organizations have called on the
Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of its own LLRC
Report;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka expressed its commitment to address the
needs of all ethnic groups, notably the Tamils and Muslims, and has
recognized, in the past, the necessity of a political settlement and
reconciliation for a peaceful and just society;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has developed the National Plan of Action to
implement some of the 285 recommendations of the LLRC;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has made progress on rehabilitation,
resettlement of displaced persons, and improvement of infrastructure in
the north and east;
Whereas the LLRC noted that the failure of successive governments to implement
the ``critical recommendations of past commissions gives rise to
understandable criticism and skepticism regarding Government appointed
Commissions from which the LLRC has not been spared'';
Whereas progress on investigations into reports of war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and other human rights violations during the conflict and
promoting reconciliation would facilitate enhanced United States
engagement, bilateral trade, and investment in Sri Lanka and coincide
with United States policy that such commissions of inquiry have been
instrumental in providing accountability and redressing wrongdoing
during periods of internal strife;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka's failure to conduct a credible
investigation into alleged war crimes and human rights abuses committed
by all sides and to implement its own stated priorities of post-conflict
reconciliation, accountability, and reform as set forth by the LLRC
precludes a lasting settlement and encourages continued national strife
that has the potential to further destabilize a region vital to United
States diplomatic and strategic interests;
Whereas a firm statement advocating for truth, justice, and accountability into
continued reports of militarization, kidnapping and intimidation, and
extrajudicial killings since the cessation of conflict in 2009 comports
with statements and recommendations by key figures, experts, and
institutions in the international community as exemplified by the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay's February 11,
2013, report calling for an ``independent and credible international
investigation into alleged violations of international human rights and
humanitarian law'', and also reaffirms central rhetorical and
institutional commitments supported by the United States and its allies,
particularly the March 21, 2013, United Nations Human Rights Council
resolution echoing the conclusions of Commissioner Pillay's report and
advocating for the ``establishment of a truth-seeking mechanism as an
integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to
transitional justice'';
Whereas a statement urging the Government of Sri Lanka to follow through on its
own recommendations in a transparent, timely manner conforms with the
obligations of the United States and all nations to advocate for peace
and stability in the international community without infringing upon the
sovereignty of the Government of Sri Lanka or expressing a sense of
support for any party in the conflict; and
Whereas the United States is home to a large community of ethnic Sri Lankans and
expatriates outside of Sri Lanka, many of which have a salient,
emotional interest in a meaningful resolution to the country's violence
and political turmoil: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to build on its
establishment of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC) and that Commission's constructive
recommendations on issues of paramount importance to Sri Lanka
in a credible, transparent, and expeditious manner;
(2) recognizes that the LLRC report did not adequately
address issues of accountability for both the Government of Sri
Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), for
credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity;
(3) calls for the establishment of a credible,
international, independent accountability mechanism to look
into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and
other human rights violations committed by all sides during and
after the war in Sri Lanka, and to make recommendations
regarding accountability;
(4) encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to allow for
greater media freedoms and ensure the protection of
journalists;
(5) urges the Government of Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian
organizations and international human rights groups greater
access to the war-affected, including rehabilitated ex-LTTE
cadres, and those detained;
(6) acknowledges the end of the war and calls on the
Government of Sri Lanka to prioritize a process of
demilitarization throughout the country; and
(7) acknowledges the importance for parties to reach a
political settlement on the meaningful decentralization of
power and power-sharing.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
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