The European Union Parliament is holding a debate on “Sri Lanka: Follow-up to the UN Report” on Thursday 12th May. It is important that as many MEPs attend the debate as possible to call for truth, justice and a proper process of accountability in Sri Lanka and to highlight the level of support within the EU for the recommendations of the Panel to be implemented.

Therefore, please find below a draft email that can be sent to your MEPs – Please forward to all your members and urge as many people as possible in the UK and EU to act as a matter of urgency to contact their MEPs before the emergency debate on Thursday.

· Thank you.
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· How to find your MEPs and Email them:

UK Residents: http://www.writetothem.com/ or http://www.europarl.org.uk/section/your-meps/your-meps

Other EU Residents: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch.do;jsessionid=0BA6A599253465D9EC01CF16CAD174CD.node2

· Draft email:

Dear (Please Insert Name) MEP

Re: Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: Sri Lanka: Follow-up of the UN report, Thursday 12/05/2011 15:00-16:00

I am writing to inform you of the upcoming European Parliament Debate on Sri Lanka: “Follow-up of the UN report” and kindly urge your participation at this discussion.
The UN Secretary-General’s three-member panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka found credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government in the final stages of the conflict, including killing of civilians through widespread shelling and the denial of humanitarian assistance. 
I therefore kindly urge you to support growing calls for an international commission of inquiry to be established in order for truth, justice and reconciliation to prevail in Sri Lanka.
Please find below key findings from the report and recent statements made in response to the report for your reference.
Key Findings of the Report:

· “The Panel’s determination of credible allegations reveals a very different version of the final stages of the war than that maintained to this day by the Government of Sri Lanka”.

· “Tens of thousands lost their lives from January to May 2009, many of whom died anonymously in the carnage of the final few days.”

· “credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka: (i) killing of civilians through widespread shelling; (ii) shelling of hospitals and humanitarian objects; (iii) denial of humanitarian assistance; (iv) human rights violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including both IDPs and suspected LTTE cadre; and (v) human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including against the media and other critics of the Government.

· “These credibly alleged violations demand a serious investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.”

· “[Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission] is deeply flawed, does not meet International standards for an effective accountability mechanism and, therefore, does not and cannot satisfy the joint commitment of the President of Sri Lanka and the Secretary-General to an accountability process.”  
Key Recommendations:
· “The Secretary-General should immediately proceed to establish an independent international mechanism whose mandate should include the following concurrent functions:
(i) Monitor and assess the extent to which the Government of Sri Lanka is carrying out an effective domestic accountability process, including genuine investigations of the alleged violations, and periodically advice the Secretary-General on its findings;
(ii) Conduct investigations independently into the alleged violations, having regard to genuine and effective domestic investigations; and
(iii) Collect and safeguard for appropriate future use information provided to it, which is relevant to accountability for the final stages of the war, including the information gathered by the Panel and other bodies in the United Nations system.

· “The Government of Sri Lanka should investigate and disclose the fate and location of persons reported to have been forcibly disappeared”

· “the Government of Sri Lanka should undertake an immediate repeal of the Emergency regulations and modify all those provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act that the inconsistent with Sri Lanka’s international obligations”

· “Publish the names of all of those currently detained, whatever the location of their detention, and notify them of the legal basis of their detention”
Given the evidence provided in the report, holding an international commission of inquiry is imperative for two reasons;
1. The need for a genuine process of accountability can be the foundation for truth, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
2. If an adequate investigation is not held it has wider implications for the international community. Not investigating credible allegations of war crimes in one country will endangers how civilians are treated in other conflicts.
Link to the “Report of the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka”: http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf
International responses to the UN Panel Report:
· Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: "I hope the disturbing new information contained in this report will shock the conscience of the international community into finally taking serious action. As the report itself says, addressing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law is not a matter of choice or policy; it is a duty under domestic and international law.”
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11/Apr26_1303838874CH.php
· Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch Asia Director, has stated “the Sri Lankan government’s immediate dismissal of the report as biased demonstrates that there is no chance of a serious domestic justice process. The only hope for victims of the conflict is an international investigation leading to prosecutions.”
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/25/sri-lanka-un-chief-should-establish-international-inquiry
· Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations “ […] The United States has been at the forefront of efforts to support an effective, transparent post-conflict reconciliation process in Sri Lanka that include accountability for violations by all parties. The report highlights the need for an independent and full accounting of the facts in order to ensure that allegations of abuse are addressed and impunity for human rights violations is avoided. We strongly support the Secretary General’s call for the Sri Lankan authorities to respond constructively to the report and underscore our belief that accountability and reconciliation are inextricably linked.”
http://www.humanrights.gov/2011/05/04/statement-by-ambassador-susan-e-rice-u-s-permanent-representative-to-the-united-nations-on-the-release-of-the-un-panel-of-experts-report-on-sri-lanka/
· African National Congress (ANC): “[…]The ANC supports the recommendations of the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Panel of Experts that called for the establishment of an independent body to investigate all violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws committed in the conflict. We also call on the government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to address the core grievances of the Tamil population and engage in a genuine reconciliation process.”
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=8228
· The British Government response “[…] The report sets out the importance of a genuine and independent investigation, so that allegations of abuses are seen to have been addressed. We encourage Sri Lanka to use its response to the UN report and the report’s recommendations to strengthen the process of accountability and support lasting peace and security The serious nature of the allegations in the report underline that these allegations, and the issue of accountability for them, must be resolved before lasting reconciliation can be achieved in Sri Lanka.”
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=589066282
· French Foreign Ministry Statement on UN Panel Report: (Translation) “We invite the authorities of Sri Lanka to collaborate in a constructive way with the international community. The fight against impunity belongs to the crucial factors to follow a true policy of national reconciliation whatever the country. We encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to implement their engagements in these two fields.”
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/pays-zones-geo_833/sri-lanka_547/france-sri-lanka_1232/presentation_3732/publication-du-rapport-du-groupe-experts-sur-sri-lanka-28.04.11_91880.html
· Gordon Weiss, the UN spokesman in Sri Lanka during the government’s offensive against the LTTE in 2009, stated on an interview with Channel 4 News, 18 April 2011: “This is Sri Lanka’s Srebrenica moment, in fact it’s a Srebrenica moment for the rest of the world.”
http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-is-srebrenica-moment
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
(Insert your full name)
(Insert your full address)