awareness of Parliamentarians on the Sri Lanka execution video being declared authentic by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, during the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council

· It is important to keep your Member of Parliament updated with recent developments in Sri Lanka and to give them enough information to raise related questions during relevant discussions, debates and question times in Parliament.

· Please find below a template to email or send a letter to your Member of Parliament and a guideline telephone script if you would prefer to call their office to highlight issues relating to Sri Lanka.

Email/Letter to send MP on issues relating to Sri Lanka

Dear (insert name of MP/Representative) MP,

I am a member of your constituency living in (insert your address details).

I am a (British) citizen and member of the Tamil community with close links to Sri Lanka. I have friends and family there and I am deeply troubled by recent events relating to the country. In light of this, I wanted to raise with you the issue of the United Nations Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka and to ask whether you would be willing to raise this matter in Parliament on my behalf.

Significantly during the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council currently taking place in Geneva, extended footage of the execution video obtained by Channel 4 News UK has been analysed by the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Christof Heyns, who has stated that this evidence amounts to “definitive war crimes”.

A Channel 4 news television documentary, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, will be broadcast on the 14th June at 11:05pm. The one-hour programme looks set to include footage not previously broadcast, as well as a shocking video of summary execution and rape-murder which Channel 4 News has already aired (the video was denounced by the Sri Lankan government as a fake, and later authenticated by UN experts). The film was screened in Geneva on the 3rd June at an event hosted by Amnesty International. The video further intensifies the need for the need for truth and justice in Sri Lanka.

The UN Panel’s report published in April 2011 states that tens of thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives, during the final months of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009 (a link to the full report can be found here: http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf ). The Panel’s recommendation to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, was to immediately proceed to establish an independent international accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka.

Accountability for crimes against humanity is a duty under international law. Given that the Sri Lankan Government has dismissed the UN report as “fundamentally flawed”, I do not believe that a proper process of accountability will be forthcoming from within Sri Lanka.

Therefore I would be very grateful if you, as my representative in Parliament, will raise these issues with the British Government and the Prime Minister during Foreign Office Questions and Prime Minister’s Questions. I believe British parliamentarians and the UK Government can play a crucial role in ensuring truth, justice and, ultimately, reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Thank you for your help on this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

(Your Name)

  • Please find below a telephone script to use to call MPs offices on issues relating to Sri Lanka. You do not have to follow the script word for word – it is a means to help you to get the main points of your call across. Please feel free to use your own words.
  • When using the script, allow time for the person on the other end of the line to reply to what you are saying.

· Key outcomes for telephone conversation

1. Clearly explain the issue you are calling about to ensure the parliamentarian or their office staff understand your concern.

2. Communicate what it is you want your MP to do.

3. Establish how the parliamentarian or his staff can get back in touch with you, to inform you as to what they have done regarding your enquiry.

Guideline Telephone script

· Introduction

Good afternoon/evening. My name is…………………. and I am a constituent of (MP’s name) living in………………. is this (name of MP’s) office?

· Reason for calling

I am calling about the UN report on war crimes in Sri Lanka and I want to ask my MP to raise this matter in Parliament

I am British Tamil and I am deeply troubled by recent events. I have friends/family in Sri Lanka.

The UN report says tens of thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives during the final months of the war in 2009. I wanted to let my MP know that Channel 4 will be showing a documentary on June 14th at 11.05pm, and this will detail the war crimes and crimes against humanity that the UN report highlights.

· What you want your MP to do

I would like to talk to my MP on this matter. Can he/she get in touch with me? (Provide your contact details – phone number/email)

I would also like to email my MP with further information on this issue – could you confirm his/hers email address for me?

Thank you for your time – I really appreciate it.

Guideline answer phone message to leave, if unable to speak to MP or their Parliamentary Office

My name is……… I am a constituent of (MP’s name) living at (provide address).

I am ringing in relation to a number of serious issues regarding Sri Lanka, which I would be grateful if (MP’s name) could raise on my behalf in Parliament. I would be appreciative if you could contact me (provide your phone and email address details), so as I can discuss this matter with you further.

Thank you.