B4-0742, 0763, 0775, 0781, 0809 and 0833/95

Resolution on the breakdown of peace negotiations in Sri Lanka

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions on the situation in Sri Lanka, especially that of 22 April 1994 ((OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 530.)),

A. deeply concerned at the breakdown of the negotiations between the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, which were aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict in Sri Lanka,

B. whereas the elections of 16 August and 9 November 1994 won by Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga were free, impartial and correct; whereas her accession to the Presidency was marked by her personal commitment to launch direct negotiations with the LTTE, to offer greater devolution of power from the central government and the strengthening of the protection of human rights, and to stress that all the citizens of Sri Lanka should retain their ethnic, religious and linguistic identities,

C. deploring the LTTE's unilateral breach of the ceasefire proclaimed by President Kumaratunga on 8 January 1995 and shocked that, in LTTE attacks on Sri Lankan naval vessels in Trincomalee harbour on 19 April, the destruction by missiles of two Air Force transport planes on 28 and 29 April and other attacks on both military and civilian targets, most recently in the district of Amparai and Vavunia, 300 new victims have been added to the 30 000 who have perished since the armed campaign of the LTTE began in the 1970s,

D. recalling that, of the various Tamil militant groups which had earlier conducted an armed struggle for a separate Tamil-speaking state, only the LTTE had refused at that time to give up armed struggle and pursue peace negotiations,

E. gravely concerned by the oppression of those Tamils who do not support the LTTE in the LTTE-controlled areas such as the Jaffna Peninsula,

F. whereas the Presidency, acting on behalf of the European Union, condemned the LTTE's attacks at Trincomalee and referred to the need for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka in its declaration of 21 April 1995 on Sri Lanka,

1. Condemns the actions of the LTTE in withdrawing from the peace negotiations and unilaterally breaking the ceasefire with unprovoked acts of violence;

2. Considers that the reasons put forward by the LTTE for breaking off the negotiations with the Government of Sri Lanka demonstrate an underlying reluctance by the LTTE to enter into a constructive dialogue;

3. Stresses the risk that the breaking off of the peace negotiations may lead to a further escalation in the conflict and calls on both sides to be willing to resume negotiations which would allow for a new ceasefire agreement and the resumption of non-military supplies to the Jaffna Peninsula;

4. Stresses to the Sri Lankan Government the need to avoid indiscriminate retaliation against civilians and to be willing to negotiate with other Tamil organizations which do not support the LTTE;

5. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to use all political and economic means to support the Sri Lankan government's efforts to revive the peace process and to improve the application of human rights legislation;

calls on the Commission to increase its cooperation with the Sri Lankan Government under the recently concluded agreement and to give it all the support needed to bring about peace and reconciliation;

6. Calls on the Governments of the Indian Ocean region, especially the SAARC countries, to exert pressure on the LTTE to return to the negotiating table;

7. Urges the European Union and its Member States to tighten controls over the sale of arms and to prevent arms from reaching the LTTE and similar organizations;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of Sri Lanka and the other members of SAARC, and the LTTE.