U.S. Senate Committee Hearing on Recent Developments in Sri Lanka

U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a Hearing today on “Recent Development in Sri Lanka”. The three Statements during the Hearing were highly critical of the Sri Lankan Government and detailed the grave challenging confronting the civilian population in the country.

 [Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Stringer]
Honrable Jeffrey J. Lunstead, in his Statement clarified that despite the current offensive, the LTTE would retain their capability to conduct guerrilla operations. According to him, the recent strategic gains by the Sri Lankan Government would have to be complimented with a genuine process of political reconciliation for sustainable peace on the Island. He referred to the grievances of the Sri Lankan Tamils as legitimate and emphasized on greater devolution of political authority. He pleaded for making development assistance to Sri Lanka contingent upon the Government’s performance on political reconciliation.
Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, elaborated on the grave violation of human rights by the Sri Lankan Government. According to her if the LTTE were guilty of using the civilians as ‘human shields’, the Government was responsible for indiscriminate bombardment of designated ‘safe havens’. Independent public coverage of the military operation is strictly controlled by the Government rendering assessment of the ground realities difficult.
Mr. Robert Dietz, representing the Committee to Protect Journalists, highlighted the violation of press freedoms and constant attacks on journalists. Since the Government authorities were prime suspects in most attacks, no credible investigations were being conducted the assassinations of journalists.

The Senate Committee Hearing would not only serve to guide the U.S. policy vis-à-vis Sri Lanka, but would also ensure closer international scrutiny of the Sri Lankan Governments future policies.