EU Delegation condemns the LTTE but asks to protect human rights in Sri Lanka

The Visiting EU delegation said the EU condemned LTTE activities and said the EU would not protect the terrorism.
Speaking to media in Colombo on Friday Leader of the delegation Robert Evans said the EU parliamentarians are fully aware that Sri Lanka is involved in the fight against terrorism but still believe that more must be done to defend human rights and put an end to the frightening number of abductions .The EU parliamentarian were hoping to see for themselves the new situation in the Eastern Province and to discuss matters directly with the Chief Minister.
Whilst welcoming the beginings of the democratic process in the region and that the TMVP seems to be joining the political mainstream , the EU parliamentarians were however concerned about the lack of a timetable for weapons decommissioning .
In addition the former paramilitaries now running the Eastern Province are reported to still be using child soldiers.
He said the last minute cancellation and a catalogue of chaos and confusion meant that the delegation did not fly to Trincomalee .Despite repeated assurances, endless complications resulted in the party being turned back from Ratmalana Air Port , destroying months of preparation, time and expanse.
In several meetings with the media , journalists spoke of continued harassment and fear of being critical of the Authorities .The delegation heard of many cases of media workers being arrested and learnt that 12 have been killed in recent months. The delegation intends to raise the case of M.Tissanayagam and of his conditions of detention in the European Parliament.
These stories came on top of documented abductions and disappearances .The EU parliament delegation urges the government of Sri Lanka as a top priority to organize investigations into these cases; the widespread belief that the military and police enjoy impunity does nothing to set ordinary people at ease and may even fuel the LTTE .EU Parliamentarians were informed officially that some 500 members of the military had been investigated for such abuses and 100 had been prosecuted /convicted .To date no evidence to substantiate this has been provided.
The delegation understands that the situation in Sri Lanka is extremely tense and support efforts to reform the structures of the country in a political way that reconciles the three communities in a constitutional framework. The delegation commends Prof.Vitharana for his attempts to make the APRC live up to its name by including all parties and regrets that despite numerous meetings there is no sign of this happening.
The delegation also stresses the need to implement the XVII th amendment and calls on the President to immediately re-establish the Constitutional Council and independent commissions as they are necessary to address the general crisis of governance.
In the light of all these apprehensions, the European Delegation remains extremely anxious about the impact a possible loss of GSP+ status would have on economy and employment in Sri Lanka and urges the government to do everything possible to effectively implement the international conventions that are required in order to address human rights concerns.
He said European Parliament as a friend remains ready to do all it can to assist Sri Lanka as it faces up to all these challenges in the months head.Answering questions he said today that if a decision on whether to renew GSP+ preferential status to Sri Lanka is decided today, it is “doubtful” if it will go in favour of Sri Lanka.

Robert Evans who lead the seven member delegation on a five day visit to the country said that this is his personal opinion and no final decision has been made on whether to extend the GSP+ status further.