British MEP expresses concern about the reports from Vanni

Peter Skinner MEP, Labour Representative for the South East of England expressed his grave concern about the reports from Vanni, Northern Sri Lanka. In reply to appeals sent by to British Parliamentarians through Tamil National Network to bring an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, he has said this “in the European Parliament, we insisted not just on an immediate ceasefire by both parties but wanted to condemn the bombing of hospitals and aid workers and the Government’s refusal to allow journalists and media access to the worst hit areas.

We also opposed the idea that the Sri Lankan Government investigate claims of human rights abuses against itself. For these reasons, we refused to participate in the vote.” Tamils have requested British Parliamentarians ‘to urge for an immediate cease-fire between the Sri Lankan Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to allow citizens to remain where they wish to, instead of compelling them to enter detentions camps and to allow diplomatic personnel, non-government agencies and independent journalists, access to the affected areas, so that urgent relief could be provided and there could be a true and independent disclosure and assessment of the prevailing situation.’