Sri Lanka (Hansard, 14 January 1992)

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we welcome any efforts to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka. We understand that an Australian offer to help promote Commonwealth mediation, first made in 1990, has recently been renewed. However, the Sri Lankan Government have said that they consider it unnecessary to seek international mediation at this stage. Efforts to seek a political solution are at present being made within Sri Lanka by a parliamentary Select Committee and in an initiative by the Tourism Minister, Mr. Thondaman.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, does not the noble Lord agree that the situation remains grim, with more than a million people displaced by the fighting, more than a million people trapped in the peninsular in the north, acute food and medical shortages, alarming numbers of displaced people and escalating military expenditure? Is not the time now ripe for the Government to launch a new initiative, either in the UN Security Council or at the forthcoming aid consortium meeting in Paris on 7th February, with a view to resolving this terrible crisis?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, the noble Lord's description of the conditions in that country is correct. His description of the situation as grim is apt. However, there are limits to what any mediator can do unless the parties to the dispute are willing to accept mediation.

§ Lord Taylor of Gryfe
My Lords, have the Government considered co-operation with other countries which are major donors of aid to Sri Lanka to bring some pressure to bear on the government of Sri Lanka in order to achieve the aim suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Judd? Does the replacement of our High Commissioner, who was a consistent champion 108 of human rights in Sri Lanka, at the request of the Sri Lankan Government indicate any weakening of our interest in the field of human rights?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, regarding the noble Lord's first question, we still believe that there could be a role for the Commonwealth in principle. At the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Harare last October the Commonwealth agreed to place emphasis on good government, including human rights, in its future programme of work. The details are still being worked out. Regarding the second question, we feel on balance that it has been best to appoint a new High Commissioner. We feel that he will be just as robust as his predecessor.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, in view of our significant historical relationship with Sri Lanka and that part of the world, and bearing in mind the feelings of the Australian people regarding the crisis, are the Government prepared to discuss the proposals put forward by the Australians, who feel strongly about the matter, and to ensure that the British contribution is a real one?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we would speak to anybody if we thought that it would provide a solution. However, I cannot avoid repeating that until the parties to the dispute—and this goes for both sides—are willing to accept mediation I cannot express very much hope.

§ The Lord Bishop of Ripon
My Lords, is the Minister aware that it is not only the erosion of human rights and the violence in Sri Lanka which are causing concern but also the erosion of the democratic principle? In the light of that fact will he say what is the Government's attitude towards aid to Sri Lanka?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, British gross bilateral aid to Sri Lanka amounted to £23.6 million in 1989 and £17.1 million in 1990, the reduction being due to the difficulty of disbursement owing to hostilities. Since human rights have long been an important consideration in our aid programme I can tell the right reverend Prelate that in July we withdrew a conditional offer of £3 million in balance of payments aid because of Sri Lanka's human rights record. Such a policy will persist until the situation improves.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, will the noble Lord answer the second question raised by my noble friend Lord Judd about the possible role of the United Nations? Do Her Majesty's Government believe that the United Nations has a role in this particular instance and, if so, what should it be?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we do not believe that the United Nations or anyone else can have a role as mediator until the parties to the dispute accept such a role.

§ Lord Bridges
My Lords, as Britain has the chairmanship of the Security Council this month would this not be a good moment for us to try to bring 109 the greater authority of the United Nations to the problem in the hope of bringing the two parties together?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I am certainly prepared to pass on that suggestion to my right honourable friend for consideration.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, does not the noble Lord feel that on reflection his remarks in the House this afternoon have been rather fatalistic? In view of the initiative shown by the Government in Afghanistan, for example, and that shown by Secretary Baker in the Middle East, would it not be good to hear that the Government were vigorously and tirelessly pursuing the task of bringing the parties together in order to achieve a settlement?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I should dearly love to be more optimistic about the situation in Sri Lanka. I can assure the noble Lord, Lord Judd, that we shall do anything that is in our power to improve the situation in Sri Lanka.