Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-05-18-Speech-4-153"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2006-05-18"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Sri Lanka (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20060518.22.4-153"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2006-05-18-Speech-4-1542
lpv:speaker	lp:Geoffrey Van Orden2
lpv:spoken text	". Mr President, as in any conflict there are abuses on all sides, but the urgent resolution before the House this afternoon quite properly focuses on the appalling activities of a terrorist organisation, the LTTE. The LTTE is interested in one thing and one thing only, and that is political power. It does not represent all of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It certainly does not speak for them. Its murderous campaign has not improved their situation one iota. On the contrary, the Tamils, like all the other people of Sri Lanka, continue to suffer casualties, economic hardship and disruptive lives because of the uncertain and dangerous security situation. I hope it is not too late for the LTTE to pull back from the brink. At the beginning of this year there had been optimism that the ceasefire agreement would be reinforced and that substantial progress towards peace would be achieved. The failure of the LTTE to agree to a second round of Geneva negotiations and its resumption of a terrorist campaign have removed this hope. It is imperative that the LTTE is held to account for its actions and that further international pressure is brought to bear on it at this time. Unlike Mr Pflüger, I therefore urge the EU to add the LTTE to its list of proscribed terrorist organisations. I do not see this as a hindrance to future negotiations, but as a major incentive for the LTTE to stop the violence. At the same time, this ban must be backed by effective action by Member States to prevent funds and other support reaching the LTTE. Human Rights Watch, a highly respected international NGO, has testified to the intimidation, extortion and physical violence that has been inflicted on Tamils living in Britain and other countries in order to suppress criticism and ensure a steady flow of income. Every EU country where there is a Tamil community should establish special police taskforces to investigate and prosecute the agents of the LTTE, as well as freezing bank accounts linked to them. This should be seen as another dimension to the war on terrorism. For its part, the LTTE should immediately impose a ceasefire, give up its child soldiers, stop its suicide bombings, and agree to return to the conference table in a positive and constructive spirit. That is the greatest service it could provide to the Tamils and all the people of Sri Lanka."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 vice-chair; AFET (2004-07-22--2007-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe (2004-09-28--2007-03-13)3 member; EPP-ED (2005-03-09--2009-07-13)3 member; SEDE (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)3 substitute; TRAN (2004-07-22--2007-01-14)3 unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE ),"1 "author"1

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