The Leader of the British Liberal Democrats and Member of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sir Ed Davey released a video statement supporting the campaign of the British Tamil Youth calling the British Government to take appropriate action to sanction war criminals, including Sri Lankan Army Commander Shavendra Silva, under Global Human Rights Sanction Regime. This has strengthened the demands of the Tamil youth in the UK who has taken the responsibility of this initiative and taking it forward.
In his statement, Sir Ed Davey highlighted that the British government should take necessary action to sanction war criminals, including Shavendra Silva, who commanded the notorious 58th Division of Sri Lanka’s army reportedly committed atrocities including the extrajudicial killing of civilians.
He further drew on the detailed dossier released by the International Truth and Justice Project documenting Shavendra’s role in mass atrocities including summary executions, the shelling of hospital and food lines, the use of white phosphorus against civilians, rape and sexual violence and enforced disappearances.
He demanded the UK government to act now using the existing legal route. He further extended his plea stating “Now is the time for the Government (UK) to prove its commitment to deliver justice for the victims of genocide in Sri Lanka.”
In this regard, an Early day Motion (EDM 64) was tabled in the British Parliament on 18 May 2021 by Hon. McLaughlin Anne, Member of Parliament of the Scottish National Party calling for international investigations into the war crimes in Sri Lanka and sanctions on war criminals including Shavendra Silva. Tamil youth in the UK have been meeting the British Parliamentarians urging them to apply political pressure on the FCDO to taken serious steps to sanction Shavendra Silva and to show their support by sign-ing the EDM 64. As a result of their relentless efforts, they have managed to successfully convince 29 MPs to sign the EDM so far.
On the 23rd of July 2021, the Tamil Youth also submitted a petition, with the help of the ICPPG, calling British Prime Minister to follow the lead of the US by adding Shavendra Silva to the Global Human Rights Sanction regime.
Also, the second generation Tamil Youth in the UK released a video last month calling for support to sanction war criminals. They say they are determined to achieve at least small steps of success towards the struggle to seek justice for the Tamils and they continue to seek the support of British MPs.
They further pleaded with influential people, diaspora organisations and human rights defenders to unite and support their call for justice by signing the following petition and asking their own MPs to put pressure on the FCDO.