British MP for Croydon Central Andrew Pelling rebuts attack, calls for peace in Sri Lanka

British MP rebuts attack, calls for peace in Sri Lanka
Nov 5, 2008,
London - The British, independent Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Pelling for Croydon Central has rebutted a personal attack posted on the website of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva and on "The official website of the Sri Lankan Government's Secretariat for co-ordinating the Peace Process".



"I am surprised that the Sri Lankan government has allowed itself, through the Secretary General of the Secretariat for the Co-ordinating the Peace Process, to employ such intemperate language which runs counter to their supposed responsibility for peace," Pelling's press statement added.



"We know that Sri Lanka is a worn torn country, living daily with the legacy of death, disappearance, human rights abuse, and human misery; and with the fear of more to come for countless refugees," statement added.





FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE



03 November 2008



Pelling rebuts attack, calls for peace



Local independent MP Andrew Pelling has rebutted a personal attack posted on the website of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva and on "The official website of the Sri Lankan Government's Secretariat for co-ordinating the Peace Process".



Andrew says



"I am surprised that the Sri Lankan government has allowed itself, through the Secretary General of the Secretariat for the Co-ordinating the Peace Process, to employ such intemperate language which runs counter to their supposed responsibility for peace.



We know that Sri Lanka is a worn torn country, living daily with the legacy of death, disappearance, human rights abuse, and human misery; and with the fear of more to come for countless refugees.



The suggestion that by attending a very balanced exhibition in Parliament about the atrocities that have fallen upon that beleaguered isle I was cavorting with terrorists is ridiculous. The Mother of Parliaments is not accustomed to welcoming terrorists through her doors. The volunteers at the British Tamil Forum who hosted the event are respected members of British society, while the Forum itself has received an Asia Voice award for its work from the former Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon Dr. John Reid MP, not a man known as a soft-touch terrorists-sympathiser.



I do not understand how I can be attacked as a British Member of Parliament for urging an end to conflict and holding up as an example to follow the truly inspiring event in Croydon at which 1,500 Christians from both the Singhalese and Tamil communities came together to pray for peace in their shared faith. I spoke at the event; it was a most moving occasion.



In Croydon, Singhalese, Tamils and indeed all tolerant Croydonians, understand that ill-judged remarks about a politician’s weight, sexuality or other vicious attacks will do nothing to advance the cause of peace in Sri Lanka.



I should also say that I very much enjoyed my evening with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner when I took up her invitation to dine at her private residence. I was treated with nothing but respect.



The mid July exhibition gave every opportunity to challenge the information given. I was greatly saddened by the pictures of 61 school girls who lost their lives after the air assault on their children’s home.



As regards the attack on me the Sri Lankan government should know that in this country we use the very long held principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” I remind them that I was not even charged.



I am taking advice from London's leading media libel lawyer about the internet postings.”