The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of the parliamentarians listed above, incumbent members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/181/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 180th session (May 2007),

Taking account of the information provided by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights and forwarded by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva on 5 October 2007 and of the meeting the Committee had with the head of the Sri Lankan delegation at the session it held during the 117th Assembly,

Recalling that with the exception of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, who is a member of the opposition United National Party (UNP) but perceived to be a supporter of the Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE), all the other members of parliament concerned belong to the Tamil National Alliance, and that they were the targets of death threats, attempts on their lives or attacks on their homes, and noting more particularly the following information on file:

• Dr. Jayawardena has reportedly received death threats; a website described him as a supporter of the Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) and official threat assessment reports, most recently in March 2007, apparently state that his life is under threat and recommend appropriate security for him; he is currently afforded two home guards and eight security personnel who, however, cannot travel with him as he has not been provided with a back-up vehicle and necessary radio equipment; he filed an application in the Court of Appeal to direct the authorities to afford him these security measures, but the matter has yet to be heard;

• On two occasions, most recently on 2 May 2006, two individuals entered Mr. Ponnambalam's home threatening a maid with a firearm while questioning her about his whereabouts; he lodged a complaint and investigations revealed that the individuals were in civilian clothes and spoke with local accents in the Tamil language; the motorcycle used was neither of the police nor of the armed forces; inquiries are continuing;

• Mr. Kajendren's office was attacked on several occasions, most recently in May 2006, reportedly by Sri Lankan Army personnel; a witness who reportedly gave testimony has been shot dead; the authorities stated that they were unaware of this; at present no new leads are being followed, but the investigation remains open;

• Mr. Kanagasabi, Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy, Mr. Pathmanathan, Ms. Kathimaran, Mr. Ariyanetran and Mr. Chandranehru received telephone death threats on 19 November 2006 and raised this matter with the Speaker; however, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, they have not lodged a complaint; any such complaint would be duly investigated; in addition, Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy is reportedly continuously being threatened by the Karuna Group; his house was attacked on 21 July 2006 when rocket-propelled grenades were thrown into the premises; an investigation was instituted and remains open, but no new leads are being followed; as to Mr. Chandranehru, he was attacked during a visit to his constituency in June 2007, reportedly by a member of the Karuna group; an investigation has been instituted and facts were reported to the Magistrates Court, where the case was to be called on 9 October 2007; he has been allocated additional security staff;

• On 29 October 2006, Mr. Kisshor's private residence was attacked with five hand-grenades at about 10 p.m.; investigations are under way but no new leads are being followed at present; Mr. Kisshor's security detail has been increased,

Considering that, according to the sources, many of the TNA parliamentarians concerned regularly leave Sri Lanka fearing for their safety, only returning for parliamentary sessions, and that some of them cannot use their parliamentary offices in their constituencies for security reasons; that, moreover, they cannot freely express themselves in parliament as they are reportedly being continuously interrupted by fellow parliamentarians,

Considering lastly that, at the meeting he had with the Committee, the leader of the Sri Lankan delegation extended an invitation to the Committee to send a mission to Sri Lanka to gather on the spot first-hand information from the competent authorities, civil society organizations and the parliamentarians concerned themselves on their situation,

1. Thanks the leader of the Sri Lankan delegation for the invitation extended to the Committee to conduct an on-site mission;

2. Believes that the many cases now before the Committee involving serious threats to the security of members of the Sri Lankan Parliament indeed warrant such a mission, and requests the Committee to make arrangements for such a mission to be carried out as soon as possible;

3. Thanks the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights for the information provided on the stage reached in the investigations which are under way, but notes with regret the lack of any tangible results; insists that the number and magnitude of these threats and attacks require thoroughgoing investigations, particularly since other TNA members have already been assassinated;

4. Reaffirms in this context that impunity only encourages the repetition of crime and undermines the rule of law and respect for human rights;

5. Remains deeply concerned at the pattern of grave harassment of members of parliament belonging to the TNA, which not only prevents them from carrying out their parliamentary mandate effectively, and thus deprives their electors of representation in parliament, but also puts their lives at constant risk;

6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 118th Assembly of the IPU (Cape Town, April 2008) in the light of such information as its mission will have gathered.

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