ATTACKS UPON CHRISTIANS IN SRI LANKA

Early day motion 210, tabled 4 December 2003 by David Drew (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 154 members.

That this House recognises that the people of Sri Lanka have a long-standing reputation for tolerance and respect; notes however that the plight of one of the religious minorities in Sri Lanka, Christians, is getting worse; notes in particular that there have been a large number of attacks upon evangelical Christian churches over the last two years by Buddhist and Hindu extremists; expresses strong concern at these attacks, such as that in Kadawatha, where on 12th October, a large mob armed with stones and rods attacked a church, beat up the congregation including women and children and destroyed much of the building; further notes that attacks such as this have increased significantly during 2003 and that in one weekend in August five churches were attacked by mobs; notes with concern that virtually no assailants are ever charged following these attacks; is further aware that anti-conversion legislation, modelled on the controversial and divisive anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu, India, is about to be presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament; believes that such legislation is contrary to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as being inflammatory and unhelpful; and calls upon the Sri Lankan Government to give full protection to religious minorities, to bring to justice those found to have participated in attacks upon religious minorities, and to promote genuine and lasting inter-faith harmony in Sri Lanka.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Conservative 42, Liberal Democrat 31, Labour/Co-operative 10, DUP 5, Independent Ulster Unionist 2, Scottish National Party 2, Independent Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.