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Implement Targeted Economic Sanctions Against Guilty Sri Lankan Officials

December 18, 2009

Sri Lanka's civil war ended over six months ago but nearly 150,000 Tamil civilians remain in government-run internment camps. The Sri Lankan government continually reneges on its promises to release these internally displaced persons while ignoring the pleas of humanitarian agencies, the United Nations, and the U.S. State Department.

The Sri Lankan government committed war crimes during the civil war that were documented in a recent report published by the U.S. State Department. Sri Lanka continues to violate international humanitarian law in its treatment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by restricting their freedom of movement and denying full access to non-governmental organizations and independent journalists.

Concerned individuals around the world are openly condemning the Sri Lankan government's human rights violations by boycotting products made in Sri Lanka. Nearly half of Sri Lanka's $40 billion economy comes from textiles exports, much of which is delivered to and sold in the U.S. I have joined the movement to boycott Sri Lanka because of the powerful effect this will have on Sri Lanka's revenue. I will not finance the IDP detention camps by patronizing manufacturers based in Sri Lanka.

As an American citizen, I want the U.S. government to similarly denounce the atrocities committed by Sri Lanka. The U.S. should condemn Sri Lanka’s use of war crimes by implementing targeted economic sanctions against Sri Lankan officials responsible for enabling and encouraging human rights violations. U.S.-initiated sanctions will force Sri Lanka to address and correct its egregious human rights record.

In the past, the U.S. government withheld financial support from Sri Lanka to encourage Sri Lanka's compliance with international human rights standards. Sri Lanka has repeatedly demonstrated its unwillingness to respect humanitarian concerns, barring intense international pressure. Instead, we must take a strong stance against human rights violations and demonstrate this through political and economic legislation and sanctions.

Sri Lanka's disregard for the lives and suffering of Tamils cannot be condoned. Please implement economic sanctions against Sri Lanka's war leaders and ensure the safety and well-being of the Tamil population.