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Media prevented from asking questions at High Commission demo
Amnesty to query Brits about fingerprinting Lankans
Tyronne: “How to offend a friendly country?”
Kadir: “We would have done it differently”
By Shelani Perera

Amidst reports of Amnesty International questioning the British government's move to finger print Sri Lankans applying for UK visas as being a violation of human rights, the Sri Lankan government decided to give the green light as it was unable to say "no" to a friendly country.

Reports from London state that the Amnesty International is to take up the matter with the relevant authorities at the Home office in London. However Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando told The Sunday Times that when a friendly country makes a request we are unable to refuse.

"We have to understand that granting of visas is purely at the discretion of the issuing country and that they can at any time even stop issuing any more visas. These are days when various methods are used for better identification, it could be the eyes, the face or the signature, fingerprinting is just another method an applicant would have to comply with when obtaining a visa" Mr. Fernando said.

The Minister added that the government approved the request made by UK on the basis that it was to be a pilot project which came into operation last Wednesday and will be gradually introduced and implemented in other countries too.

"The British High Commission was not using the usual method of using ink in this new form of finger printing but it was a technique known as biometrics. When we were informed by the UK Government of the method being used and the reasons why this kind of identification was being used we found no reason to object and further it was to be gradually introduced to other parts of the world as well.

The misconception as arisen due to the fact that when we speak of finger printing we are usually conditioned to think only of criminals and it should be clearly understood that this system has no such connotations it is merely a preventive measure to nab illegal immigrants. Once this system is enforced it will be possible to better screen visa applicants and distinguish the genuine from the bogus", Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando said.

However Lakshman Kadirgamar a former Foreign Minister criticised the government on acceding to this request made by Britain and said that he would have handled the matter differently.

"If I was approached with such a request I would have tackled it differently, I would have opposed the move in the first instance and would have raised a number of points as to why this should not be adopted.

Though I am only too painfully aware of the limitations of a small country, still I did not hesitate to speak out when and where necessary aware that sucess or failure was quite another matter. I was firmly of the view that even a small country such as ours must at all times maintain its pride and dignity" Mr. Kadirgamar said.

The Opposition has strongly criticised the Government for allowing Britain to implement this system at the British High Commission in Colombo. Prior to the commencement of the new system the British High Commission in Colombo gave an opportunity to the media to witness the system in operation. However the media were barred from questioning the UK special projects officer who is currently in Sri Lanka and the only questions allowed was related to the technique used.

The High Commission clearly stated that it was only a photo opportunity thus raising further questions as to the basis on which Sri Lanka was used for the pilot project.

The criticisms regarding the use of Sri Lanka sounded questionable when considering the fact that the UK Home Office has listed countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Zimbabwe as those with the highest number of asylum seekers for the 1st Quarter of 2003.

A statement issued by the Home Office two weeks ago states that "Fingerprint data will be recorded electronically to help identify the significant number of Sri Lankans who on or after arrival in the UK, make fraudulent asylum or immigration applications using a false identity. Fingerprints will be collected from applicants at the British Diplomatic Mission in Colombo using electronic data capturing equipment. Data would be stored electronically on a database and shared with police and other law enforcement agencies".

The statement went on to say "for an initial period of six months, we will collect fingerprints from everyone who applies for a visa in Sri Lanka. “ This will not only enable us to identify people who destroy their documents and then claim asylum under another name, but will also help us to issue new travel documents to those who are disallowed asylum".


Odds and ends

Don't ask too many questions
A journalist at a press conference presided over by Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe posed the question to Italian Ambassador Salvatore Zotta as to why his government cut down Sri Lanka's job quota from 1000 last year to 500 in 2003.
Before the ambassador could answer Mr. Samarasinghe speaking in Sinhala said "do not ask that because we may lose those jobs as well". But the minister was polite enough to later explain to the Ambassador the comments he made.

Not the best of places
Children of more than 100 schools, from all parts of the country, visited Parliament as a way of enhancing their education during the four days the House sat last week. Most of the students were from the primary section were seen cuddling close together in the highly air-conditioned chamber of the House.

It is very doubtful as to what exactly these children stand to gain by being exposed to the type of behaviour some MPs are known for. Maybe those who arrange these 'educational' tours should take the young children to places better suited for their age where they could learn something worthwhile.

Speaking out does not pay
The President of the Police Inspectors Association Inspector Dale Gunaratne was summoned to Police headquarters for an inquiry that had been initiated against him. His offence was that he had been found talking to too many journalists and is said to have revealed the dissatisfaction that is rampant among the junior officers of the police force.

Fingerprints for lesser mortals
The weekly PA news conference held on Friday was based on the controversy surrounding the government's interim council proposals. The PA alleged the President received a different set of proposals from those sent to the LTTE.

Presidential adviser Lakshman Kadirgamar who was answering most of the questions when asked if the PA came to power and talks with the LTTE were resumed and Mr. Kadiragamar's reaction to comments made by Dr. Balasingham during an interview wher it was stated that both the President and Mr. Kadiragamar should travel abroad for the purpose of getting the ban on the LTTE removed had said, "One serious problem exists if we are to visit that particular destination is we would have to be fingerprinted first and as such going there may not be possible". The BBC Correspondent present at the news conference responded to this saying "Diplomatic passport holders are exempted.


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