OPINION

Opinion

Scotland's silence over Sri Lanka disappointing

Nov 20, 2013

Richard Hamer, programme director of Amnesty International in Scotland criticised Scotland’s sports minister Shona Robison for not speaking out about human rights while in Colombo. Writing in the Scotsman, Hamer argued that the UN Human Rights Council must establish an international investigation in its March session.

See here for full article. Extracts reproduced below:

“THERE has been much talk of the legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for the people of Glasgow and Scotland as a nation, but becoming a
silent witness to war crimes was not the sort of thing we had in mind.”

Abbott's stance on Sri Lanka's human rights is craven and irresponsible

Nov 16, 2013

Ben Doherty

Extract’s from an opinion in the Sydney Morning Herald by Ben Doherty, South Asia correspondent:

Cameron calls on Commonwealth leaders to unite on Sri Lanka’s rights abuses

Nov 13, 2013

Writing in the Times of India on Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the leaders of Commonwealth to unite in pressing for a thorough investigation into Sri Lanka’s war crimes, and for “an end to the intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders, action to stamp out torture, demilitarisation of the north and reconciliation between communities.”

"Of course," Mr. Cameron said, "we need to see a thorough investigation into alleged war crimes, and if it does not happen rapidly, an international independent investigation will be needed."

Britain should secure alternative to Sri Lanka for Commonwealth chair – Ed Miliband

Nov 13, 2013

Ed Miliband

Writing in the Tamil Guardian today, Britain’s Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, said Premier David Cameron, having rejected calls, including by the Labour Party, to boycott this week’s Commonwealth summit in Colombo, should now ensure Sri Lanka is not permitted to chair the Commonwealth for the next two years.

The full text of Mr. Miliband’s opinion follows:

The Prime Minister flies to a summit in Colombo today amidst growing and continuing concerns about Sri Lanka’s human rights record after two decades of civil war.

An estimated 40,000 civilians died in that brutal conflict and yet there has still been no investigation into allegations of war crimes because the Sri Lankan government has so far refused to carry one out.

Instead of making progress, the situation in Sri Lanka seems to be getting worse.

Last month, Britain's cross-party foreign affairs select committee criticised the scant evidence of progress in political and human rights.

Solutions Needed in Sri Lanka - US Reps. Davis and Johnson

Nov 12, 2013

Writing in the Roll Call, US Reps. Danny Davis and Bill Johnson, criticised the lack of progress on implementing "a viable plan for lasting peace and reconciliation".

See here for full op-ed, extract published below:

"More than four years after Sri Lanka’s ethnic-fueled internal conflict came to an end after 26 years, the country has yet to implement a viable plan for lasting peace and reconciliation.

‘Regional interests’ of Tamil Nadu must be part of Indian foreign policy

Nov 11, 2013

Karthick RM

Writing in the Weekend Leader, Karthick RM hailed the decision of Manmohan Singh not to attend CHOGM in Colombo this week as a 'symbolic victory', but stated it was not enough, calling for a 'serious re-think' of Indian foreign policy towards Sri Lanka.

Stating that a complete boycott was still needed, he went on to coment that the regional interests of Tamil Nadu were integral to India's foreign policy, adding that Tamil activists from across the globe have "emerged as a well-networked community" and are "constantly expanding their spheres of influence in opinion making".

David Cameron, a boycott is the only way you can help the Tamil people

Nov 10, 2013

Kana Nirmalan, British Tamils Forum (BTF)

A few days from now David Cameron will arrive in Colombo to shake hands with a man who presided over the killing of at least 40,000 Tamil civilians and whose government continues to perpetrate shocking cases of rape, torture and mutilation – when the doors open on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka. As he sits down to watch the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister will not be able ignore the absence of two of his most prominent counterparts – the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Both are boycotting the event.

David Cameron's explanation is too little too late

Nov 7, 2013

Abinaya Nathan

If Number 10 is about to breathe a sigh of relief, they ought to know that their last ditch and very public efforts to engage with British Tamils have fallen far short of their placating intentions. Considering the Tamil community makes up over 100,000 of the British electorate, David Cameron was absolutely right to think he owed us an explanation. It’s just a shame that the explanation was far too little, too late.

Why I am attending CHOGM – David Cameron

Nov 6, 2013

Why Commonwealth nations should boycott the Sri Lanka meeting - CTC

Nov 6, 2013

Writing in Embassy, Raj Thavaratnasingham, the president of the Canadian Tamil Congress, called on Commonwealth heads to boycott CHOGM next week. The full text of his opinion has been reproduced below:

In 2009, the Canadian government refused to support a bid by Sri Lanka to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, as a way to pressure the government to allow relief workers access to refugee camps following the end of the Sri Lankan civil war. In 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper first mentioned his intent to boycott the biennial summit if the human rights situation in Sri Lanka did not improve.

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