In an opinion on the Asian Correspondent, Tamil journalist JS Tissainayagam, calls on the Commonwealth to act to restore its credibility.

See extracts below:

Sri Lanka, whose leaders are accused of committing war crimes against Tamils in the civil war that ended May 2009, and subverting democracy, is to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

In the past the Commonwealth, the 54-member intergovernmental grouping of mostly Britain’s former colonies, has emphasised human rights and democracy as core principles and chastised member countries that violated them. Sri Lanka however has not been censured but rewarded: named as CHOGM’s next venue, it will automatically lead the organisation for the coming two years.

The Sri Lankan government may posture, but the truth is that they need the Commonwealth more than the Commonwealth needs them. Even more so given the tremendous damage Sri Lanka is doing to the valuable Commonwealth “brand” of stability and good governance. Sri Lanka is not treating Commonwealth values with disdain because it is in a position of strength; it is doing so because the track record of the Commonwealth suggests that there will be no consequences.

Sri Lankan police have arrested 117 people in the Jaffna and Kankesanthurai regions over the past week, reports the Jaffna based newspaper, the Uthayan.

The Sri Lankan Superintendent in Jaffna, Mohammed Jiffry said the arrests were part of a 'special operation'.

The Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities and leader of the JNP (breakaway group of the JVP), Wimal Weerawansa, warned against elections in the North, as it would give the Tamil National Alliance the 'upper hand'.

Consul General of Sri Lanka in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia - Bandula Jayasekara:

@channel4news @millerc4Ohh The Channel of the Terrorists Channel Tigers is at it again and the country which harbours terrorists groups

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held its 39^th meeting today.

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has stated it was “not a good day for the Commonwealth” after a searing condemnation of the Commonwealth remained steadfast in its decision to host its Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka later this year.

The Tamil Refugee Council has called on the Australian government to immediately end its policy of deporting asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, after the case of another Tamil being tortured by Sri Lankan security forces was revealed earlier this week.

A spokesperson for the organisaiton, Aran Mylvanagam, said,

Speaking at the Canadian parliament's question period on Wednesday, the MP for Toronto Centre, and former Leader of the Liberal Party, Bob Rae said that it was "preposterous" for the Rajapaksa regime to be chairing the Commonwealth for two years following CHOGM in Sri Lanka, and questioned "why would Canada not invite the Commonwealth countries to come to Canada, for Canada to host the conference".

Responding to the MP Rae's comments, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he spoke for many in saying that he was "deeply troubled" by the prospect of CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka, and reiterated that "it would be very difficult for this government to fully participate."

In a joint submission to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, rights groups called on the CMAG to 'lay down clear benchmarks' to Sri Lanka in order for it to be allowed to host CHOGM 2013.

The groups included: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA),  CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR) and Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace & Justice.

Adding to a list of benchmarks outlined last year, the groups called for the following:

• Reinstate the Chief Justice;
• Release or charge all political prisoners and provide full public access to a data-base of
names/locations of those still held; and
• Ensure an enabling environment for civil society with full protection of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Writing on the blog on the 'No Fire Zone' documentary, director Callum Macrae called on the Commonwealth to listen to growing calls worldwide and ensure that Sri Lanka not be allowed to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.

He writes:

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa held a secret meeting on the Northern Provincial Council elections with 24 other individuals in Jaffna, according to reports.