The British Prime Minister David Cameron was urged to take action over Sri Lanka's refusal to issue visas to UN officials from the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) and the "worsening" situation in the country.
The Labour MP for Mitcham and Mordem, Siobhain McDonagh urged Prime Minister Cameron to call for the suspension of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Chair-in–Office of the Commonwealth.
“Given the Government of Sri Lanka’s refusal to commit to an independent, international investigation that would lead to reconciliation, the situation in Sri Lanka is worsening. Since the adoption of the UNHRC resolution, we have seen some of the worst inter-communal violence in decades targeting the Muslim community in south-west of the country, the unwarranted proscription of major Tamil diaspora organisations by the Government, a crackdown on activities of NGOs and the continuing and egregious perpetration of human rights violations,” McDonagh wrote, in a letter addressed to Cameron.
“The fact that President Rajapaksa is the current Chairperson of the Commonwealth makes a mockery of this association’s values and principles," she added.
“The UK light of current circumstances, the UK Government must reaffirm its backing of the UN investigation in Sri Lanka and take practical steps, including supporting the suspension of President Rajapaksa as Chairperson-in-Office of the Commonwealth to show the Sri Lankan authorities that they cannot ride roughshod over international justice.”
President Rajapaksa earlier this month reiterated Sri Lanka's refusal to engage with the UN inquiry, stating that the UN investigators would not be allowed into the country.
The refusal has been dismissed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who stressed that access to Sri Lanka was not necessary for an investigation.
""There is a wealth of information outside of Sri Lanka which can be tapped into. The credibility of the report will depend on it reflecting proper standards of corroboration of evidence, whether the team is allowed into the country or not," Pillay said.
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