Amnesty International, called on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), to break their silence on Sri Lanka’s human rights record today.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, made up of foreign ministers and headed by Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, is gathered to address violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values, including human rights, in New York today.
Slamming the Commonwealth’s endorsement of Sri Lanka and holding of the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia-Pacific Director, Polly Truscott, said,
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, made up of foreign ministers and headed by Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, is gathered to address violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values, including human rights, in New York today.
Slamming the Commonwealth’s endorsement of Sri Lanka and holding of the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia-Pacific Director, Polly Truscott, said,
“Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to sow some real leadership on human rights. The organisation has been shamefully silent so far about Sri Lanka’s human rights crisis, including persistent lack of justice for past crimes and on-going attacks on human rights defenders and other activists.”
“Instead of giving Sri Lanka carte blanche for human rights violations, Commonwealth leaders should be supporting calls for an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and condemning reprisals against civil society still taking place.”
“Allowing Sri Lanka o host CHOGM and then chair the Commonwealth would give the country a seal of approval that it doe not deserve. The Commonwealth must think twice before allowing such a blow to its own credibility.”
“As Chair, Sri lanka would be charged with helping the Secretary-General address violations of human rights in other countries. It’s difficult to think of a bigger irony.”
“Despite repeated demands from the UN and others, the Sri Lankan government has not stopped violating people’s rights. There is a huge risk of increased reprisals against activities and others in November around CHOGM. Sri Lanka is not a safe pair of hands for the Commonwealth.”