Britain will support an international investigation of Sri Lanka’s wartime atrocities if the government there does not conduct an independent investigation, Premier David Cameron said Friday.
Mr. Cameron again rejected growing calls to boycott attending the Commonwealth summit in Colombo next week, following the decision by Stephen Harper, his Canadian counterpart, not to attend.
In comments to the Financial Times, which the paper described as his starkest warning on the atrocities, Mr. Cameron said:
“If an independent inquiry isn’t carried out, it needs to be carried out on an international basis and I’m absolutely clear about that and will make that point when I go to Sri Lanka.”
It’s appalling some of the things that have happened in Sri Lanka and it’s absolutely vital that a proper shared future is delivered for everyone in Sri Lanka and I will not be backward in making those points.”
This is the first time the UK has talked about holding an international inquiry, the FT said.
Although Mr Cameron’s tough message may irritate the Sri Lankan authorities, they will be relieved that he is not refusing to travel to the country, the paper also said.
Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has joined Tamil and international campaigners in calling for Mr. Cameron not to attend the CHOGM summit next week
On Thursday, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main Tamil political coalition, welcomed calls for a boycott by Tamil diaspora groups, international campaigners, such as Amnesty International, and the Tamil Nadu legislature which unanimously passed a resolution demanding a boycott.
On Friday, the Bishop of Mannar, a prominent figure in Tamil civil society emphatically echoed calls by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in urging a boycott, saying: "[The summit] is being used to help boost the legitimacy of the Sri Lankan Government as a responsible actor in the International Community. Given the continuing nature of the genocidal acts being perpetrated against the Tamil people it is my considered position that Colombo is not an appropriate venue for CHOGM. … Staying away from CHOGM is the best way to send a message to Sri Lanka."
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
