The Sri Lankan military has made the University of Sydney withdraw invitation to Sri Lankan human rights organisations that were due to participate in an international conference hosted alongside the University of Colombo in Bangkok, reports the Guardian.
Leaked correspondence revealed that delegates of the Sri Lankan military and police were expected to attend the event and had requested that Sri Lankan NGOs be uninvited.
Sri Lankan military officials are expected to speak at a number of events in the conference.
The Asia director of Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the university’s retraction of invitations to Sri Lankan NGOs.
“By caving to pressure from security forces this is sending the signal that the voices of security forces are more important than the voices of civil society. It also sends the message that universities can be strong-armed by the Sri Lankan government to drive the agenda and participation of an academic conference, which is very disturbing,” said Brad Adams.
Reports suggest that Amnesty International have pulled their delegation from the conference in protest of the university’s actions with other attendees to express similar discontent.
Leaked correspondence revealed that delegates of the Sri Lankan military and police were expected to attend the event and had requested that Sri Lankan NGOs be uninvited.
Sri Lankan military officials are expected to speak at a number of events in the conference.
The Asia director of Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the university’s retraction of invitations to Sri Lankan NGOs.
“By caving to pressure from security forces this is sending the signal that the voices of security forces are more important than the voices of civil society. It also sends the message that universities can be strong-armed by the Sri Lankan government to drive the agenda and participation of an academic conference, which is very disturbing,” said Brad Adams.
Reports suggest that Amnesty International have pulled their delegation from the conference in protest of the university’s actions with other attendees to express similar discontent.