Labour’s Shadow International Development Secretary, Mary Creagh, reiterated her support for an independent international investigation into events at the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka and pledged to continue applying pressure to secure peace and reconciliation for all communities in Sri Lanka. In a press release made after meeting Tamil constituents of Ilford North with Labour’s parliamentary candidate Wes Streeting, Ms Craegh , on Thursday, said, “My meeting with Wes Streeting and members of the Tamil community in Ilford reinforced to me the sense of frustration and despair felt by the Tamil people about previous failures to make progress on the independent international investigation into war crimes during the civil war in Sri Lanka. Ed Miliband has pressed President Sirisena on the need for an independent international investigation into the events of the civil war.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop inaugurated the new Australian consulate in Chennai on Wednesday, as part of a four day trip to India. Telling reporters that the Australian Government is keen to deepen its relationship with southern India, Ms Bishop also said , "I am in Chennai to make an announcement of further collaboration between the Australian government and Australian people and the India's Vision Institute.” “In 2014, a new Vision Screening project was established and the Australian government supported this screening project which enabled children aged between 4-15 from disadvantage backgrounds across about 15 schools in Chennai and Tamil Nadu," Ms Bishop told reporters. Ms Bishop also met with her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj during her visit. Ahead of her meeting Ms Bishop said she expected a deal managing the supply of uranium for India's civil nuclear program.
UN Security Council report notes increased sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka post-conflict
The UN Security Council noted in a report published Monday, the ongoing incidents of sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka, stating that there were "indications that abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence have increased in the post-war period" in Sri Lanka and that acts of sexual violence were being targetted specifically at those perceived to be associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The report, by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, on 'Conflicted related sexual violence', urged the UN Security Council to take action to prevent and ensure accountability for sexual violence in conflict. It examined ongoing concerns of sexual violence since 2014 in 19 countries, including Sri Lanka. "One of the major unaddressed issues is impunity for conflict-related sexual violence," the report said on Sri Lanka. It further noted: "There are indications that abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence have increased in the post-war period. Notably, Tamil women and girls have reported sexual abuse in the context of the ongoing militarization of their areas of residence."
Human Rights Watch called on the UN Security Council to act to prevent and address sexual violence in conflict, pointing to a report by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon which was released on Monday that detailed ongoing conflict related sexual violence during 2014 in 19 countries, including Sri Lanka. “In conflicts around the world, armies and armed groups use sexual violence as a devastating tactic of war,” said HRW's women’s rights advocacy director, Nisha Varia. “The UN Security Council should not dodge its responsibilities to survivors and should take strong action to support survivors and sanction those responsible for sexual violence," she added.
A Tamil mother of five in Kilinochchi launched a hunger strike demanding that the Sri Lankan military release seven acres of her land located in Paranthan back to her, reports Uthayan . The mother, Mrs Indira Yogenthiran, launched the hunger strike in front of her land on Wednesday morning.
The Tamil National Alliance MP P Selvarajah says unlawful arrests were still continuing in the Eastern Province and warned that the people would teach the new government a lesson if this continued, Ceylon Today reported. "Fifteen persons have been arrested in Batticaloa alone since the new government came into power. We told our people during the election campaign that such arrests will not take place after January 8. But these arrests continue even after the new government came into power," the Batticaloa MP said, adding the arrests had created panic amongst civilians. "The people in the...
Marking Tamil and Sinhala new year on April 14, the UK prime minister and leader of the Conservative party, David Cameron, urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure it offered its full support to the UN inquiry into mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict. “I’m sure many people celebrating today will be thinking of loved ones overseas, especially in Sri Lanka," Mr Cameron wrote in a statement released on Tuesday. "When I met with President Sirisena in Downing Street last month I offered my support for the steps his government has begun to take to address the issues of the past. But I was also clear that the Government must go further and that they must continue to offer full support to the ongoing UN investigation," he added.
The chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils said he prayed “for a new dawn for the Tamil people”, with the expected release of a UN report on mass atrocities committed against Tamils by the Sri Lankan armed forces later this year. In a message marking the Tamil new year, Member of Parliament Lee Scott sent his wishes to the Tamil community, adding that, “This is a wonderful time of celebration and gives us the opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution British Tamils have made to the economy and culture of Britain borne of strong commitment to family and social responsibility. Mr Scott went on to state, “I also pray for a new dawn for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and the victims of war crimes and mass atrocities who suffered enormously and continue to endure extreme hardship, with the release of the UNHRC war crimes report."
The Sri Lankan military has built army camps on residential land that was reportedly released to displaced Tamils in Jaffna, reports Uthayan . ”Only less than 20% of the lands released are residential lands and there are army camps in 46 acres of land released,” said S Sukirthan, Vali North regional Council chairman, stating that the camps had been built in Varuthalaivilan. Adding that the displaced Tamils were disappointed with the small scale releases, especially in previously heavily populated areas such as Kattuvan and Thaiyitti, the chairman stated that some 100 families who reside in a...
Sri Lanka's military held several event's in the Vanni to 'celebrate' Tamil and Sinhala New Year, with civilians, including children, invited to take part. The 66th and 663rd Brigades of the Security Forces Headquarters in Kilinochchi held an event each in Pooneryn (Poonakari) on the 8th and 10th of April. Major General A.P. De Z Wickramaratne, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 66 Division was chief guest at both events. Famous Sinhala singers from the south graced the event in the Kiranchi playground, in the virtually exclusively Tamil town.