The Global Tamil Forum urged the new Sri Lankan government on Thursday to address the concerns of the war-affected Tamil people, stating that "unfortunately, the record of the government to-date, in addressing most pressing Tamil and other minority issues has been somewhat disappointingly slow." "A sense of despair is slowly creeping up among sections of the Tamil population, particularly among those who have been displaced from their land, or kept imprisoned for years, or lost loved ones during the war and waiting for justice, or those still searching for their missing relatives," the GTF said in a statement, acknowledging however, what the group described as "the mammoth task the government faces in several fronts and its notable achievements within a two month period." "Nevertheless, we are also concerned that any delay in addressing the Tamil problem can only give scope for hard-line attitudes from all sides to re-emerge, and this will make the task of achieving meaningful progress more difficult in the future."
Pasumai Thaayagam, an NGO based in India, called on the UN Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussain ensure the months up to September are used to release a stronger and more comprehensive OISL report, while holding Sri Lanka to account to address immediate human rights concerns. The NGO urged the Council to place pressure on Sri Lanka to take meaningful action on the release of human rights defenders, highlighting Ms Jayakumari, and demilitarisation of the North-East. See full statement below: Pasumai Thaayagam congratulates the High Commissioner on his appointment and welcomes his report. We take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude to both Mr Zeid Raad al Hussain, and the former High Commissioner, Madam Navi Pillay, for their important and dedicated work towards the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka.
Human Rights Watch called on Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and prevent torture or ill-treatment of detainees, in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council "Serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law demand accountability. The positive commitments towards this goal by the new government in Sri Lanka are encouraging, and we underline the importance of the government continuing to deliver on genuine reform and justice, including repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, ensuring detainees are not subject to torture or ill-treatment and...
The General Secretary of Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) demanded an investigation into massacres committed by the British during colonial rule in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror . Speaking at a press conference, BBS General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara also called for an investigation into violations of the 1815 Kandyan Convention and alleged crimes committed by the LTTE. “It has been 200 years since the signing of the convention, which was severely violated by the British”, he told reporters. “We urge the government to probe these violations and also the massacre of the people in the country by...
The Chinese government defended the practise of extending loans to Sri Lanka on Monday, stating that they were granted at the request of the Sri Lankan government. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also said the docking of Chinese submarines in Colombo was “normal and transparent”, noting that Sri Lanka “welcomes the docking of submarines from the friendly countries”. The statement comes after Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera concluded a visit to Beijing, where he reportedly raised “concerns” regarding Chinese loans. “The people of Sri Lanka raised many questions, about the interest rates especially, and in certain cases about the manner in which these loans were raised,” said Mr Samaraweera. Ms Hua however defended the loan arrangements, telling reporters that "the loans are extended at the request of Sri Lanka and based on consensus through consultations." "The loan arrangements are for the whole nation and people and have played a positive role in the economic and social development of Sri Lanka," added Ms Hua.
A passenger who, in protest of what was happening, disembarked from a flight set to deport a Tamil asylum seeker from Australia, has been banned from the airline. A 25 year old Tamil asylum seeker, known as Puvaneethan, was being flown from Melbourne to Darwin to be deported to Sri Lanka after the Refugee Review Tribunal rejected his asylum case. Paul Leary, who works for a social justice organisation, said he and his colleague had no links to asylum seeker groups, and left the flight after finding out about the situation from asylum seeker advocates a handing out information about the man on...
All photographs Tamil Guardian Mothers stormed the Jaffna district's office for the secretariat of the governor this morning, demanding the Sri Lankan government takes action over the ongoing detention and disappearance of their children.
A forty-five year old restaurant owner was shot dead last night in Vavuniya. The man, identified as Vadivelu, was shot in Maharambaikkulam by unidentified gunmen as he left his restaurant, situated in Vairavapuliyankulam, at around 10:30pm local time, the Uthayan reported. "He did not return to home all night, we were waiting expecting him, but he did not come. Only in the morning we informed that he was shot dead, we are not even sure why he was in Maharambaikkulam," Mr Vadivelu's relatives said. Mr Vadivelu previously contested the 2000 parliamentary elections with the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO).
Further effigies of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M A Sumanthiran were seen across Jaffna, the local newspaper, Uthayan reported on Wednesday. Last month, protesters burnt an effigy of Mr Sumanthiran at a protest, accusing him of having colluded with Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera to defer the publication of the findings of a UN inquiry investigating mass atrocities against the Tamil people.
A 16 year old girl died after being gang raped by at least 10 men in Vavuniya, reports the Uthayan . Members of the Northern Provincial Council and the Tamil National Alliance visited the home of the teenager to pass on their condolences to her family. The teenage girl was from the village of Kanakarayankulam, in the northern district of Vavuniya.