Lee Rhiannon, the Australian senator that was detained in Sri Lanka, along with a New Zealand MP, has written in the Guardian recounting her experiences in Sri Lanka and in the Northeast, concluding that Australia should boycott CHOGM. See Rhiannon’s full piece on Comment is Free . Extracts reproduced below:
Tamil campaigners and members of the elected body who had been organising protests against land grab in Valikaamam North, found the heads of dead cows on their doorsteps on Monday morning - an act that is considered a death threat.
The Prime Minister of New Zealad has said he is 'definitely going to Sri Lanka' despite growing oppposition to his visit, and the detention of a New Zealand MP in Colombo last week. Prime Minister John Key stated that it "just happens to be that Sri Lanka is the host of the summit in 2013" confirming that he would not boycott the summit.
Senator Rhiannon being detained by SL officials. Photo:Tamil Mirror Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon was detained by Sri Lankan authorities after speaking out against sexual abuse and land confiscation by state authorities on the island, on her return to Colombo from the Tamil North-East.
The Sri Lankan government has hardened its stance on a lease agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation. The Indian company is trying to set up a bitumen plant in the northeast, however Sri Lanka has not signed the 10-year old agreement.
Foreign media who have arrived in Sri Lanka to cover the Commonwealth summit, will be restricted to reporting on CHOGM related events only, said Media Secretary Charitha Herath. “There will be no restrictions on travel within Sri Lanka for foreign media personnel who arrive in the country for CHOGM, but only as tourists,” he said. “However, those who come as part of the official delegations of various countries, can carry out media related activities and will get accreditation to cover only CHOGM related events.”
Indian media reports say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has will not attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka next week . India will be represented by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. The decision is being reported by IBMLive , The Indian Express , The Hindu and The Times of India . It would be communicated to Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a personal letter which the Times of India says is being drafted by India’s External Affairs Ministry, commonly referred to as South Block, for Mr. Singh’s review Sunday. The MEA itself says no decision has been made on Mr. Singh's...
The family of Tamil journalist Isaipriya had known nothing of her capture and execution until video evidence was broadcast on Channel 4. Isaipriya's mother and two sisters, had only recently arrived seeking asylum in the UK. Her mother told Channel 4 that she had always thought that Isaipriya had died a victim of shelling. See full interview on Jonathan Miller's blog .
The Commonwealth Secratariat will help Sri Lanka set up a National Inquiry on Torture, Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma told the Hindu . The inquiry, to be set up under the 'Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission', will reportedly investigate all allegations of torture commited by state agents from 2009 to the present and will take 18 months to complete its work.
Students of Jaffna University have been told to go home after notices were posted on the premises, saying that it will be closed until December 2, according to Colombo Gazette . All universities in Sri Lanka had already been told to close for next week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, with reopening scheduled for the end of the summit. The longer closure of Jaffna University is thought to be related to the forthcoming Maveerar Naal, the Tamil Eelam Remembrance Day, where the fallen members of the armed movement are remembered. Last year students commemorating the event...