Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Amnesty International demands immediate release of detained Tamil artist
Amnesty International has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of…

Human Rights Council played 'indispensable role' in Sri Lanka - US

Mar 1, 2015

The US Secretary of State John Kerry said the UN Human Rights Council has made "significant accomplishments" in changing the course of "bad actors", citing the cases of Sri Lanka and Myanmar as successes of the Council's engagement.

"Consider the indispensable role the HRC has played in encouraging leaders to live up to their promises and commitments in countries such as Burma and Sri Lanka, where there are opportunities for real change," Mr Kerry said, listing some achievements of the Human Rights Council.

Sri Lanka should address outstanding human rights issues - Botswana

Mar 1, 2015

Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi expressed her country's hope that the new Sri Lankan government would seize the opportunity to make progress and address outstanding human rights issues.

Speaking at the opening day of the 28th session of the Human Rights Council, Ms Venson-Moitoi congratulated Sri Lanka for January's presidential election.

"May I also take this opportunity to congratulate Sri Lanka for their recent Presidential elections, and express our readiness to work with the new Government. An opportunity has arisen for the country to make further progress," she said.

Sri Lanka can show commitment to justice and reconciliation by signing Rome Statute, says Callum Macrae

Mar 1, 2015
“The new government has made no real move to show it is an different,” said the director of the No Fire Zone documentary speaking on working towards truth, justice and accountability for Sri Lankan atrocities against Tamil civilians.

Noting that Sri Lanka had been given a further 6 months before the UN report into Sri Lanka’s atrocities was released, Callum Macrae suggested that Sri Lanka should take steps to sign up to the Rome Statute, publish lists of prisoners of war, demilitarise the North and return lands seized from Tamils to show that it was committed to truth, justice, accountability and reconciliation on the island.

Concrete steps to meet Tamil aspirations needed to gain trust, says Bishop of Mannar

Mar 1, 2015
The aspirations of the Tamils as a distinct community, that want to govern themselves in their areas of historical habitat and want acknowledgement and accountability for abuses committed against them must be addressed by the Sri Lankan government to resolve the national issue, said the Bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph.

Expanding on how to build trust between the Tamil community and the Sri Lankan government, Bishop Joseph, said,

“Concrete actions to address grievances, such as first steps towards addressing the Tamil political question, actions towards releasing political prisoners, handing back land occupied by the military, demilitarisation, finding and acknowledging the truth about the disappeared, these are some actions that will help build trust.”

Surveillance of journalists in North must stop, says international media mission

Feb 28, 2015

The international media mission addressing the Jaffna Press Club at the conclusion of their visit. Photograph: Tamil Guardian

There remain “significant challenges” to media freedom in Sri Lanka said an international media mission, who called for the continued surveillance of journalists in the North to cease.

The International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute and International Freedom of Expression Exchange released a joint statement today saying,

“Surveillance, monitoring and following of journalists are incompatible with a free media and the principles of open government that should underpin the 100 day reform process.”

Sri Lanka's tourism industry leads to 'systematic human rights abuses'

Feb 28, 2015
Sri Lanka's large scale developments in the tourism industry are leading to systematic human rights abuses, says a report released by the Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland (STP), calling on European travel agencies to be vigilant on human rights issues.

“The report shows that systematic human rights abuses have been taking place as a result of tourism development in the country,” said the STP and the Sri Lankan Campaign in a joint press release. “Fishermen have seen their access to the sea blocked, land grabbing has taken place and the local population are insufficiently, if at all, informed about planned tourism projects.”

The report, Dark Clouds over the Sunshine Paradise – Tourism and Human Rights in Sri Lanka, also details the extensive involvement of Sri Lanka's military in the island's tourism industry. “The military is increasingly focusing its budget on tourism with the army, navy and air force opening hotels all over the country and increasingly offering tourist activities,” said the report.

“The military are deeply entrenched within the tourism industry,” said Fred Carver, Campaign Director of the Sri Lanka Campaign.

Land owners protest against police station

Feb 28, 2015

(Photos Tamil Guardian)

A protest was held in front of the police station in Ilavalai, demanding the return of the land on which it was built.

The owners of the land in the village near Jaffna said 13 houses and 8 plots of farm land were taken over by Sri Lanka's authorities to build the police station and demanded its immediate release.

Sri Lanka requests international assistance in corruption probe

Feb 28, 2015

The Sri Lankan government said it requested the assistance from the World Bank, India, the US and the UK to investigate financial fraud committed by the previous government under Mahinda Rajapaksa, Xinhua reported.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice Minister Wijeydasa Rajapaksha visited these countries over the last weeks to seek assistance from institutions for the probe.

Ethnic conflict has remained unresolved for over 60 years says Wigneswaran

Feb 28, 2015
The 67 year old ethnic problem in Sri Lanka remains unsolved, said the Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and former Supreme Court Judge, in a meeting with Representatives Co-operatives Movement and Former Organisations.

Commenting on government pledges to return 1000 acres of an estimated 6500 acres of appropriated Tamil land, Mr Wigneswaran, speaking at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium, added,

“We are equally aware of the fact that a proper resolution of our problems could not be achieved merely by giving back what we are already entitled to.”

We will conduct domestic war crimes inquiry 'if required' says Sri Lanka's justice minister

Feb 27, 2015
Sri Lanka's justice minister said the country was prioritising reconciliation, and would conduct a domestic inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed against the Tamil people during the final stages of the armed conflict only "if required".

The government, led by Maithripala Sirisena, pledged in its pre-election campaign to launch a domestic inquiry.

However, in an interview this week to BBC Sinhala, the country's justice minister, Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, said: "We are ready to conduct a domestic inquiry if required."

"Previously, the agreement with the international community was that the LLRC would be the domestic mechanism and that the international mechanism would be based on the Darusman report. The current problem arose after the Darusman report. We are trying to prioritize reconciliation—how to mend the broken link between the Sinhala and Tamil people. Our objective is to take necessary steps that would not harm reconciliation," he said, adding that the government was in discussions with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) regarding this.

Sri Lanka should address outstanding human rights issues - Botswana
Sri Lanka can show commitment to justice and reconciliation by signing Rome Statute, says Callum Macrae
Concrete steps to meet Tamil aspirations needed to gain trust, says Bishop of Mannar
Surveillance of journalists in North must stop, says international media mission
Sri Lanka's tourism industry leads to 'systematic human rights abuses'
Land owners protest against police station
Sri Lanka requests international assistance in corruption probe
Ethnic conflict has remained unresolved for over 60 years says Wigneswaran
We will conduct domestic war crimes inquiry 'if required' says Sri Lanka's justice minister
New army chief assures monks of 'national security'
Sri Lanka should address outstanding human rights issues - Botswana
Sri Lanka can show commitment to justice and reconciliation by signing Rome Statute, says Callum Macrae
Concrete steps to meet Tamil aspirations needed to gain trust, says Bishop of Mannar
Surveillance of journalists in North must stop, says international media mission
Sri Lanka's tourism industry leads to 'systematic human rights abuses'
Land owners protest against police station
Sri Lanka requests international assistance in corruption probe
Ethnic conflict has remained unresolved for over 60 years says Wigneswaran
We will conduct domestic war crimes inquiry 'if required' says Sri Lanka's justice minister
New army chief assures monks of 'national security'