• Australian High Court blocks return of asylum seekers

    Jul 06

    The Australian High Court has granted an interim injunction, blocking the government’s attempt to return 153 asylum seekers to the “Sri Lankan government, its military or its agents”, reported The Australian.

    Justice Susan Crennan granted the injunction until 4pm local time on Tuesday, and noted that “the position of Tamil minority appears problematic” and that they had “made out a prima facie case for urgent relief”.

    However she also noted that “it was not entirely clear what the next step for the plaintiffs” was and the application “appears somewhat speculative”.

  • SL army is erasing Tamil remembrance days says NPC Minister
    The Northern Provincial Agricultural Minister P Ayngaranesan, last week that the Sri Lankan army was trying to erase Tamil days of remembrance by organising military events to coincide with key dates, reports Uthayan.

    Speaking after a protest against Sri Lankan military land grabs in the North-East last week, Ayngaranesan criticised a sports day organised by the army on July the 5th, a date where Tamils remember 'Karumpuli Naal', marking the first LTTE militant gave their life fighting against the Sri Lankan army.

  • Twenty Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by SL navy
    Twenty Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Saturday night  for poaching north of Mannar, reports The Hindu.

    A total of 37 fishermen are now in Sri Lankan custody with their boats confiscated by the Sri Lanka navy.

    17 Indian fishermen detained in latest SL Navy arrest (29 June 2014)

  • Australia's deportation of asylum seekers could breach international law says UNHCR
    The United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR), today expressed deep concern over Australia’s announcement that it had returned 41 asylum seekers to Sri Lankan authorities.

    Stressing that Australia could be in breach of international law, the UNHCR statement said,
    “UNHCR understands that "enhanced screening procedures" were used as a basis for determining whether the 41 individuals involved raised claims for protection which required further consideration. Without further information UNHCR is not in a position, at this time, to confirm whether they were in accordance with international law. UNHCR has previously made known its concerns to Australia about its enhanced screening procedures and their non-compliance with international law.”
  • Over 60 Tamil Nadu groups form 'Tamil National Front'
    Tamil nationalist groups in Tamil Nadu, Monday, merged to form a new political movement called the ‘Tamilar Desiya Munnani’ (Tamil National Front) to further the cause of Tamils, reports the New Indian Express.
  • Lords stress need for international war crimes inquiry to help end dispute between Tamils and Sri Lanka
    The House of Lords on Wednesday discussed how the British government intended to resolve the dispute between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil community.

    Responding to a question on the suitability of a domestic inquiry in Sri Lanka that was raised by the Conservative party’s Lord Sheikh, baroness Warsi, highlighting that the lack of progress towards accountability and justice in Sri Lanka was due to a lack of political will, said,
    “This is despite the UK and others calling for such an investigation since 2009. As a result, the UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution that establishes an international investigation, which we strongly support.”
  • Ambassador Sison calls for ‘concrete steps’ on justice and accountability in Sri Lanka

    Ambassador Michele Sison speaking in Colombo on Friday

    The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka has called on the government to take “meaningful and concrete steps” to address concerns on governance, reconciliation, justice, and accountability.

    Speaking at an event marking the 238th independence day of the United States, Ambassador Michele Sison praised the “longstanding and warm ties” between the two countries.

    The reception, hosted by the US Embassy in Colombo, was attended by Ananthy Sasitharan, councillor in the Northern Provincial Council and R Sampanthan, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance.

  • USAID calls off voter education programme

    A USAID sponsored programme aimed at voter education has been called off, after pressure from the Sri Lankan government, including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

    The programme, called 'educating voters so as to help with elections in the country', was advertised in several national papers, but civil society organisations have now been informed that the funds have been withdrawn and no applications are being taken, reported Ceylon Today.

  • NFF threatens to withdraw from ruling coalition if Sri Lanka allows South Africa involvement
    The National Freedom Front spokesman, Mohammad Muzammil, said that the party would consider leaving the ruling coalition if the Sri Lankan government allowed South Africa to become involved in the country’s internal affairs.

    Muzammil said that the visit of South Africa’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka and Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC) would not be viewed favourably, reports Colombo page.

  • Dalai Lama urges Buddhists to end anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka and Myanmar
    The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama, Sunday reiterated calls for Buddhists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka to halt violence against Muslims, reports AlJazeera.
  • Tamils protest against SL military land grabs in North-East
    Tamils in the North-East, on Friday,  protested against Sri Lankan military land grabs in Kilinochichi.

    The protest, which was organised by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), took place outside the Kilinochichi district secretariat and demanded that the Sri Lankan military vacate appropriated land.

    Speaking at the end of the protest, the Tamil National Alliance MP Saravanabavan, said that the Sri Lankan government, responsible for military occupation of the North-East, continue to occupy thousands of acres of Tamil land whilst telling the UN that the Tamils were happy and resettled.
  • UK to deport Tamil to Sri Lanka despite evidence of rape and torture
    The British government is to deport a Tamil woman back to Sri Lanka, despite claims that she was repeatedly raped by Sri Lankan soldiers, reports Channel 4 News.

    The Tamil woman, who came to the UK to seek asylum in 2010, was repeatedly raped while held in detention by Sri Lankan soldiers after the end of the armed conflict in 2009.

    The woman’s asylum case was turned down by the British Home Office despite serious concerns for her safety when she is handed back to Sri Lankan authorities and evidence of previous rape and torture.

    Expert evidence analysed by Channel 4 News further found that the woman suffered from PTSD and that her claims of rape in Sri Lanka were credible, despite Home Office doubts of credibility.
  • Australian Immigration Minister to attend SL navy ceremony
    The Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison will visit Sri Lanka this week to attend the commissioning ceremony for two former Australian Customs patrol vessels that were gifted to Sri Lanka to help the island control its sea borders,
    reports abc news.
     
    The two former Australian Customs patrol vessels gifted to the Sri Lankan navy to prevent people from leaving the island, after Australian borders saw an increase in the number of Tamil asylum seekers arriving by sea.

    Morrison’s visit comes as several groups express concern over the plight of asylum seekers that were intercepted by Australian sea border patrol and handed over to the Sri Lankan navy.

    The Immigration Minister has so far refused to answer questions regarding to the plight of Tamil asylum seekers found near Australian seas.

    Australian patrol boat 'gift' arrives in Sri Lanka (28 June 2014)

    Asylum seekers have already been tortured by Sri Lankan forces (04 July 2014)
  • Club de Madrid urges Sri Lanka to condemn religious violence and bring perpetrators to justice
    The Government of Sri Lanka should unequivocally condemn and bring to justice  those that incite violence against people on account of their religion, said the Club de Madrid, in a statement released Monday.

    Commenting on the lack of accountability for rights violations in Sri Lanka,     the collective of former presidents and prime ministers around the world that look to foster political and social change, said in a statement:
    “It requires a clear commitment to apprehend and hold accountable both the instigators and perpetrators of violence.  Sadly we believe that this has not happened following previous violent episodes and therefore there is a greater onus on government to demonstrate its commitment to firm action on this occasion.”

  • War-affected must be able to work with UN and face no repercussions - Suresh Premachandran
    The TNA spokesperson Suresh Premachandran said this week that people affected by the war should be allowed to give evidence to the UN war crimes probe without worrying about their security, reports BBC Tamil.
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