Karuna demands that India boycott CHOGM in Lanka
PTI | May 10, 2013
CHENNAI: DMK president M Karunanidhi has once again demanded that India boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November, citing Queen Elizabeth II's decision to skip the meet.
Karunanidhi described Queen Elizabeth II's decision as "important".
"Since the formation of a Commonwealth federation, this is the first time that the Queen has boycotted the conference which is an important information," he said in a statement here on Friday.
For the first time in 40 years, Queen Elizabeth II will skip the Commonwealth summit, deciding to send her son Prince Charlesinstead for the biennial event.
However, Buckingham Palace has said the Queen's decision not to attend was not related to the political situation in Lanka.
Various movements were on, including in Australia, urging that theCHOGM be not held at Colombo, though "arrangements are on for the conduct of the conference in Sri Lanka," he said.
With the island government charged with alleged "war crimes," it was not acceptable that the CHOGM be held there. There were strong opinions that if it was held as per schedule, Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will remain as head of Commonwealth for two years and "problems could arise in initiating probe against him," for war-crimes, he said.
In such a situation, if India participates in the meet as a friendly nation, it would amount to it "endorsing the genocide" (against Tamils)."Therefore, considering that Tamils are also a part of India, India should at least now come forward to extend a hand of friendship," he said.
"Acceding to the request of Tamil people and others around the world, India should announce it will not participate and also seek to mobilise support of member countries against holding the conference in Sri Lanka," he said.
India should give credence to the sentiments of Tamil people and devise a strategy accordingly, he added.
Evaluation of Charles Petrie report on Sri Lanka to conclude next month
CHENNAI: DMK president M Karunanidhi has once again demanded that India boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November, citing Queen Elizabeth II's decision to skip the meet.
Karunanidhi described Queen Elizabeth II's decision as "important".
"Since the formation of a Commonwealth federation, this is the first time that the Queen has boycotted the conference which is an important information," he said in a statement here on Friday.
For the first time in 40 years, Queen Elizabeth II will skip the Commonwealth summit, deciding to send her son Prince Charlesinstead for the biennial event.
However, Buckingham Palace has said the Queen's decision not to attend was not related to the political situation in Lanka.
Various movements were on, including in Australia, urging that theCHOGM be not held at Colombo, though "arrangements are on for the conduct of the conference in Sri Lanka," he said.
With the island government charged with alleged "war crimes," it was not acceptable that the CHOGM be held there. There were strong opinions that if it was held as per schedule, Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will remain as head of Commonwealth for two years and "problems could arise in initiating probe against him," for war-crimes, he said.
In such a situation, if India participates in the meet as a friendly nation, it would amount to it "endorsing the genocide" (against Tamils)."Therefore, considering that Tamils are also a part of India, India should at least now come forward to extend a hand of friendship," he said.
"Acceding to the request of Tamil people and others around the world, India should announce it will not participate and also seek to mobilise support of member countries against holding the conference in Sri Lanka," he said.
India should give credence to the sentiments of Tamil people and devise a strategy accordingly, he added.
Evaluation of Charles Petrie report on Sri Lanka to conclude next month
Friday, 10 May 2013 - 12:53 PM
Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson states that the Petrie report commissioned to investigate the role of the international body during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka would most likely conclude by the end of next month.
Addressing the UN’s daily media briefing in New York yesterday, Eliasson stated that the final stage of the reports evaluation was currently underway.
The Petrie report controversial in nature criticized the UN’s role in Sri Lanka especially during the final stages of the conflict.
According to Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson the aim of the report is to prevent similar occurrences in future.
When inquired from Eliasson as to when UN Human Rights Commissioner Navaneethan Paillai would make her visit to Sri Lanka he noted that discussions with Sri Lankan officials in this regard were still proceeding.
