Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka
The Queen will not attend this year's Commonwealth summit as the palace reviews her long-haul travel. But there are calls for Britain to boycott the meeting due to Sri Lanka's human rights record.
TUESDAY 07 MAY 2013
The Queen has been present at every Commonwealth summit in the last 40 years - a sign of the importance she places on her role at the head of the Commonwealth.
But this year, Prince Charles will take her place at the meeting in Sri Lanka in November after Buckingham Palace said that the number of long-haul flights taken by the 87-year-old monarch was being reviewed.
However Britain is facing pressure to boycott the two-yearly Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) altogether, because it is being hosted by the government of Sri Lanka, which is accused of war crimes.
Human rights groups last week criticised David Cameron's decision to attend the summit. Canada's government has said it will boycott the meeting, with the country's foreign minister saying that allowing Sri Lanka to host it would be "accommodating evil".
It is nothing to do with the political situation in Sri Lanka.Buckingham Palace
The United Nations says at least 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by Sri Lankan government forces in the final stages of the civil war which ended four years ago amid evidence of war crimes. The government there has consistently denied its involvement.
In March, two former foreign secretaries – one Labour, one Conservative – told Channel 4 News they thought it would be "grotesque" for the Queen to be required to attend the meeting in a country which is accused of persistent human rights crimes. Human rights campaigners have also expressed concern about the disappearance, torture and murder of government critics.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen's decision not to attend was not a political one. "It is nothing to do with the political situation in Sri Lanka," said a spokesman."The key point here is that the Queen will be represented, although she is not there in person, by the Prince of Wales."
The Queen was forced to cancel her appearance at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey in March after a bout of gastroenteritis.
Political pressure
The Global Tamil Forum told Channel 4 News it was "relieved" that the Queen would not be attending. "However Prince Charles and the prime minister seem to be on course to wipe out all the pressure that has been built through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) process in the last two years," said Suren Surendiran.
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander called on the prime minister to review his attendance if certain conditions are not met.
"David Cameron must be clear about the progress Sri Lanka needs to make before he confirms his attendance at November's Commonwealth summit in Colombo.
"He has a responsibility to use the prospect of the summit to encourage Sri Lanka to meet its international obligations and address concerns about ongoing human rights violations."
Downing Street said last week that Mr Cameron would be delivering a "very tough message" to the Sri Lankan government at the meeting.
Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting
7 May 2013
The Queen is the Commonwealth's symbolic head and has no formal powers over the 54 countries
For the first time since 1973 the Queen will not be attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting this year, Buckingham Palace has said.
She will be represented by the Prince of Wales at the summit in Sri Lanka in November.
Buckingham Palace said it was reviewing the amount of long-haul travel the Queen undertook.
The Queen, 87, is the head of the Commonwealth and every two years leaders meet to discuss global issues.
The Queen was first present at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Ottawa, Canada, in 1973 - missing the first one in 1971 - and has been at every summit since. The last one, in 2011, was held in Perth, Australia.
'Transition' Full Story>>>Queen to miss Commonwealth summit as long haul travel reviewed
The Queen is set to miss the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, for the first time in 40 years, after Buckingham Palace confirmed it is reviewing the long haul flights taken by the Monarch, who is now 87.
The Queen is head of the Commonwealth and (right) Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa Photo: PA/EPA
