Fonseka Thanks Canada For Its Stand On CHOGM
Former Army Commander and Presidential contender in the 2010 presidential election Sarath Fonseka has thanked the Canadian Government for its decision to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo next month.
Fonseka
“Canada cannot be blamed for this decision. We must be ashamed by it. Canada’s reasons for the boycott is sound and we are completely in agreement. Canada had the backbone and courage to criticise this country’s political leadership and his Government’s corrupt ways. For that courage, I personally salute them,” BBC Sinhala quoted the former General as saying during a ceremony to appoint electorate organisers of his Democratic Party.
Fonseka said his party was completely opposed to CHOGM being held in Sri Lanka.
He said the people of this country will get no benefit from the summit.
“This Country does not adhere to Commonwealth values and principles. So we oppose this. This summit is not being held here with good intentions. It’s all about personal agendas.
“Sixty percent of what is spent is being stashed as commissions. All the while the country is being destroyed and the people are being fooled,” he said.
Asked what his message would be to the other member states attending the Commonwealth Summit Fonseka said it would be to ensure as they depart this country to ensure that Sri Lanka’s Government adheres to Commonwealth values and principles.
“Otherwise Sri Lanka gains nothing from them coming here,” Fonseka charged.
“If the country’s leader wants to be proud of what they have achieved, then he must show willingness to respect Commonwealth values, human rights, democracy and justice. Without those things, there is nothing to take pride in by just holding summits here,” he charged.
To listen the interview here
[TamilNet, Friday, 18 October 2013, 06:24 GMT]
New Zealand’s Green Party parliamentarian Ms Jan Logie on Friday wrote to New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Murray McCully, urging him to support Canada’s political lead and publicly condemn Sri Lanka’s persistent failure to ensure justice for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. She also urged the Foreign Minister to take a strong stand on CHOGM and to call for another Chair to replace Rajapaksa when it comes time to appoint the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-office for the next two years.
“Allowing Sri Lanka’s President to become the chair of the commonwealth would undermine our efforts to strengthen human rights in the Asia Pacific. It would undermine the UN efforts to get a proper investigation of the war crimes and it would also seriously undermine the charter just developed by the Commonwealth committing Commonwealth leaders to democracy, human rights, tolerance, freedom of expression, good governance and the rule of law – none of which are respected by the Rajapaksa government,” the parliamentarian said.
“To stay silent and then go to Sri Lanka and accept their President, even symbolically, as leader of the Commonwealth for two years would be inappropriate, inconsistent and counter to our regional interests,” she further wrote in her letter.
NZ Green MP urges Foreign Minister to change CHOGM chair
[TamilNet, Friday, 18 October 2013, 06:24 GMT]New Zealand’s Green Party parliamentarian Ms Jan Logie on Friday wrote to New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Murray McCully, urging him to support Canada’s political lead and publicly condemn Sri Lanka’s persistent failure to ensure justice for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. She also urged the Foreign Minister to take a strong stand on CHOGM and to call for another Chair to replace Rajapaksa when it comes time to appoint the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-office for the next two years.
Jan Logie MP
“To stay silent and then go to Sri Lanka and accept their President, even symbolically, as leader of the Commonwealth for two years would be inappropriate, inconsistent and counter to our regional interests,” she further wrote in her letter.
