Campaigners Urge Rolls-Royce Deal Not To Influence UK’s Diplomatic Position Over Human Rights In Sri Lanka
May 4, 2013
“Rolls-Royce is expected to provide the engines for a multi-billion dollar refitting of SriLankan Airlines planes – but this must not influence the UK’s diplomatic position over human rights in the south Asian country, campaigners say,” the Guardian reports.
Cameron
The deal has emerged at a time of mounting controversy over Sri Lanka’s hosting of the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November, despite allegations that it is intensifying a crackdown on critics and increasing human rights abuses, the Guardian reports.
SriLankan Airlines is set to retire its fleet of long-haul aircraft, reportedly replacing it with six Airbus A330-300 aircraft, at a cost of over $234m each, with Rolls-Royce Trent engines, and four Airbus A 350-900 with Rolls-Royce XWB engines, at a cost of over $283m each.
“The aircraft would be acquired over the next seven years,” a Sri Lankan government official told the French press agency, AFP.
Rolls-Royce said that it was not making any comment on reports of the deal.
“This must not detract from raising human rights issues. It must not be a condition on Britain remaining silent,” said Amnesty’s UK head of policy and government affairs, Allan Hogarth.
Related stories;
Handing Sri Lanka The Lead Role For Two Years Would “Kill” The Commonwealth, But Cameron Will Attend The CHOGM
Important Medias from Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have begun to urge to boycott the Commonwealth conference held in Sri Lanka.
By pointing out the human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and mentioning the continuous human rights violations, the Medias are publishing articles and editorial columns.
So far Canadian Prime Minister notified that he would stay away from the Commonwealth conference. However Australian External Affairs Minister said, their country will attend the conference.
New Zealand has said it would not boycott the Commonwealth conference. Meanwhile Britain has not still take a decision.
In this state, four important Medias from these four countries are processing campaigns by pointing human rights violations in Sri Lanka, campaigning to boycott the Commonwealth conference.
British Telegraph, Independent and Guardian the daily newspapers in support of this objective are in the process of publishing editorials and articles in connection with this, for which the Medias are showing much enthusiasm.
Leading Medias in Australia are too urging for this boycott. The Global Post including vital Medias in Canada, in support of Canadian government stance are publishing news items and articles.
In this state, the New Zealand Medias have begun urging to keep away from Sri Lanka conference.
The Dominion Post the daily newspaper published from that country has insisted by publishing an article written by Green party former parliament member Geeth Lokki.
New Zealand which was the cause of taking measures to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth conference is assisting a leader of a country disclaiming to take accountability for war crimes, to lead the Commonwealth conference is a nastiest action was quoted in the article by Keeth Lokki.
Saturday , 04 May 2013
