Push for hard line on Sri Lanka
- The Australian
- May 21, 2013
The delegation of between 6-12 Labor MPs petitioned Senator Carr after last Tuesday's caucus meeting.
A spokesman for Senator Carr confirmed the approach.
The group urged a tougher line on Sri Lanka, amid concerns Canberra's diplomacy towards Colombo is being influenced by the need for Sri Lanka's cooperation in cracking down on the asylum trade.
The decision to allow Colombo to host the November Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has drawn outrage from human rights groups and the Tamil community, who accuse the Sri Lankan government of committing war crimes in 2009 in the final phases of the civil war with terror group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam.
A UN report into the war found there "credible allegations" Sri Lanka committed human right
Other countries, such as Canada, have been strident in their criticism of the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, which has been accused of stifling dissent and consolidating power within the ruling family.
Canada has threatened to boycott the November summit unless progress is made in investigating alleged human rights abuses.
Senator Carr told the delegation that the issue of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka was best addressed through cooperation and dialogue.
"Which is fine, but that's not what we said with the Fijians when they had their coup," one MP said. "A lot of Labor MPs are very concerned about this."
Last year saw a surge in asylum boats leaving from Sri Lanka. Australian intelligence reports have linked senior members of the Rajapaksa government to the smuggling trade and there is a view in government that Colombo could turn the tap on at any time, hence Australia's accommodating stance on CHOGM.
The Sri Lankan government has denied any connection to the smuggling trade.
Other Labor MPs played down any suggestion Australia's relationship with Sri Lanka was being overly influenced by the boats issue. "This is not an issue that's resonating in the caucus or the community," an MP said.
Colombo: Sri Lanka on Monday said it will apprise Canada of the progress in the human rights situation on the island in view of the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Colombo which Ottawa has threatened to boycott.
"We have been presented with the chance to go to Canada to inform them of the progress made," Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Chairman of Sri Lanka's Human Rights Council said today.
He said that he would tell the Canadian government of the progress in the national human rights action plan.
Canada, a leading Commonwealth member nation, has been a major critic of Sri Lanka's human rights accountability in the post-conflict phase since the military defeat of the LTTE in 2009.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hinted that he may not attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November unless Sri Lanka shows progress in its human rights accountability.
However, Britain and Australia along with New Zealand have confirmed participation at the Colombo summit.
Australia said despite rights concerns Sri Lanka ought not to be subject to isolation while Britain said the Commonwealth's importance as a major international forum had made them decide in favour of attending.
International rights groups have expressed disappointment over Sri Lanka's lack of progress on human rights and urged a change of venue for the summit.
PTI
Colombo: Sri Lanka on Monday said it will apprise Canada of the progress in the human rights situation on the island in view of the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Colombo which Ottawa has threatened to boycott."We have been presented with the chance to go to Canada to inform them of the progress made," Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Chairman of Sri Lanka's Human Rights Council said today.
He said that he would tell the Canadian government of the progress in the national human rights action plan.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hinted that he may not attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November unless Sri Lanka shows progress in its human rights accountability.
However, Britain and Australia along with New Zealand have confirmed participation at the Colombo summit.
International rights groups have expressed disappointment over Sri Lanka's lack of progress on human rights and urged a change of venue for the summit.
PTI
