ATC success in Oz Parliament

 Thursday, 13 February 2014 

ATC's heavy lobbying with labor and greens has resulted in a labor party initiated motion co-sponsored by greens calling for an International Investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity passed today.

ATC is the member organization of GTF.
GTF President Father SJ Emmanuel who is still in Oz is available for Comments On +61408100182.

Father SJE will be meeting Australian FM's Chief of Staff and other Senior Civil Servants including the Assistant Secretary, South Asia Branch with members of ATEL and ATC on Friday, 14/02.

Father SJE during his stay in Australia for over 3 weeks has met with several religious leaders including several current and former Bishops, Arch Bishops of States and the Cardinal of Australia.

Motion below:

Senators Stephens, Moore and Rhiannon and Senator Milne to move:

That the Senate-

(A) notes Australia's co-sponsorship of the:

(I) 2012 United Nations (UN) General Assembly Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution calling on the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and to take credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity , accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans, and

(Ii) 2013 UN General Assembly HRC resolution expressing concern at continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, and reiterating the call on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the Commission's recommendations and to fulfil its commitment to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;

(B) notes:

(I) continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, and international concerns about insufficient progress by the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing justice, reconciliation and accountability, and

(Ii) the forthcoming update to the HRC 24th session on the progress of the 2012 and 2013 resolutions;

(C) calls on the Australian Government to:

(I) maintain Australia's strong record of support for human rights at the 24th session of the HRC, including in relation to Sri Lanka,

(Ii) support the United States in its call for the 'international community to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to evaluate reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka '

(Iii) co-sponsor any United States resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014 regarding Sri Lanka's progress on accountability and human rights, and

(Iv) urge the Government of Sri Lanka to:

(A) allow unimpeded access for media, international aid agencies, and human rights groups into all regions of the country, as well as to detention sites that may hold political and war prisoners, and

(B) end its media restrictions, including the obstacles to the flow of information in the north and east, and bring to justice those responsible for attacks on journalists and newspaper offices.