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Is the British Conservative Party making a strategic change in relation to Sri Lanka?

by admin on Mar.09, 2010, under Sri Lanka

Is the British Conservative Party making a strategic change in relation to Sri Lanka?

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon William Hague’s address to the Global Tamil Forum signals potential change in Conservative Party’s approach to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

  • A Conservative Government will ensure that British Tamils have access to air their views
  • Meaningful political reform and reconciliation should be an urgent priority.
  • President Rajapksa committed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in May 2009 that the Sri Lankan government would investigate alleged violations but so far little concrete action has been taken.
  • Elections alone do not signal the existence of a fully functioning democratic system, particular concern is freedom of expression: including that of the national press, and the freedom to lawfully dissent.

Last week’s Global Tamil Forum inaugural conference was, the first time ever, a Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary addressed a gathering organised by the Tamil lobby in relation to the conflict. According to many observers, this is a clear signal of the change in Conservative Party’s approach to the conflict and also acknowledgement of the British Tamil Diaspora’s role in shaping a future Conservative Government’s policy towards Sri Lanka

Full Speech of The Rt Hon William Hague : http://www.uktamilnews.com/?p=13063

The main Conservative opposition in United Kingdom also took a highly unusual step of issuing congratulatory messages from both, the Leader of the opposition and the Shadow Foreign Secretary, to the conference last week………….. http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_03_09_001.html 

Australia blames post war Lanka

Australia says the aftermath of the conflict in Sri Lanka is resulting in more and more asylum seekers attempting to cross over to Australia with the latest boatload of 28 Sri Lankans being intercepted today, the Australian Associated Press reported. Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says conflict in Asia is responsible for the upsurge in asylum seekers headed for Australia by boat.

Authorities intercepted another two vessels over the weekend, taking the total of arrivals to 20 in the first 66 days of the year. A boat carrying 28 passengers and two crew was intercepted northwest of Adele Island in the early hours of this morning. Yesterday, authorities intercepted a boat carrying 80 passengers and three crew……………  http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2213-australia-blames-post-war-lanka.html

Global Tamil Women Forum calls for end to violence against Tamil women in Sri Lanka

Global Tamil Women Forum (GTWF) joins worldwide calls for end to violence against women to mark International Women’s Day. In United Kingdom, GTWF joined thousands of women, of all ages and backgrounds, in a march organised by Million Women Rise on Saturday 6 March 2010 through central London, to celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage and continued struggle against global male violence in all its forms.

A representative of the GTWF spoke of the trauma inflicted on Tamil women in Sri Lanka who are subjected to ongoing violence and sexual abuse by government forces with impunity. “The United Nations removed more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers from Haiti after they were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse, so you can imagine the fate of Tamil women at the………………..  http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_03_09_002.html 

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
Government campaign against Transparency International and moves to arrest J.C. Weliamuna

 The Asian Human Rights Commission reliably understands that there is a move to arrest and detain J.C. Weliamuna, the chairperson of Transparency International in Sri Lanka (TISL) on fabricated charges. During the last few weeks there have been several media attempts on the part of the government to make insinuations against the Sri Lankan branch of Transparency International. There were publicised reports about the misuse of funds which TISL has publically claimed as completely fabricated and false. There have also been reports over government media channels about NGOs and INGOs trying to destabilize Sri Lanka and an announcement that the government will carry out an all out campaign against such organisations. …………  http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_03_09_003.html


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