Day: 9 March 2017

Adjournment Motion (TNA regarding lands belonging to…)

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Adjournment Motion To be moved at adjournment time on 8th March 2017: Whereas large swaths of lands belonging to private citizens were occupied by the armed forced when fighting came to an end in May 2009: Most of these lands were taken over from the civilians for security purposes. For instance civilians were evicted from several thousand acres of land in Valigamam North in order to protect the Palaly air base from artillery fire almost 25 years ago. But even after the fighting ended in 2009, only a fraction of…

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International Women’s day message From R Sampanthan Leader of the Tamil National Alliance

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Message on International Women’s Day   It is my privilege and honor to pen this word of greetings, marking International Women’s Day.  The contribution of women to our nation has been invaluable. However, unfortunately, women continue to face routine discrimination, harassment, and maltreatment in every corner of our society.  Moreover, women were also the most affected as a result of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. For instance, the war snatched away the lives of their loved ones, leaving many widowed and without livelihoods. Still more, thousands of women continue, till…

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At UNHRC, states call for timetable from Lanka on establishing reconciliation mechanisms

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Govt. officially announces co-sponsorship at informal session in Geneva  Several state delegations want new resolution to require Lanka to commit to specific timetable No aspects of 2015 resolution have been changed by new draft resolution says US US says draft resolution prepared in consultation with Govt. By Dharisha Bastians in Geneva The Sri Lanka resolution at the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council should contain a timeframe for implementation of transitional justice commitments the country had made in 2015, several member states said, when the first informal session on the…

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Budget 2017: Will Philip Hammond’s Critics Have The Last Laugh? How the jokes turned sour!

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It had all started off so well. As he delivered his first and last Spring Budget, it became rapidly clear that Philip Hammond had swapped his usual funereal tone for an upbeat tempo. Often eyed suspiciously by Brexiteer ministers for his Remainer scepticism about the sunlit uplands of quitting the EU, the Chancellor had sought to combine his safe-as-houses demeanour with a bit of gusto. Ditching the nervousness that highlighted his Autumn Statement, and perhaps taking his cue from the PM laughing like a drain in PMQs, Hammond instead leavened…

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Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka and Accountability – The Huffington Post

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Taylor Dibbert, Contributor Sri Lanka’s compliance with an October 2015 UN Human Rights Council resolution is being hotly debated at the Council’s 34th session, which began in late February and will run through March 24. At this point, it looks as though another resolution on Sri Lanka will be passed later this month and that the Sri Lankan government will support such an initiative. While some people appear to be in favor of another resolution on Sri Lanka, others (for various reasons) are not. For example, some have argued that…

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Disturbing Report by WAN – Abuse of Women in the war affected areas in Sri Lanka

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Dear All, Today being the International Women’s Day, I wish to share with you all something that Otthulaippu is subscribing to.  I am sure you will all subscribe your time reading and forwarding this message to your family and friends to support this cause and raise awareness of plight of our unfortunate women and children in Sri Lanka ….. Thanks and regards Thilaka On behalf of Otthulaippu Otthulaippu.com https://www.uktamilnews.com/?p=24598 Dear Well-wishers, A damning report was released in August 2016 by Women Association Network (WAN)[i].  This report[ii] discusses the plight of…

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Toronto Event to discuss TGTE’s Challenge at the UN Against Sri Lanka’s 6th Amendment

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TORONTO, CANADA, March 7, 2017 Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is pleased to invite you to the launching of its campaign to challenge Sri Lanka at the United Nations against Sri Lanka’s sixth amendment. The 6th Amendment criminalizes the peaceful advocacy for an independent state which is a violation of freedom of speech, thought and conscience and the right of self-determination, set out in articles 18, 19 and 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Sri Lanka. The 6th Amendment does not prohibit calls…

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Geneva Event: Sri Lanka Rejects Foreign Judges in Accountability Mechanism: What Next?

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In 2015 the UN Human Rights Council passed Resolution 30/1 on Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka. The Resolution calls for the “participation” of foreign judges. Since the term “participation” is covered in ambiguity, relevant stakeholders have interpreted it different ways according to their respective constituents. However, the UN High Commissioner’s repeated call for a hybrid court in the advanced copy of the Council’s Report and the Sri Lankan President’s immediate rejection of the idea of foreign judges constitute a paradigm shift. The issue has become sharpened raising the question of…

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