Comments on: What should the Commonwealth be doing on Sri Lanka?

By: ZoeWare

ZoeWare — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:04:09 +0000

The Commonwealth Journalists Association The has issued a statement stating it is “appalled” at the Sri Lankan government’s continued persecution of journalists “for committing the ’sin’ of criticizing the ruling party”. Read the full article here: http://www.asiansinmedia.org/2010/02/02/commonwealth-journalists-condemn-sri-lankan-government/

By: Joseph Davies

Joseph Davies — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:31:19 +0000

A naval blockade of Sri Lanka by the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy. Any other commonwealth countries welcome to send their own ships but these two are key, especially India. As well as this, the commonwealth should apply diplomatic pressure and offer to help rebuild Sri Lankan society and supply aid after their government relents. A suspension would do nothing, they’dcarry on regardless. As the commonwealth has no hard power of its own, it would fall to the member states to do something seperately. Firm but Fair force is the only thing that will stop these acts of racial violence.

By: BTF Media Team

BTF Media Team — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:27:54 +0000

http://www.tamilsforum.com/Prime%20Minister%20Reinforces%20Commonwealth%20Values%20281109.pdf

British Tamils welcome the initiative by our Prime Minister Gordon Brown in making a stand against Sri Lanka’s bid to host the next Commonwealth Summit in 2011, due to the conduct of its military campaign which had a
massive impact on the civilian population.

As the first world leader to call for ceasefire earlier this year, when the military onslaught had intensified, Prime
Minister Brown has again taken the lead to uphold the values of the Commonwealth, to which Sri Lanka remains a member.

Sentiments conveyed by Mr Brown’s office are that the next host to the summit must uphold the Harare Principles, which espouse the protection and promotion of fundamental political values of the Commonwealth,namely democracy and human rights. The host should “reflect the full range of Commonwealth values – and particularly respect for human rights”, it further stated.

The Commonwealth has in the past intervened by imposing sanctions, or through suspension, in the cases of former Rhodesia, Fiji, Pakistan, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. While the focus has largely been on violations of
democracy brought on by military overthrows of democratic governments, the Commonwealth should fulfil its mandate to include other violations such as human rights.

“A key aim for the Commonwealth is to foster democracy and human rights. The organisation’s credibility will be
severely harmed if it allows Sri Lanka to host such a prestigious meeting in 2011,” commented Louise Arbour, who is also the former U.N. High Commissioner for human rights. “Holding the meeting in Colombo will only reward a government that has consistently refused to live up to its international commitments or uphold its own
laws,” she has further stated.

British Tamils Forum urges the Heads of Governments of the Commonwealth to set precedents to promote member states to uphold the fundamental principles of the Commonwealth, in order to restore equality, justice, peace and security for all citizens in Sri Lanka through a credible political process.

http://www.tamilsforum.com

By: Velmurugan

Velmurugan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:28:08 +0000

Commonwealth should severly punish Sri Lankan government for it’s war crime and inhuman activities against Tamils and journalists.
If the commonwealth has no choice but to suspend Sri Lanka from the commonwealth, so be it.

1. Srilanka rejects visa to the UN people.
2. Srilanka does not allow anyone into the camps.
3. Srilanka soldiers involved in rape not only in Tamizh areas but also in Haiti.
4. Srilanka soldiers blindfold’ly killed unarmed Tamizhs.
5. Did Srilanka start any investigation on the hundreds of Tamizhs killed in the war or do commonwealth and UN?
6. If commonwealth and UN cannot question srilanka, why do these bodies exist? just to give people some posts to travel around the world?
7. Why can’t commonwealth and UN stand up against Srilanka and India? Don’t these bodies not have backbone?
8. Why are few countries (India, Srilanka, China, Pakistan, Israel, UK, USA, etc) so narrow minded, looking only for the benefit of themselves and so cunning to survive.

By: B.Saravanan

B.Saravanan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:20:37 +0000

I don’t know what will do Commonwealth? Even US and all major sefish country didn’t care when Lot of Tamil people killed in Sri lanka war,simply sitting and watching genocide on Tamils. I lost confident on UN organisation when not stop killing our Tamil people. Commenwealth is another form of Useless organisation like UN. If really commenwealth is neutral organisation, it must take severe action against Sri Lanka, not only Sri lanka including India,China,etc for supporting to sri lanka for genocide on Tamils. particularly Indian PM Manmohan singh and sonia for killing not only Sri lankan tamil people,they killed Tamil Nadu True tamilan feelings also and misleading Indian policy for selfish benifit and revenge. Any action can take by commenwealth against these stupid Rajapakse brothers,Sarth pon,monmohan Singh and sonia? nothing will happen, simply all people sit and eat variety of food and close the session. These fellows don’t know feelings of affected tamils.
Let and see what they are going to do on this Issue?

By: sulakshana senanayake

sulakshana senanayake — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:35:45 +0000

what should the commonwealth do to the pearl of the indian ocean?? help polish it!!!

most of the comments here seem to be on the lines of imposing sanctions and trying to teach sri lanka a lesson..BUT,,as a Sri Lankan who has gone through a few decades of a war WE DO NOT BELEIVE IN (IF the conflict can INDEED be defined as a “war” since the technical definition clearly states that a war should be between two countries..),,i would like to say that Sri Lanka had taught the REST OF THE WORLD a lesson,,a lesson on how to deal with terrorism,,a lesson on how to best safeguard human rights to the best of ability at times of conflict,,and a lesson above all that countries should be allowed to solve their own problems in their OWN ways.

did anyone say anything when G. W . Bush committed Genoside in Iraq with the hope of getting a few galons of oil??? did anyone complain when Israel scattered rockets left right and center killing thousands just because they were america’s “lovely sweet friend”..NO!!! WHY sri lanka??? because we are still under-developed?? because we do not have much power when it comes to international trade??or maybe because some people hate being beaten up in cricket by this “small nation”..???

we ladies and gentlemen,,are a nation of hope, pride and CULTURE..know who your allies are,,dont be the “bully-in-the-playground” and “jump on to the bandwagon” without knowing your facts..

next time you want to talk about Srl Lanka in such a manner,,just come here and have a look around..dont infringe on other nations because it’s as rude as poking someone in the eye..what happens within our borders should not be a problem to the rest of the world anyway..
try to give us a hand in development by granting subsidies in trade like the GSP PLUS..
there is more to anything than what meets the eye..

By: Vino Gamage

Vino Gamage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:40:23 +0000

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-19359–6-6–.html
CMAG needs to be reviewed and strengthened By Maja Daruwala, Executive Director
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Commonwealth Secretariat, 20 October 2009:
”…. in the case of Sri Lanka, reports of large scale civilian deaths, impunity and stifling of human rights in Sri Lanka continued to emerge throughout 2008 and 2009 but CMAG has refused to put Sri Lanka in its agenda. …. Sri Lanka itself continues to serve as a member of CMAG during this period for a third consecutive (two year) term contrary to the 1999 Durban Communiqué that limits a country to a maximum of two consecutive terms. ….”

Commonwealth is creating Democracy Deficit!!

By: mary

mary — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:52:51 +0000

UN and Commonwealth have double standards. Their behaviour towards Sri lankan government is totally different from their behaviour towards other oppressors.
Why is that the UN Secretary General’s stand over Gaza and Georgia very different from his stand over Sri Lanka?
Why is the Commonwealth’s stand over Fiji,Pakistan and Zimbabwe so different from its stand over Sri Lanka?
I can think of only one answer: Sri Lanka is an expert in the chess of international relations.

By: mary

mary — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:39:59 +0000

Now the international community would understand how unreasonable the successive Sri Lankan governments have been with the Tamils over the last six decades.

By: punitham

punitham — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:14:52 +0000

Speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yves Leterme, to the UN General Assembly, on 26 September 2009:
”… In addition to the fragmentation of the UN system, two other trends stress the need for an enhanced multilateral commitment.
The first is the multitude of regional and sub-regional organizations, almost everywhere in the world. Although this enhances multilateral cooperation, it sometimes leads to a lack of harmonization between the regional and global institutions. A better cooperation has to be sought so as to guarantee the best possible use of the limited resources of all.
The second trend may be summed up by the words “incomplete multilateralism”. Countries get together on an informal basis to discuss international issues, such as the economic-financial crisis. These informal groups may initially speed up the decision-making process within the international multilateral organizations but they cannot replace those organizations.
Rather than being exclusive, multilateralism should be inclusive and transparent.
Nothing can last without institutions. But even the best organized institutions cannot function in the absence of human will and inspiration. Even the best organized institutions are powerless when men prevent their functioning.
But the worst international disorder is that millions of people are still being killed, maimed, raped in violence that occurs between and within states. The worst international disorder is that millions of people are denied a decent existence because of war, civil conflict, inter-ethnic fighting or harsh repression. This is our first and foremost challenge, because without peace, without security there is no development, let alone sustainable development. Without peace, without security, there can be no fair distribution of the wealth of our Earth.
An international legal order is required. But that order can only function if it is based on states governed by the rule of law. So I come back to the need for common positions which are necessary for a world that is safer, fairer and more prosperous. …”