Mr IAN COHEN [5.00 p.m.]: I refer to the dilemma of the Tamil in Sri Lanka and their vote on a solution to asylum seeking problems. A landmark referendum was held last weekend to establish whether the Australian Tamil community supports the creation of an independent State Tamil homeland. More than 10,000 people registered to vote and more than 90 per cent voted in favour. The initiative is based on the Vaddukoddai Resolution—a mandate for independence drafted by Tamil leaders in 1976 in Sri Lanka, only to be rejected by the Sri Lankan Government, which conveniently changed the constitution to make it illegal to espouse for an independent State. The persecution and oppression of the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan State has seen an influx in asylum seekers arriving by boat from the island. Australian Tamils feel this initiative will give them a chance to democratically show their view on how the root cause of the problem can be resolved.

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/publication-type/media-releases/2010/asia/war-crimes-in-sri-lanka.aspx

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/report-damns-tamil-returns/story-e6frg6n6-1225867936319

The International Crisis Group has called on Australia to support an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

A Crisis Group report found tens of thousands of Tamils were killed or wounded and hundreds of thousands were denied food and medical care during the last five months of the Sri Lankan civil war.

The report says there are reasonable grounds to believe both the Sri Lankan security forces and the Tamil Tigers committed war crimes last year.

The Crisis Group has urged Australia to grant asylum or protected status to potential witnesses.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2902252.htm