ATC Press Release-Tamil Family Freed from Indefinite Detention

Interview with No Fire Zone Director Callum Macrae- Australian Tour- The Wire

 The documentary is called No Fire Zone: Sri Lanka’s Killing fields. The documentary compiles a lot footage like this to allege that in the final days of the war, Sri Lanka’s military was involved in targeting civilians, amongst other atrocities and war crimes. The Sri Lankan high commission in Australia says that this kind of footage could be from another time, they say it could be doctored, and they say it could show tamils bombing civilians.

Australian Tamils reiterate calls to boycott CHOGM in Sri Lanka - Australian Tamil Congress

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper confirmed on Monday that he will not attend the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meetings to be held in Sri Lanka later this year as Sri Lanka failed to uphold the Commonwealth's core values.

The Australian Tamil Congress has joined the global call for all countries to reconsider attending CHOGM in Sri Lanka given the island's repeated violations of human rights and it's persecution of the Tamil people.

 "In light of further atrocities and a culture of impunity only worsening in Sri Lanka, we will continue to ask our Prime Minister Tony Abbott to reconsider his decision to attend CHOGM," said Dr Sam Pari, National Spokesperson for the Australian Tamil Congress. "We welcome the Canadian Prime Minister's principled stand and hope more countries will follow this example," she added.

 Media Contact Dr Sam Pari,

Spokesperson, Australian Tamil Congress

Open Letter to PM Abbott to Reconsider Attending CHOGM in Sri Lanka

As the Prime Minister of Canada has said, boycotting the Commonwealth’s most prestigious event is of real significance, and Canada is sending a strong message about its displeasure with an organization that has failed to stand up for its fundamental principles. However, it should not be Canada’s job alone to seek to safeguard the values of the association. Given Australia’s diplomatic influence within the Commonwealth and the adoption of the new Charter in March, securing the association’s future credibility and success should be an important international objective of the Australian Government as well. However, we believe that inaction on this matter and the tacit support President Rajapksa’s regime will be given, by attending CHOGM without first setting benchmarks on accountability, reconciliation and human rights, will undermine faith in the principles of Australian foreign policy and will weaken the Commonwealth

Please click here to read the full letter.