Press Release

Malcolm Fraser reiterates call for Australia to reconsider attendance at CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Media Release – 26 April 2013

Malcolm Fraser reiterates call for Australia to reconsider attendance at CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, the Australian Greens and the Australian Tamil Congress have joined over 2700 individuals to request that Prime Minister Julia Gillard reconsiders attending the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka.

This call comes as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meets in London today (26 April).

A variety of international human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Elders are calling for a shift in the venue for this year’s CHOGM.

The petition (http://chn.ge/ZtzGS1) appeals to the Prime Minister to follow the example of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and announce that she will not attend CHOGM if there is no progress in Sri Lanka's human rights.

It has been launched by the Australian Tamil Congress and is part of a wider global campaign to stop Sri Lanka from hosting CHOGM.

ATC Chair Dr Raj Rajeswaran says, "The CMAG meeting is a watershed moment for the Commonwealth's relevance and commitment to its core principles of democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, rule of law, judicial independence and good governance. Australia should review its unconditional support for CHOGM in Sri Lanka and use its position as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth to place Sri Lanka formally on the agenda at the CMAG meeting today"

Greens Senator Rhiannon said "It is time Australia shows leadership on Sri Lanka, instead of being best friends in order to manage Tamils fleeing torture, rape and discrimination, arbitrary arrests at the hands of the brutal Rajapakse regime.

"It is wrong that a country that stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity is allowed to build international legitimacy by using international bodies such as CHOGM,” Senator Rhiannon said.

For media comment please call: Dr Rajeswaran 1300 660 629 Lee Rhiannon 0487 350 880

Link to petition: https://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-reconsider-chogm-2013-in-sri-lanka

Concern grows for welfare of ASIO detained refugees on hunger-strike

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) is deeply concerned about the physical and mental well-being of the Tamil refugees currently on hunger-strike in Melbourne. Two men on hunger-strike were admitted to hospital yesterday, one with internal bleeding and another who is diabetic but is declining medical treatment.

"The act of indefinite detention is soul-crushing. It squeezes out any hope of a normal life and leads to severe mental health issues. It is utterly inhumane and many of these men, women and children who have already experienced trauma in their home countries do not deserve to be mentally tortured even further," said Mr. Bala Vigneswaran of the ATC.

"It is time to question one's conscience and make policies that are humane. We call on the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Attorney General to act as matter of urgency to bring an amicable solution immediately for those on the hunger-strike and a just solution for all in indefinite detention. The ATC will be ready to provide any assistance to the Department and the genuine refugees so as to avoid any further deterioration in the physical and mental well-being of these people," he added.

There are nearly 60 recognised refugees in Australia detained indefinitely following adverse security assessments by ASIO. Most of them are Tamils. There are four women and seven children among these long-term detainees. Two women have delivered children while in detention, and two women lost their husbands who were killed in the final stages of the war in the island of Sri Lanka. All their children, who are also in detention with them, are less than 10 years of age.

Media contact:
Mr. Bala Vigneswaran, Australian Tamil Congress – 0404 404 777

Coalition Call to Automatically Return All Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Unethical and Unlawful

The Australian Tamil Congress is shocked by remarks made by the Coalition that all asylum seekers from Sri Lanka would be automatically returned without due process. Such an act would not only be unlawful and in breach of Australia's obligations under international law, but also gravely unethical.

"The Australian Tamil Congress believes all claims of asylum should be assessed on a case-by-case basis," said Mr. Bala Vigneswaran from the Australian Tamil Congress. "From our experience having worked with a large number of Tamil refugees we know for certain of the continuing persecution of Tamils, human rights activists and media workers in Sri Lanka, and the continuing effects of torture and trauma experienced by refugees currently in Australia. Such a generalised statement from responsible political parties only dilutes and over simplifies this very real problem," he added.

These statements coincide with the visit to Australia of a group of Sri Lankan journalists of both Tamil and Sinhala backgrounds, to participate in the screening this week of their documentary "Silenced Voices - Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile".

The documentary highlights the dangerous life of death threats, abductions and indefinite detention faced by media workers in Sri Lanka which hails itself as one of the most dangerous places in the world for media workers. Mr. Bashana Abeywardane, coordinator for Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka and Mr. Lokeesan Anputhurai, former correspondent from the war-zone for TamilNet are willing to be interviewed.

Those wishing to attend the screening of the movie or interview the journalists may call 0433 428 967.

Media contact:
Mr. Bala Vigneswaran, Australian Tamil Congress - 0404 404 777

Evidence of Sri Lankan Army Execution of a Tamil Child

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on 15 March 2012 7AM

Evidence of Sri Lankan Army Execution of a Tamil Child

Today, a British documentary will reveal chilling evidence showing what is believed to be the execution by Sri Lankan Armed Forces of a child – the 12 year old son of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader, after he had surrendered to government forces. The photographs and video appears to be grotesque ‘trophy’ footage taken by the Sri Lankan military.

The documentary by Channel 4 titled “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished” reveals damning new evidence of war crimes and traces the ultimate responsibility for these crimes to the highest ranking officials, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It forensically examines and reveals the systematic policy of executing surrendering or captured Tamils, even if they were children, the deliberate heavy shelling of civilians and hospitals in ‘No Fire Zones’ and the strategic denial of food and medicine to thousands of trapped civilians.

With the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council currently discussing an American-led resolution on Sri Lanka, the film also explores the complicity of the international community, including the UN, who chose to ignore the bloodshed in Sri Lanka.

“The international community, including Australia, failed to protect Tamil victims of war crimes,” said Dr. Sam Pari, spokesperson for the Australian Tamil Congress. “It is now time for Australia to step away from the soft diplomacy it practices with Sri Lanka and openly call for an international independent inquiry into war crimes, with trade sanctions being imposed if Sri Lanka fails to follow,” she added.

“Our government’s silence only helps to protect the perpetrators and continue the persecution of Tamil people, which is the direct cause of thousands arriving here by boat seeking asylum,” she said.

Last year, the International Commission of Jurists submitted a dossier of evidence and eye witness testimonies of war crimes committed in Sri Lanka, to the Australian Federal Police.

The documentary will be aired at 9.55AM AEST and can be viewed online via: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/4od#3303398

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	Frances Harrison, a former BBC foreign correspondent who covered the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war and has recently published a book of eye witness accounts from the end of the war, Still Counting the Dead.
	Dr Sam Pari, National Spokesperson of the Australian Tamil Congress. Sam possesses vast experience as a volunteer worker in the post-tsunami regions of North-East Sri Lanka, and has represented the Tamil community at numerous human rights, political and academic forums and in the media.
	Bruce Haigh, political commentator and a former Australian diplomat, who was Deputy High Commissioner at the Australian High Commission in Colombo in the 1990s, and a former member of the Refugee Review Tribunal. (Participating in the Sydney event only.)
	Gordon Weiss, a seasoned journalist and international aid worker. He was the UN spokesperson on Sri Lanka during the last phase and aftermath of Sri Lanka’s civil war. Drawing on his experiences, his book The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers, examines atrocities perpetrated during the last months of the war in Sri Lanka. (Participating in the Melbourne event only.)

Australian Tamil Congress

Press Release

Malcolm Fraser reiterates call for Australia to reconsider attendance at CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Concern grows for welfare of ASIO detained refugees on hunger-strike

Coalition Call to Automatically Return All Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Unethical and Unlawful

Evidence of Sri Lankan Army Execution of a Tamil Child

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