Special Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 21 May 2010 7AM

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Tamils call for Trade Sanctions and Travel Bans on Sri Lanka
 
A report by Human Rights Watch released today, citing photographs and eye witness testimonies, claims war crimes may have taken place in Sri Lanka during last year's war and reiterates its call for an independent investigation into Sri Lanka.

Over the past two days, a stream of evidence supporting the claim of war crimes in Sri Lanka has been published by British Channel 4 News and the International Crisis Group, strengthening the call for Sri Lanka to allow an independent investigation of war crimes in the island. 

Tamil groups say these reports finally confirm what Tamils have been claiming for more than a year - that the Sri Lankan military tortured and executed Tamil civilians and surrendering combatants and indiscriminantly bombed Tamil civilian targets during its war. 
 
The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) urges the Australian government to put pressure on Sri Lanka to allow an independent investigation into war crimes and human rights violations that have occurred in the island. 

"If Sri Lanka fails to do so, Australia should impose trade sanctions and trave bans on Sri Lankan government officials," says Dr Sam Pari, spokesperson for the ATC.
 
The ATC further urges the Australian government and the opposition to review Australia's current foreign policy on Sri Lanka regarding Australia's trade as well as refugee issues.


Media contact:
Dr Sam Pari - 0433 428 967

  
Human Rights Watch - Sri Lanka: New Evidence of Wartime Abuses
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/20/sri-lanka-new-evidence-wartime-abuses

Channel 4 News - Sri Lanka Tamil killings 'ordered from the top'
 
International Crisis Group - War Crimes in Sri Lanak
 

State MLA Hon. Amanda Bresnan's speech in ACT Parliament 6/05/2010

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From Hansard -Page: 128/132Tamil referendum MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (6.48): I too would like to thank Anna for the greatcontribution she has made since she has been here. As Shane said, she is a fantasticcook. She is also extremely fashionable and, as everyone has also said, has a wickedsense of humour. She loves pink. That is right. Her presence is going to be greatlymissed. I would like to briefly mention that on Sunday, 18 April, I attended, as an observer,the ACT booth for the Tamil referendum, where Tamils living in Australia were askedto vote on whether they aspire for the formation of an independent Tamil homeland inthe north and east of Sri Lanka.

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AUSTRALIAN TAMIL CONGRESS PROUDLY LAUNCHES ITS 6TH CHAPTER IN AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

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The sixth chapter of ATC was inaugurated in Canberra, ACT on Sunday 9 May 2010.

ATC was launched in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA in August 2009. 

 The launch was successful and several ATC residents joined to strengthen ATC.

 The highlight of the event was that the youth in Canberra initiated and organised this launch of ATC.

Community leader, Dr Ragavan attended as a well wisher, wished the youth the very best in their mission and spoke of the importance of youth taking the forefront.

 

ATC Chairman Prof Raj Rajeswaran was regretably unable to attend but sent the following message:

Chairman’s message

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My warmest welcome to you all for attending this important meeting to help form the 6th Chapter of the Australian Tamil Congress in Australia's capital city.

Due to other commitments, I am unable to share this momentous occasion with you all in person, and I am sincerely sorry for that. 

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Sri Lanka seeks to silence war crimes claims

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“General Fonseka's arrest is a clear message that the Government of Sri Lanka will detain anyone - even its own military leaders, if they threaten to expose its appalling human rights record."

Dr Sam Pari – Spokesperson for the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC)

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Taken from the TamilJustice blog

Australian Tamil Congress cannot be held liable for any Tamil Justice posts. Opinions appearing on Tamil Justice are only those of the authors and do not reflect the position of Australian Tamil Congress. Tamil Justice is an independent blog run by individuals that provides daily coverage of domestic and international events relating to Tamil issues. The Australian Tamil Congress has chosen to publish posts from Tamil Justice purely as a resource to keep our members updated on current news events.
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