Newsletter

Buddhist mob defy court orders and conduct cremation on land deemed holy Hindus

Created on Wednesday, 25 September 2019 21:55

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) is deeply disturbed by events on 23 September 2019 in the north of the island of Sri Lanka whereby a Buddhist mob defied court orders by cremating the body of a deceased Buddhist monk on land deemed holy to Hindus. Further disturbing is that this took place under the protection of the police force.
 
The Mullaitivu district court had prohibited the cremation of deceased monk Colombo Medhalankarakiththi on land deemed holy by local Hindus and owned by local Hindu temple, Neeraviyadi Pillayar Hindu kovil. Police blocked local Tamils who protested the cremation thereby providing access to the Buddhist mob to undertake the cremation without hindrance. Witnesses recollection and footage suggest Buddhist monks reportedly attacked Tamil civilians and lawyers who were present to request enforcement of the court orders, while police officers watched on without taking any action. Sinhalese from the south of the island had been transported to the site. The incident was led by extremist Buddhist monk Galagodaaththe Gnanasara, who heads Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and has on a previous occasion been convicted for contempt of court only to receive a presidential pardon soon after. 
 
"Buddhist monks boldly defying a court order with police presence and inaction, and in effect under police protection, shows us that in Sri Lanka rule of law is secondary to Buddhist hegemony," said ATC Chairperson, Manokaran Manickavinayagam. "This incident is a perfect example of the blatant injustice faced by Tamils and the impunity perpetrators in the island enjoy."
 
25 September 2019

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) joins the hundreds of thousands of Australians who have called to stop the forcible removal of a Tamil family of four facing deportation to Sri Lanka

Created on Saturday, 31 August 2019 23:53

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) joins the hundreds of thousands of Australians who have called to stop the forcible removal of a Tamil family of four facing deportation to Sri Lanka.  
 
As mother, Priya, father, Nadesalingam, and their two Australian born daughters, Kopika, aged 4 and Tharunicaa, aged 2, are held on Christmas Island, separated from their support network in mainland Australia, the ATC urges the Australian government and the Minister for Immigration to heed to calls of Australians of all walks to lives, and use their discretionary powers to allow the family to continue their lives in Australia.   
 
"Above all this is a deeply humanitarian issue - a young hard working family with two Australian-born children fully integrated into Australian society and now fearful of returning to Sri Lanka," said ATC Chairman, Manokaran Manickavinayagam. "The incredible support they have received from all walks of Australia makes us proud and shows the true compassion of our country. The single act of their deportation, as though the intention is to convey a message of toughness, will be a severe, long lasting blot and national shame. We plead with the Minister of Immigration and the Prime Minister to intervene in this last minute in the name of humanity and compassion," he added.   
 
The ATC is further concerned that the plight of the family has been well publicised in Sri Lankan media which may exacerbate the risks they already face upon their return and their intention to lead a peaceful life.  
 
Recent developments in Sri Lanka, in particular the appointment of Shavendra Silva who has been implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity as the new Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, have been met with widespread condemnation.

 31 August 2019

ATC vows to continue to strive for justice, peace and freedom for Tamil People

Created on Friday, 17 May 2019 21:04

Ten years since the war in Sri Lanka came to a brutal end, the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) stands in solidarity with the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka and vows to continue to strive for justice, peace and freedom for the Tamil people. The ATC joins 60 other organisations worldwide in endorsing the below statement:
 
On 18 May 2019, ten years since the Sri Lankan state’s genocide against the Tamil nation reached its peak, we stand in solidarity with our brethren in their quest for justice. 
 
We believe that an international independent investigation is the only credible path to achieve criminal accountability and justice for mass atrocity crimes committed against the Tamil people, including for over 146,679 Tamil people unaccounted for during the final stages of the war in the Vanni region. 
 
Sri Lanka's continuing state oppression and persecution of the Tamil people and its persisting military occupation of the Tamil homeland only further justifies the Tamil nation’s struggle for self-determination. 
 
We declare today that we will stand in solidarity with the Tamil victims and survivors, and pledge to continue to strive for peace, justice and freedom for the Tamil nation.
 
Visit www.tamiljustice.com for more information
Media contact: Dr Sam Pari, Spokesperson, ATC 0416206431

10 Years on Sri Lanka continues to evade justice

Created on Sunday, 21 April 2019 03:50

May 2019 marks a decade since the final days of the war in Sri Lanka, a period which saw thousands of people killed and disappeared as Sri Lanka accelerated its genocide against the Tamils. Despite two UN initiated reports, several UN
Human Rights Council resolutions and a multitude of reports by human rights organisations, Tamil victims and survivors are no closer to receiving justice.


What alternative paths exist for Tamil victims and survivors? Is a hybrid mechanism possible? Should a fully international tribunal be sought?

Join us as we explore these questions in conversation with Dr Helen Jarvis, who has been a judge at the 2013 Permanent Peoples Tribunal on Sri Lanka, and has served as Chief of Public Affairs and Chief of Victims Support Section
of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

We will also be joined by Mr Ana Pararajasingham, who is a political analyst, author and expert on Sri Lankan and Tamil political affairs.

Attendees are kindly requested to register: tinyurl.com/y2jw95vf

Monday 29 April 2019 6.30pm – 8pm

Wesley Mission, 220 Pitt St, Sydney

Light snacks and beverages will be served

Australia co-sponsors, Tamils call for stronger UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka

Created on Tuesday, 26 March 2019 08:11

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) expresses its disappointment on the shortcomings of resolution 40/1 ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ adopted at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), as it fails to set a clear pathway for accelerated progress on achieving transitional justice and accountability for mass atrocity crimes committed in Sri Lanka.

There have been seven such resolutions with Sri Lanka itself co-sponsoring the last three. However, ten years since the war which saw the peak of mass atrocity crimes committed against the Tamil population, very little justice has reached victims and survivors. Action so far has mostly been bureaucratic shuffling for international approval.

Having not delivered on commitments agreed to in resolution 30/1 in 2015, Sri Lanka was given a 2-year extension (resolution 34/1) in 2017. Despite no meaningful progress again, co-sponsored by 32 countries, including Australia, another 2-year extension has been given yet again without strict time frames or consequences for failure in delivering on commitments.

The ATC appreciates the Council’s High Commissioner’s report which includes recommendations such as calling on member states to use universal jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes in Sri Lanka. However, the resolution has failed to meaningfully incorporate any of these.

“We are frustrated that member states have not taken a more robust approach to ensure delivery of Sri Lanka’s commitments made in previous resolutions,” said Ms. Avi Selva, ATC NSW director, who is currently attending UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

“This resolution yet again aids Sri Lanka’s tactic of delaying and hence denying justice to victims and survivors,” said ATC Spokesperson, Dr Sam Pari.

The ATC acknowledges Australia and other co-sponsoring countries and the Core Group for ensuring Sri Lanka continues to be monitored by the UNHRC. It is grateful to the NGOs and human rights defenders, including from Sri Lanka, who so diligently create awareness of past and ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka.  

Given Sri Lanka’s lack of will to bring perpetrators to justice, the ATC joins Tamil victim and survivor communities within the island, the Diaspora and international human rights organisations in calling for alternate UN processes to be considered such as referral to the ICC or the establishment of an international criminal tribunal.
 

Media contact:

Ms. Avi Selva, NSW Director, ATC      +417679678

Dr. Sam Pari, Spokesperson, ATC      0416206431

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About Us

The need of the hour is for our people, in each and every country that we have taken refuge in throughout the world, to unite and form country organisations that can constructively engage in diplomatic political dialogue with the governments of those countries to bring peace, dignity and freedom to our people wherever they may reside.

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