Tamil Justice

News from the weekend:

Times Online -Tamil party renounces demand for Independent homeland

The Guardian -Sri Lankan Tamils drop demand for separate independent homeland

Sify – ‘Tamils have not given up separate homeland demand’

Aljazeera – Tamils give up on independence

BBC News - Sri Lanka Tamil party drops statehood demand

The Associated Press – Sri Lankan Tamil party drops separatist demand

ABC Radio Australia PM – UN Refugee Agency may change some protection guidelines

The United Nations Refugee Agency is looking at changing its international protection guidelines for Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers. The changes would pave the way for Australia to send many more of the detainees on Christmas Island back to where they started. The Tamil Association is urging against any change to the guidelines, saying it’s no safer for Tamils in Sri Lanka. From Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.

“There is still 100- to 150,000 Tamils being held in military run camps in the north and the fact that there’s about another 10- to 15,000 Tamils being held in undisclosed areas where there are allegations of rape and torture that have been continuing for more than a year. I do not believe that the guidelines should be relaxed. Sri Lanka is still a very dangerous country for Tamil civilians regardless of whether they’re from the north, whether they’re from the east or anywhere on the island.” – Dr Sam Pari, National Spokesperson, Australian Tamil Congress

Click here to download audio

CNN’s Sara Sidner travels to Sri Lanka to report from ethnic Tamil areas and the victims of nearly three decades of civil war. Watch “Witness to Survival” March 13-16 on CNN International.

Watch video from source

2009 Human Rights Report: Sri Lanka
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
March 11, 2010

Outside of the conflict zone, the overwhelming majority of victims of human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings and disappearances, were young male Tamils…[and] observers linked the government closely to paramilitary groups believed responsible for serious human rights violations…

There were also reports of secret government facilities where suspected LTTE sympathizers were taken, tortured, and often killed…

The government required Tamils who wished to move within the country, especially those Tamils living in Jaffna, to obtain special passes issued by security forces…

Security forces at army checkpoints in Colombo frequently harassed Tamils. After the government assumed effective control of the east, both the government and the TMVP operated checkpoints that impeded the free movement of residents, especially Tamils…

Tamils throughout the country, but especially in the conflict-affected north and east, reported frequent harassment of young and middle-aged Tamil men by security forces and paramilitary groups…

Download full report here

Indian Express – Canada asks Sri Lanka to start talks with Tamil groups

Canada has asked Sri Lanka to start talks and the reconciliation process with the Tamil groups, saying such a step is crucial for lasting peace in the country.

“After 30 years of war, reconciliation is crucial for lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Canada awaits to see what steps the Government of Sri Lanka will take towards this reconciliation,” Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara during a meeting.

“Canada urges the government of Sri Lanka for an early safe return and resettlement of the approximately 100,000 individuals who remain displaced,” Obhrai said.

He said: “Canada is encouraged by the return of close to 160,000 internally displaced persons to their homes.”

Obhrai pointed out that Canada encourages the government of Sri Lanka to allow access by NGOs and the media to camps and resettlement areas and to continue to pursue effective coordination with humanitarian agencies and donors. “It is high time that the government of Sri Lanka lift the state of emergency as that the conflict is over,” he said. Obhrai told the High Commissioner that Sri Lanka remains a priority for Canada.

Tamil Group highlights the plight of Tamil Women in North-East Sri Lanka on International Women’s Day

USTPAC joined the world community in celebrating the International Women’s Day on March 8th, but on a sad note, wishes to highlight the continued suffering of Tamil women in North-East Sri Lanka.

The Star – Fiorito: Ship-bound Tamil refugees need help

What happens there happens here: a small wooden boat is sitting at anchor off the coast of Indonesia. It has been there for five months. On board are some 240 people who cannot come ashore for fear of arrest and deportation.

They are Tamils.

Five months on a boat meant for 50. You can imagine. No, you can’t.

Herald Sun – UNHCR refugee guidelines could deny asylum claims in Australia

THE United Nations is reviewing its refugee guidelines for Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in a move that could see the Federal Government deny protection claims for the majority of asylum seekers heading to Australia.

Radio Australia News – Tamil detainees sent back as situation improves

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the government is sending more Tamil asylum seekers back to their country as the situation improves in Sri Lanka.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is looking at changing its international protection guidelines for Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers as those countries become safer.

The changes would pave the way for more detainees in Australia’s Christmas Island holding camps to be returned to their country.

“It is true that we have recently provided more advice to our decision-makers about the improvement of the situation in Sri Lanka.”

Times Online – Sarath Fonseka to face three charges at court martial but not for coup plot

General Sarath Fonseka, the former Sri Lankan army chief arrested last month, will face a court martial next week on three charges, but not for plotting a coup as expected, officials announced yesterday.

ABC Online – Sri Lanka’s former army chief to face trial

The Hindu – Fonseka to be tried on Mar 16 and 17

Hindustan Times – Fonseka to face court martial next week

Retuers India – Sri Lanka to try former army chief next week

AFP – SLanka’s former army chief ‘to face three charges’