The UN says that both sides committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final phase of the war in Sri Lanka © Private
By Steve Crawshaw international advocacy director of Amnesty International
A hard-hitting UN report has found compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final phase of the war in Sri Lanka in spring 2009.
In the face of repeated government denials, the report’s authors reckon that up to 40,000 died in just a few terrible months in spring 2009 — kept out of the sight of television cameras, and out of the politicians’ minds. The report calls for an international investigation, which could have far-reaching consequences.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka: Confronting the Killing Fields’
By Lance Lattig, Amnesty International’s Malaysia researcher
Australia’s ABC News recently went out on patrol with Malaysia’s Coast Guard, which has received US$1 million worth of boats from the Australian government as part of an immigration control program.
While Australia’s shores are thousands of kilometres from Malaysia, refugees fleeing persecution in countries like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka must pass through Malaysian waters when they head to Australia to seek asylum. Australia says its program with Malaysia is to prevent boatloads of people from making the dangerous sea journey south. Meanwhile back at home, Australia has been trying to push away its obligations to asylum seekers. In April, the Australian government suspended processing of all asylum claims by Afghans or Sri Lankans, most of whom had made it to Australia only after enduring the Malaysia part of their journey.
Continue reading ‘Australia helps Malaysia put refugees in choke-hold’
Tamil children in Sundern, Germany performing traditional dances in solidarity with detained children in Sri Lanka.
By Tim Molyneux, a volunteer working in Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka team.
Last week Amnesty International launched a week of action for the “Unlock the Camps” campaign, highlighting the continued detention of thousands of displaced people in Sri Lanka.
Looking back, the week was a great success; local groups all over the world took action and lots of interesting events were held. Amnesty International supporters demonstrated strong grass roots support for the campaign, and members of the public reacted positively to our messages.
Continue reading ‘Looking back at the Sri Lanka week of action’
By John Argue, co-ordinator for Sri Lanka, Amnesty International in Canada
Hundreds of Canadians, including many Tamils from Sri Lanka who live in Canada now, rallied in one of Toronto’s main shopping districts on Saturday, creating a personal Circle of Hope around the Sri Lankan consulate in the city.
Continue reading ‘Canadians concerned about Sri Lanka’
Buttons handed out in Berne © Amnesty International
By Christine Heller, a Sri Lanka Coordinator for Amnesty International in Switzerland.
I’ve just come back from our Sri Lanka action in Berne. The sun was out and there were about 40 activists handing out solidarity buttons reading “unlock the camps” in Tamil, as well as postcards featuring the poem “Broken Pottu” by Mahesh Munasinghe, inspired by the plight of children held in the camps.
Continue reading ‘Giving out solidarity buttons in Switzerland’
