News Release: HRAC Calls for Travel Ban and Economic Sanctions
April 03, 2014
Human Rights and Advocacy Council (HRAC), Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA)
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution that mandates a comprehensive international inquiry into the war crimes in Sri-Lanka for the Sri-Lankan state failed to investigate these allegations sufficiently itself. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 23 states in favour, 12 opposed and 12 abstentions. President Mahinda Rajapakse, in a statement to AFP said that Sri Lanka rejected the UNHRC resolution.
The HRAC welcomes the UNHRC resolution as it highlights the failure of Sri-Lanka as a sovereign state to bring about any meaningful justice to the people affected during the last phase of the armed conflict. However, considering the on-going genocide of the Eelam Tamil Nation, this resolution falls short in protecting the remaining Tamil population in the island. The condition of Tamils in their traditional homeland continues to deteriorate. Tamils continue to face rape, disappearances, intimidation against freedom of speech and assembly, destruction of heritage sites, coercive population control and disenfranchisement of land as the different forms of genocide are under swift implementation. Without a stronger action by the International Community to achieve a permanent political solution to protect the Tamil nation, the conditions will only continue to worsen.
The HRAC calls upon the Canadian government and the International Community to immediately call for travel ban and economic sanctions against Sri Lanka noting President Rajapakse’s statement rejecting their cooperation to UNHRC resolution.
The HRAC will continue to voice against the genocide of Tamils by collecting evidences from the witnesses and survivors through the Thazhumbakam project. Thazhumbakam, A Tamil Genocide Memorial Museum aims to broaden public understanding of the history of the Tamil Genocide through comprehensive programs: art and artifact exhibitions, research and publication, collecting materials, distribution of educational materials and resources, and a variety of other public programming designed to enhance understanding of the Tamil Genocide.
The need for Thazumbakam to safeguard the history of Tamils and work towards collocating evidence pointing to genocide is imperative. The HRAC further calls upon the Tamil youth in Canada to continue to raise awareness about the genocide of Eelam Tamils and participate in Thazumbakam by hosting events and exhibitions to enhance public awareness of the Tamil Genocide.
The HRAC aims to build the capacity of Canadian Tamil youth by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to advocate for the protection of human rights in Canada and abroad. This Council will strive to not only uphold international law and the Geneva conventions, but also educate our youth and the broader Canadian society about the ongoing plight of Tamil people.
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