2ND LEAD (Adds video)

Socialist Alliance in Perth formes equality campaign for Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 September 2012, 23:16 GMT]
“Just like the apartheid in South Africa was isolated through the tightening grip of trade, cultural and sporting sanctions; just as the freedom struggle was aided by international support-moral, financial and political; so too a new international campaign for equal rights and justice in Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka must be brought into being,” says Samuel Wainwright, one of the leaders of the Socialist Alliance in Perth, Australia, who recently organised a solidarity seminar in Perth. A new network, named ‘WA Network for Human Rights in Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka’ has come into being following the seminar held on 01 September in Fremantle, he said.

Nearly fifty participants heard a presentation by Dr Brian Senewiratne at the seminar titled "Human rights under attack in Sri Lanka".

Commenting further on the meeting, Mr. Wainwright said that the appalling suggestion by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop that ‘Sri Lankan’ asylum seekers should be delivered into the hands of the Government of Sri Lanka without even looking at their claims underlined the importance of the newly formed network in Perth.

The Socialist Alliance was the leading organisation protesting against CHOGM in Perth on 28 October 2011.

The new campaign group grew out of discussion between activists, both Tamil and non-Tamil; about the desperate need for a campaigning initiative open to members of the Diaspora and the wider community, Wainwright further said.

The new group will take up the cause of all exploited and oppressed people in Sri Lanka and Tamil Eelam regardless of their religion or ethnicity; but without compromising on the fundamental right of the Eelam Tamils to self-determination.

The group has put out a draft "Charter for Human Rights in Sri Lanka and Tamil Eelam" for which it's gathering feedback and supporters.

“Australian society remains largely ignorant of the reality on the ground. Furthermore the government and much of the media have promoted the completely implausible idea that the so-called ‘end of the war’ in 2009 would bring a significantly improved human rights situation,” another activist of the new network told TamilNet.

Refugee Rights Action Network activist Phil Chilton explored the the business and geo-political interests behind the Australian government's support for the Rajapaksa regime.

The meeting discussed how the bipartisan support for "stopping the boats" in Australia inevitably leads to tacit support for Rajapaksa's reign of terror.

Chairman of the Australian Tamil Congress Professor Raj Rajeswaran detailed how his organisation has given extensive presentations to a large number of federal parliamentarians about the situation.

The meeting also discussed a campaign to call for a boycott the 2013 CHOGM to be held in Colombo.

“Canada is threatening not to attend the meet, but Julia Gillard has so far ruled out doing the same,” Mr Wainwright said.

In addition to CHOGM 2013, the group discussed promoting a boycott of Sri Lankan cricket and tourism; and a campaign to ban all military trade and cooperation with the Rajapksa regime.

Presentation by Dr. Brian Senewiratne's follows:



Related Articles:
28.10.11   Perth Tamils join Australians protesting amidst attempts to ..

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35561