Canadian MP urges immediate action on Sri Lankan humanitarian crisis

(February 02, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) Canadian Parliament Member and NDP International Trade Critic Peter Julian has urged his government to immediately use all diplomatic means possible to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to halt the ongoing unacceptable and dangerous human rights situation affecting civilians in the northern region of the country.

Presenting a Motion in the House of Commons, Peter Julian, who is MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, said in recent weeks, government military advances into Tamil Tiger strongholds have put hundreds of thousands of civilians at risk.

“Overwhelming evidence implicates the government in serious human rights abuses against civilians, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention”.

Peter Julian said most civilians fleeing the violence are detained in government-run military camps where the situation is dangerous and conditions are poor.

“Canada must use all diplomatic means possible to ensure respect for human right in northern Sri Lanka. There are many indications that human rights abuses will continue to occur unless the international community speaks out strongly and clearly”, the MP said.

Peter Julian also sent an urgent letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, urging the government to act immediately on a list of recommendations concerning the urgent humanitarian crisis.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also indicated on January 27, 2009, his “deep concern” over the situation affecting civilians in Sri Lanka. Since September 2008, the Sri Lankan government has expelled UN agencies and other international humanitarian organizations from the conflict zone. Journalists have also been barred from the region since mid-2007.

The NDP has always unequivocally denounced violence against civilians from both sides of the conflict. -Sri Lanka Guardian