16 October 2013
Govt should refuse Sri Lanka chair
The Green Party has written to Minister McCully urging him to publicly challenge Sri Lanka and oppose the appointment of President Rajapaksa when it comes time to appoint the Commonwealth Chairperson-In-Office, the Green Party said today

Unless opposed, Sri Lanka’s President, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) host, will become chair of the Commonwealth for the two years until the heads of state meet next.

"New Zealand needs to join the UN, Amnesty international and Canada and call Sri Lanka to account and make very sure they are not given the leadership of the Commonwealth for the next two years,” Green Party human rights spokesperson Jan Logie said today.

“The human rights abuses by the Sri Lankan Government have been well documented by the United Nations and Amnesty International.

“This country should never have been given the chance to chair the CHOGM meeting while those in power at the time of gross human rights violations have been able to get off scot-free.

“However now that the meeting is happening in Sri Lanka, New Zealand must take this opportunity to raise these issues with other commonwealth nations.

“We must take a lead in upholding human rights in the Commonwealth.

“While Sri Lanka refuses to give access to independent investigators we must continue to hold the Sri Lankan Government to account.
“If we don't we are in effect supporting what the UN Commissioner for Human Rights has raised as an increasingly authoritarian direction in Sri Lanka.

“Minister McCully must recognize that President Rajapaksa should not be made chairperson-in-office of the Commonwealth and respond accordingly,” said Ms Logie.
https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/ltr_-m_mccully_chogm_and_human_rights_abuses_in_sri_lanka.pdf

ENDS

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