In brief
Arrest
T Mathusoothanan, a columnist for human rights agency MIRJE’s Tamil newspaper Sarinigar, was arrested in Colombo on 26 August. The Sri Lankan Free Media Movement says the security forces breached Presidential Directives on arrests which require that information is immediately provided to relatives. The journalist was traced to a police station after 17 hours.
Equality
The UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities’ Norwegian member Asbjorn Eide launched a scathing attack in August on NGOs which support the LTTE. Mr Eide said the LTTE is an undemocratic movement unable to contemplate peace and called on the international community to convince Tamil expatriates that the way for human rights is through accommodation based on equality and full respect for Sinhalese culture.
Refoulement
In late August, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA), urged the security forces and the LTTE to abide by international law and called on Sri Lanka to permit access to the war zone. Noting the impact of current practices on Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, ACFOA urged the Australian government to ensure procedures at Australian and overseas ports do not expose the country to the real risk of refoulement against obligations under the Convention on Refugees.
Next article.
Back to Sri Lanka Monitor Index page
Back to The Refugee Council Welcome page