In brief
Good governance
A report by the London-based Foreign Policy Centre made public before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Durban, South Africa, calls for the expulsion of Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth if they do not improve the treatment of their citizens. The report includes a checklist of criteria for membership, which would oblige members to respect human rights.
Interrogation
Tamil daily newspaper Thinakkural editor, A Sivanesachelvam was interrogated by police on 1 December, allegedly for publicising the plight of civilians in the Vanni. Emergency regulations imposing censorship on war-related news were reinforced in early November. UN human rights prize winner Sunila Abeysekera filed an application in the Supreme Court challenging censorship.
Released
The Supreme Court ordered the release of Mannar GA SM Croos on 2 November, following a fundamental rights application alleging illegal detention. Mr Croos was arrested in September accused of LTTE links.
Postponed
Following the military coup in Pakistan and the fall of the Nawas Sharif government, the 11th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation scheduled for November in Kathmandu, Nepal was postponed.
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