Bianca Jagger, prominent human rights advocate warns of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe in SL
September 30 2009 – Tamil National
“The world cannot continue to ignore the suffering of the approximately 280,000 Tamil civilians, including women and – according to Amnesty International – at least 50,000 children, illegally detained in internment camps in northern Sri Lanka. The imminent monsoon will create life threatening conditions in these camps, and risks causing a humanitarian catastrophe,” Bianca Jagger, prominent human rights advocate said.
Announcing her support for the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace & Justice, Ms Jagger added: “The Government of Sri Lanka has less than 50 days to keep their promise to relocate Tamil civilians within their target of 180 days. So far there has been no sign that the Sri Lankan government will keep its promise. President Rajapaksa’s wanton disregard for human life is in clear violation of international humanitarian law. I urge UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the international community to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Amnesty International reports that the displaced people – including at least 50,000 children – are being accommodated in 41 camps spread over four districts. The majority of the displaced are in Vavuniya District where Manik Farm is the biggest camp.
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Extension of GSP Plus status to be decided next month
September 30, 2009 – Fibre2Fashion (Sri Lanka)
The European Commission will convene on October 15, to discuss the matter of extending the GSP Plus status to Sri Lanka. As per GSP Plus, exports from Sri Lanka do not attract any import duties in its exports to the countries of the European Union.
GSP Plus gives Sri Lanka the right to export more than 7,200 products duty-free to the EU, which last year accounted for 36 percent of Sri Lanka’s US $8.1 billion in total exports. Countries receiving GSP Plus must have ratified and implemented 27 international conventions on rights, labour, development and good governance.
As per sources in the European Commission, the status may be extended, but with conditions attached. The Commission is probing the excesses of the military in its war against terrorism, last year and which has become the central topic of the Commission in its decision to extend the status.
The biggest export revenue generator; apparels is fully dependent on the GSP Plus status being given a extension, since most of the exports from the sector are destined for Europe and losing the status would mean competing with other countries like China, India and Vietnam on a equal footing.
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Two testimonies from families released from Menik Camp
September 30, 2009 – Groundviews
Editors note: Two short testimonies on the plight of IDPs released from Menik Camp sent to Groundviews highlight significant challenges facing reconciliation and resettlement in post-war Sri Lanka and the urgent need for psycho-social counseling.]
Testimony #1
Around 50-52 IDP families from Zone 5, Menik Farm were brought outside the camp with their belongings and asked to leave without any assistance. No transport provided. No proper documentation was given to prove the release. The military brought our belongings in a tractor until the entrance of the camp and then handed over to us. We walked till the entrance. Once our belongings arrived, we were asked to go home. But we didn’t have any facility to go. We didn’t know where to go and how to go. This happened around 4.30 in the evening on 29th September.
All families had a minimum of one pregnant woman in a family. The total number of individuals were around 170
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Lanka rules out unregulated access to IDP camps
September 30, 2009 – Rediff
The Sri Lankan government has ruled out unregulated access to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in the island nation, arguing that such a step may threaten ‘peace and tranquility’ in these camps.
Thousands of Tamil civilians, who had fled their homes after the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan army escalated after a decades-long civil war, are still living in these camps.
Responding to questions after addressing an audience at the Asia Society in New York last week, Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake refuted all allegations of human rights abuses by the military and criticism of the government’s treatment of the displaced Tamils.
“First and foremost, no crime was committed by our armed forces. When countries talk about the problem, I would urge them to help us and not talk. Please accept the fact that we have a big problem on our hand. The entire area is mined and de-mining is not an easy job to do,” a visibly agitated Wickramanayake said in response to a question about the IDPs.
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Supreme Court to decide terrorism support law
Sep 30, 2009 – Reuters
The U.S. Supreme Court said on Wednesday it would hear an Obama administration appeal defending part of the Patriot Act, which has been criticized by civil liberties groups for giving the government broad powers.
The justices agreed to review a U.S. appeals court ruling that struck down as unconstitutionally vague a law that makes it a crime to provide support to a foreign terrorist group.
The law, first adopted in 1996, was strengthened by the USA Patriot Act supported by then-President George W. Bush and approved by Congress right after the September 11 attacks in 2001. It was amended again in 2004.
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