Decision to hold next CHOGM in Sri Lanka criticised
October 30th, 2011 - 7:50 pm ICT by IANSPerth, Oct 30 (IANS) The decision to go ahead with the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in 2013 is “contrary to the association’s fundamental values of human rights and democracy” and could make it irrelevant, a rights group said Sunday.
“This decision runs contrary to the association’s fundamental values of human rights and democracy, and has pushed the Commonwealth to the lowest point in its history,” the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) said in a release.
“A Commonwealth position that legitimises the human rights situation in Sri Lanka may in the very near future delegitimise the Commonwealth fatally and forever,” it said.
Recalling that in 2009, the CHOGM deferred Sri Lanka’s proposal to host CHOGM 2011 for two years, the CHRI said nothing much had changed since then.
“Instead, human rights concerns have increased significantly and the Sri Lankan regime’s response has been denial and defiance rather than genuine efforts at accountability and recompense,” it said, adding that an expert panel appointed by the UN secretary general in June 2009 called for independent international investigations of allegations of humanitarian law violations and war crimes.
“The Commonwealth, however, has chosen to turn a blind eye to the widely publicised allegations. The few Commonwealth member states that have expressed some concern have been resolutely opposed by strong voices that prefer to paper over the serious situation,” the CHRI said.
It said by allowing Sri Lanka to go on to host CHOGM 2013, and subsequently become chair of the association, the Commonwealth has “openly proclaimed that it is no longer capable of landmark human rights stances, as demonstrated by its historic activism against Apartheid”.
“Without a strong commitment to human rights, the Commonwealth cannot be of any relevance to its two billion people,” the CHRI said.
The Commonwealth’s stance on Sri Lanka in the run up to CHOGM 2013 will “indicate whether there is any chance that the organisation can salvage itself from this substantial tear in its moral fabric,” it added.
- Commonwealth to intervene in democracy subversion, rights monitor stalled - Oct 28, 2011
- India opposes moves against Colombo at Commonwealth meet - Oct 27, 2011
- Mood sours as CHOGM stalls rights monitor move - Oct 29, 2011
- Vice president heading to Australia for CHOGM - Oct 24, 2011
- Commonwealth fails to pass the reforms test - Oct 30, 2011
- Britain seeks India's leadership role in Commonwealth - Aug 30, 2011
- Brown will not back Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth summit - Nov 27, 2009
- India satisfied with CHOGM outcome: Ansari - Oct 31, 2011
- Fiji banned from 2010 Commonwealth Games - Dec 02, 2009
- Fiji banned from participating in Delhi Commonwealth Games - Nov 30, 2009
- SAARC MPs' conference concludes with call for peace - Jul 11, 2011
- Activists demand intelligence, para-military forces answer RTIs - May 27, 2012
- Britain to block Sri Lankan bid to host Commonwealth summit - Nov 27, 2009
- Sri Lanka seek Asian support for hosting Commonwealth Games - Oct 07, 2011
- Address accountability, US tells Lanka - Mar 22, 2012
Tags: blind eye, chogm, chri, commonwealth heads, expert panel, fundamental values, genuine efforts, heads of government, human rights concerns, human rights initiative, human rights situation, humanitarian law violations, international investigations, recompense, rights and democracy, serious situation, sri lankan, strong commitment, un secretary general, war crimes