Church supports bid for Sri Lankan justice

Published: 29 May 2011
BRISBANE archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) has helped launch a campaign to encourage the Australian Government to support United Nations recommendations on accountability for human rights viol-ations in the final stages of the bloody Sri Lanka conflict which ended two years ago.
Among the recommendations are that the Sri Lankan Government would issue a formal apology for human rights violations during the conflict and the provision of reparations to survivors.
The campaign, launched in collaboration with Pax Christi Queensland at St Oliver Plunkett Church, Cannon Hill, on May 19, follows publication of a report prepared for the UN Secretary-General by an advisory panel of three experts.
CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt said the report found there were "credible allegations of serious violations of human rights law and humanitarian law committed by both the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE)".
"Allegations against the Government included that it shelled civilians in 'safe zones', that it shelled hospitals and humanitarian facilities and that it denied humanitarian assistance to victims of the conflict," he said.
"Allegations against the LTTE included that it killed civilians trying to flee LTTE-controlled areas, that it recruited child soldiers and that it recruited forced labour."
Mr Arndt said the campaign was intended to ensure the Australian Government supported UN recommendations based on the experts' report.
"The advisory panel recommended that the Sri Lankan Government conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations in line with international standards and that the United Nations establish international mechanisms to support these investigations," he said.
"The panel also recommended that the Sri Lankan Government adopt a number of short-term accountability measures which ensure respect and dignity for the victims and survivors of the conflict.
"It also recommended a number of long-term measures including a formal apology by the Sri Lankan Government for its human rights violations and the provision of reparations to survivors of the conflict."
The fundamental concern of the CJPC and Pax Christi Queensland campaign was the establishment of lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Mr Arndt said.
The campaign encourages people to sign a petition to the Senate and to contact their local MPs and senators calling on them to encourage the Australian Government to support the UN panel's recommendations.
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