Canada suspends voluntary Commonwealth funds over Sri Lanka’s human rights issue

Wednesday, 16 April 2014 02:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ottawa: Canada has decided to suspend voluntary funds to the Commonwealth over Sri Lanka’s human rights issue during Sri Lanka’s tenure as current chair of the Commonwealth. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird Monday announced that Canada will suspend its voluntary contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat and reallocate the funds for the next two years. He said Canada remains deeply concerned about the absence of accountability for alleged serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka. “As host of the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and current Chair in Office, Sri Lanka has a duty to take meaningful action on human rights, political reconciliation and accountability. However, Sri Lanka has failed to realize progress on any of these issues,” Baird said in a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada took a strong and principled stand in not attending the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, and today’s announcement is an extension of that leadership. The Canadian Foreign Minister said the decision was not taken lightly. “We can no longer justify providing additional funding to an organisation that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behaviour and religious intolerance in its member states.” “As Prime Minister Harper has stated, Canada believes that if the Commonwealth is to remain relevant it must stand in defence of the basic principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human dignity, which are the very foundations upon which the Commonwealth was built,” said Baird. Canadian Prime Minister boycotted the Commonwealth summit held in Sri Lanka last year. While Sri Lanka is Chair in Office for next two years, Canada’s $10-million annual voluntary Commonwealth contribution will instead go toward supporting initiatives that “espouse the Commonwealth’s values” and help to deliver results for those who need them the most. Canada will allocate the $20 million contribution to assist in combating the practice of child, early and forced marriage, and help Commonwealth civil society advance the promotion of human rights. “Canada will continue to work with its partners to uphold the Commonwealth’s core values, which are cherished by all Canadians,” Baird said.

UN investigation on Sri Lanka to examine a broad range of information and evidence

London: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will soon begin the process of establishing an investigation on Sri Lanka’s alleged violations of human rights and assessing the evidence.The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, William Hague said the investigation will draw on expertise from a range of fields and examine a broad range of information and evidence. When asked what further steps his Department is taking to ensure that the international investigation into the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is carried out transparently, robustly and swiftly Hague said the British Government fully supports the UN Human Rights Council and the OHCHR in the investigation. “We will continue to work with them and international partners, and continue to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to ensure proper implementation of the resolution,” Hague told the UK Parliament Thursday. The UN High Commissioner will provide an oral update to the UNHRC in September, and will provide a comprehensive report to the UNHRC in March 2015. The UNHRC on 27 March passed a renewed resolution on Sri Lanka which establishes an international investigation into allegations of violations of international law on both sides of Sri Lanka’s military conflict, and calls upon the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on human rights and reconciliation.

Govt. says no surprise in Canada’s move of suspending funds for Commonwealth

In response to Canada’s suspension of voluntary Commonwealth funds, the External Affairs Ministry issued the following statement: This announcement is not a surprise. It may be recalled that when the Canadian Prime Minister announced his non attendance of the 2013 CHOGM in Colombo, he also alluded to the issue of cutting back his Government’s contributions to the Commonwealth. Further, during conversation with a Canadian Government representative in Sri Lanka over a year ago it was mentioned that Canada was considering the rationalisation of their contributions to international organisations including the Commonwealth. When Sri Lanka was to assume Chairmanship of the Commonwealth, the Canadian Government sought to make their reservations in this regard as the reason for the cut. Concern has been expressed amongst the wider Commonwealth that the countries which provide the majority of the finances seek to unduly influence the working of the Organisation. This action by Canada stands in evidence of such machinations. Regrettably the Canadian Government has sought to use its voluntary funds as a political tool based on the dictates of electoral compulsions, thereby holding the membership of the wider Commonwealth to ransom, through competing claims for power. Further, the relentless action pursued by Canada on Sri Lanka, will only seek to undermine the delicate reconciliation process, as the bona fides of the basis of that Governments trajectory is questionable and not in tandem with the interests of the people of Sri Lanka. It is the GoSL which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame. This action taken by Canada is at variance with the underlying spirit of the Commonwealth as a voluntary Organisation of sovereign nations, with diversity being its hallmark. Sri Lanka upholds Commonwealth values and has never sought their change. Baird’s comment in justifying Canada’s action is a castigation of the organisation as a whole, and believe that the wider Commonwealth stands in solidarity against such manipulations.