January 3, 2008 (1:30 p.m. EST)

No. 2

STATEMENT ON THE POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA

The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement following developments in Sri Lanka:

“Canada deeply regrets the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw from the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.

“Withdrawal from this important agreement will make the search for a durable political solution more difficult, and only increases the likelihood that the incidents of violence being carried out by both sides will increase.

“We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the escalating violence on civilians, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders. Violence will not produce solutions, it will only bring more tragedy to the people of Sri Lanka.

“We call on all parties to respect human rights and to work urgently toward political solutions that will bring peace to Sri Lanka.”

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For Immediate Release January 3, 2008

Derek Lee, M.P. Condemns the Killing of Sri Lankan M.P.

OTTAWA - Member of Parliament Derek Lee today condemned the killing of Mr. Thiyakarajah Maheswaran, M.P., of the Colombo district opposition United National Party (UNP), earlier this week following a bombing incident near Ponnambala Vaaneasvarar temple at Kochchikkadai.

“The killing of persons of political leadership in Sri Lanka, whether elected or not, is robbing the country of precisely the type of leaders who might find a way to peace and resolution there,” said Mr. Lee. “The political slaughter is also bleeding the country of the morals and principles necessary as a foundation for rule of law and a support for a government under a constitution. Surely the people of Sri Lanka would prefer the give and take of a credible peace process to the giving up of dead and maimed in a never-ending civil/military conflict which has hobbled the economy and stability of the island.”

“I add my prayers and expression of condolence to those around the world who grieve for Sri Lanka in such difficult times,” said Mr. Lee.

Mr. Lee recently convened a Toronto public round table with several Toronto area M.P.s to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.

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Canada and the World Cannot Ignore Sri Lankan Conflict

January 3, 2008

TORONTO - The recent decision by the government of Sri Lanka to formally end the ceasefire agreement with the Tamil Tigers should not be ignored by the world community, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae said today.

“This is a formal indication that the country has once again descended into war, which can only result in a humanitarian disaster,” Mr. Rae said.

“It is precisely when the parties seem most determined to find a military solution to this conflict that the world community – the United Nations, the Commonwealth, donor countries – should be doing more to find political solutions instead.”

Mr. Rae – who worked on the peace process in Sri Lanka as Chairman of the Forum of Federations – said there have already been more than 70,000 killed and hundreds of thousands turned into homeless refugees as a result of this terrible conflict.

Liberal associate Foreign Affairs Critic Bryon Wilfert condemned the tactics used by both sides and warned the situation will only get worse if the world community continues to ignore the humanitarian consequences of this situation.

“A pluralist, diverse country like Sri Lanka needs bold and innovative changes in governance, and not aerial bombings of villages and suicide bombings of civilians,” said Mr. Wilfert.

Noting that other conflicts have received far more attention, Mr. Rae said Canada’s interest in the conflict should be heightened by the fact that we are home to so many members of the Sri Lankan community.

“We need an activist, concerned response from Canada, instead of the current approach of the Harper government,” he said.

Edited January 4, 200817 yr by yarlpaadi

கனேடிய அரசு மகேஸ்வரனின் கொலைக்கு கண்டனம் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை. மாறாக ரொறன்ரோவைச் சேர்ந்த நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினரே கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

கனேடிய அரசு போர் நிறுத்த உடன்பாட்டிலிருந்து சிறிலங்கா அரசு விலகுவதாக அறிவித்ததற்கு "வெறும் வருத்தம்" மட்டுமே தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

போர் நிறுத்த உடன்பாட்டிலிருந்து விலயமைக்காக சிறிலங்கா அரசை இதுவரை எந்த நாடுமே கண்டிக்கவில்லை என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.