Media Release                                       11.12.2009

Presidential Election in Sri Lanka – What does it mean to the Tamils under siege?

The Australasian federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA), the umbrella body of the peak Tamil associations in the States and territories of Australia and Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, would like to bring to your attention the following concerns, in regards to the forthcoming Presidential election in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has announced the polling date (26 January 2010) and the final date for nominations (17 December 2009) for the Presidential elections called by the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa 2 years in advance. He hopes to win riding on the popularity amongst the Sinhalese for defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militarily in May 2009.  The retired General of the military, Sarath  Fonseka who led this military defeat  of the LTTE has declared his candidacy on behalf of the opposition coalition (NUF). Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna representing the progressive left has announced his intention to contest on a platform to restore national unity based on equality, autonomy, and the right to self – determination.

The two frontline candidates have already started wooing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main Tamil opposition party in parliament, for their support. It appears that the Tamil National Alliance that represents the Tamil people in the north and east overwhelmingly has not made up its mind how to deal with this development, particularly in light of the entire Tamil nation being under siege.

The Tamil people in the north and east are under Sri Lankan military occupation and are still subject to abductions, arrests, torture and intimidation. There is neither rule of law nor freedom of expression in the country.  Over one hundred thousand Tamil civilians are still in various internment camps and close to two hundred thousand have taken refuge with relatives and friends and in temporary accommodation.  Having been repeatedly displaced due to Sri Lanka’s callous military operations and not yet resettled permanently, these besieged people will not be able to cast their vote freely.   

It is common knowledge that the Provincial and Local Council elections held in the recent times under the present regime were fraudulent because of the excessive political violence, intimidation by Sri Lankan security forces and paramilitaries and vote rigging. To ensure free and fair Presidential elections, AFTA calls for International Election Monitors (IEM) to commence monitoring the election process prior to fielding of nominations, to deter  political violence and intimidation from the beginning of the process..

AFTA calls on the Australian and New Zealand Governments to pressure the Rajapakse regime to allow IEM to commence monitoring as soon as possible.

Further, AFTA calls on the free media to visit Sri Lanka and report on the developments and the political thinking of the ordinary people, political parties and civil society leaders.

Media Enquiries:
Sydney: Dr. Victor Rajakulendran 0402 484 209
Melbourne: Mr. Siva Sivakumar 0404 894 591
Queensland: Prof. Selva Selvanathan 0402 960 439
Auckland: Dr. Siva Vasanthan 021 023 51 007

AFTA's Submission to the Australian Government and CHOGM has merits - The Hon John Murphy MP’s Speech at the Australian Federal Parliament

Hon. Murphy in his speech at the Federal Parliament on November 16, 2009 said, “I met representatives from the Australian Federation of Tamil Associations who gave me a copy of their recent submission made to our Prime Minister. In that letter they requested that the Prime Minister use the opportunity of being with other like-minded leaders in the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting forum in the Caribbean to initiate a discussion on these matters with the aim of finding a permanent political solution in Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister of Australia”.

He referred AFTA’s proposal for the reintroduction of 215 Sri Lankan special assistance class BF visa which will deter people smugglers and help the people in need.

Further he referred AFTA’s position that,  “during the peace talks between 2001 and 2008 there were no Tamils arriving on Australian shores by boat. This, they suggest, is evidence that the Tamil people fleeing Sri Lanka today are not economic refugees but genuine refugees fleeing from an oppressive regime in Sri Lanka”.

The Hon John Murphy MP’s speech given below from the Hansard of the Australian Parliament.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Main Committee          CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Sri Lanka SPEECH       Monday, 16 November 2009

Speaker Murphy, John, MP

Mr MURPHY (Lowe) (4.15 pm)—This afternoon I rise to speak about the plight of the Tamil people who are fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka. As we are all aware, this year was the bloodiest in the history of the 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka with more than 20,000 innocent people killed by the Sri Lankan Security Forces amidst repeated warnings from the United Nations and other leaders. Madam Deputy Speaker, these killings occurred during the first five months of this year. The Sri Lankan government declared in May, as you know, that the Tamil rebellion had been completely wiped out.

I acknowledge the recent visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, to Sri Lanka and thank our government for its appointment of our special representative, Mr John McCarthy. Mr McCarthy is currently in Sri Lanka to deal with the problem of people smuggling and to stem the flow of boat people from Sri Lanka. He is having direct discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart and President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Last week I met representatives from the Australian Federation of Tamil Associations who gave me a copy of their recent submission made to our Prime Minister. In that letter they requested that the Prime Minister use the opportunity of being with other like-minded leaders in the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting forum in the Caribbean to initiate a discussion on these matters with the aim of finding a permanent political solution in Sri Lanka. They also told me they have conveyed the same message to the British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown, through his special envoy to Sri Lanka, the Hon. Des Browne MP, whom they have met recently in Canberra. They also advised me that they have suggested to our Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, the reintroduction of the 215 Sri Lankan special assistance class BF visa that was first introduced during the time of the Keating government.

AFTA argues that by reintroducing this visa at this stage the people smugglers could effectively be starved of potential boat people, and the offshore processing would be much cheaper than the expense involved in granting the same number of people permanent residency visas by taking them through the Christmas Island detention facility. Further, AFTA notes that during the peace talks between 2001 and 2008 there were no Tamils arriving on Australian shores by boat. This, they suggest, is evidence that the Tamil people fleeing Sri Lanka today are not economic refugees but genuine refugees fleeing from an oppressive regime in Sri Lanka. While we must maintain a strong policy on border protection and punish the people smugglers, we must not punish the genuine refugees. I see merit in what AFTA has submitted to our government for its consideration for action on two fronts: one being an interim solution to stem the flow of boat people from Sri Lanka, and the other being the permanent one that is good for the political stability of Sri Lanka.