It’s time Malaysia takes a firm stand against blatant violations of human rights by the Sri Lanka government and boycott CHOGM, says Hindraf chairman.
GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf today called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to emulate his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh by boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.
Hindraf chairman and Deputy Minister P Waythamoorthy said Najib should heed the international Tamil community’s call to bypass the commonwealth summit in solidarity with the Malaysian Indian community.
“Indian grassroots sentiments want Malaysia to boycott CHOGM. The Prime Minister should appreciate their sentiments and follow the footsteps of Manmohan Singh,” Waytha told FMT here today.
This is the first time a member of Najib’s administration has called on the premier to boycott the 53-nation CHOGM summit, hosted by Sri Lanka from Nov 15-17.
Manmohan decided to skip CHOGM as international pressure grows for a boycott of the event over alleged war crimes by Colombo.
The Indian premier sent a letter to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday to inform him about his decision not to attend.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several African nations are boycotting the event to protest against Colombo’s refusal to address allegations of human rights abuses on Tamil minorities.
International human rights groups and many governments have condemned Sri Lanka for not investigating and prosecuting those responsible for war crimes against Tamils during the civil war in 2009.
Najib should boycott Colombo
Waythamoothy returned home yesterday after attending the three-day launch of ‘Mullivaikkal Memorial’ (Mullivaikkal Ninaivu Muttram) in Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, last week.
The private monument, built in memory of Tamils who had sacrificed their lives in the past, was declared open by P Nedumaran, president of Ulaga Tamilar Peramaippu.
“The memorial has been built with the help of Tamils living across the world. This is one of a unique art work built with toil for more than three years,” Nedumaran was reported as saying.
The memorial has sculptures depicting those who died in Mullivaikkal in Sri Lanka, migration of Tamils and those living as refugees.
The memorial also has photos of Tamil poets, leaders and activists who contributed to Tamil and the Tamil cause both in Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka.
Waythamoorthy said after talking and hearing from several Sri Lanka lawmakers and civil war victims during the memorial launch, he personally felt that Najib should not attend CHOGM.
“The Prime Minister should boycott to demonstrate to the international community that Malaysia does not condone any form of crime or violence against humanity.
“It’s time for Malaysia to take a firm stand against blatant violations of human rights by the Sri Lanka government,” said the Hindraf chairman.
GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf today called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to emulate his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh by boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.Hindraf chairman and Deputy Minister P Waythamoorthy said Najib should heed the international Tamil community’s call to bypass the commonwealth summit in solidarity with the Malaysian Indian community.
“Indian grassroots sentiments want Malaysia to boycott CHOGM. The Prime Minister should appreciate their sentiments and follow the footsteps of Manmohan Singh,” Waytha told FMT here today.
This is the first time a member of Najib’s administration has called on the premier to boycott the 53-nation CHOGM summit, hosted by Sri Lanka from Nov 15-17.
Manmohan decided to skip CHOGM as international pressure grows for a boycott of the event over alleged war crimes by Colombo.
The Indian premier sent a letter to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday to inform him about his decision not to attend.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several African nations are boycotting the event to protest against Colombo’s refusal to address allegations of human rights abuses on Tamil minorities.
International human rights groups and many governments have condemned Sri Lanka for not investigating and prosecuting those responsible for war crimes against Tamils during the civil war in 2009.
Najib should boycott Colombo
Waythamoothy returned home yesterday after attending the three-day launch of ‘Mullivaikkal Memorial’ (Mullivaikkal Ninaivu Muttram) in Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, last week.
The private monument, built in memory of Tamils who had sacrificed their lives in the past, was declared open by P Nedumaran, president of Ulaga Tamilar Peramaippu.
“The memorial has been built with the help of Tamils living across the world. This is one of a unique art work built with toil for more than three years,” Nedumaran was reported as saying.
The memorial has sculptures depicting those who died in Mullivaikkal in Sri Lanka, migration of Tamils and those living as refugees.
The memorial also has photos of Tamil poets, leaders and activists who contributed to Tamil and the Tamil cause both in Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka.
Waythamoorthy said after talking and hearing from several Sri Lanka lawmakers and civil war victims during the memorial launch, he personally felt that Najib should not attend CHOGM.
“The Prime Minister should boycott to demonstrate to the international community that Malaysia does not condone any form of crime or violence against humanity.
“It’s time for Malaysia to take a firm stand against blatant violations of human rights by the Sri Lanka government,” said the Hindraf chairman.
No comments:
Post a Comment