Statement by NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough – Rouge River) on the anniversary of the end of the civil conflict in Sri Lanka

May 18 marked the fourth anniversary of the end of the 25-year Sri Lankan civil war, a tragedy that in its final days led to the horrific deaths of thousands of civilians trapped by the military on a small stretch of land. Along with other Canadians of Tamil heritage and Tamils around the world, New Democrats marked this day by attending commemorative vigils in memory of those who lost their lives. I was honoured to attend rallies on behalf of NDP and deliver greetings from our leader Tom Mulcair.

While the international community looked away from this conflict, thousands of lives and families were torn apart. The impact of this conflict will reverberate deeply for many years to come as the Tamil community around the world seeks respect, dignity and justice for all of the victims of this horrific war.

In those tragic days, New Democrats stood with the Tamil community in calling for the urgent protection of civilian lives; today, we continue to hold the Sri Lankan government to account for human rights abuses and call on it to immediately allow an independent investigation of war crimes allegations.

The world failed to speak up in 2009. We must not allow the government of Sri Lanka impunity in 2013.

As we remember May 18, New Democrats renew our call for the Canadian government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka this November. The Sri Lankan government’s continued human rights abuses and refusal to conduct an independent investigation of war crimes allegations are unacceptable, and New Democrats believe that Canada must take a principled stance in favour of accountability.

New Democrats also launched a petition calling on the Government of Canada to boycott November’s Commonwealth meetings: http://petition.ndp.ca/srilanka