Briefing on Internment Camps, Threats to Human Rights in Post-War Sri Lanka, and Diaspora in Canada
TORONTO – A wide coalition of Canadian organizations will hold a press conference today (Wednesday, November 25, 2009) to brief media on Sri Lanka’s internment camps, continuing threats to freedom of expression, media, and basic individual security in the country, and the effect on the Tamil Diaspora in Canada. Amnesty International Canada, Canadian Tamil Congress, United Church of Canada Toronto Conference, and Canadian Academics for Tamil Rights will be represented at the briefing at 12 p.m. at Campbell House, 160 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario. A statement from a Canadian survivor of an existing internment camp in Sri Lanka will also be heard at the event.
This week marks the final days of Sri Lanka’s pledge to return the bulk of internees to their homes. In May, Sri Lanka had committed to resettling the bulk of internees in 180 days but as of today, a majority of detainees still remain in camps or have been transferred to transit camps. Some have been abducted upon their release from the camps and are now missing. Complete freedom is still lacking for the rest, as the released live in a state of monitoring. Beyond the snail-like pace of resettlement, no independent human rights groups are allowed to monitor or observe the resettlement process.
Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex Neve, Canadian Academics for Tamil Rights spokesperson, United Church of Canada Toronto Conference spokesperson Allan Parker and Canadian Tamil Congress spokesperson Manjula Selvarajah will be among those speaking at the event.
Later in day, another event will take place about "The 180th Day: Sri Lanka's Failure to Close Internment Camps." It will feature Sunanda Deshapriya, Sri Lankan Journalist and Founding Member of Free Media Movement Sri Lanka; Mr. Neve from Amnesty International Canada; Craig Scott, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School and Aparna Sundar, Assistant Professor, Politics, Ryerson University. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Library 72, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario.
For further information, contact the Canadian Tamil Congress at 416.240.0078.