Sri Lanka rejects Cameron on rights inquiry as Abbott takes own course

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted at a stark divide between Australia and Britain over alleged rights abuses in Sri Lanka, saying it is important not to "glide over difficult issues", but his stance has been rejected by his hosts.

At a media conference on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Mr Cameron made the comments after setting a March deadline for the Sri Lankan government to set up an independent inquiry into war crimes.

Mr Cameron warned that if that did not happen he would formally demand an international investigation.

But last night a senior Sri Lankan minister rejected pressure for any international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of the country's civil war, saying the government would "definitely" not allow it.

"Why should we have an internal inquiry? We will object to it . . . definitely we are not going to allow it," Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, who is a brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, told AFP.

Also last night, President Rajapakse said Sri Lanka must be trusted to conduct its own investigation into war crimes allegations.

"People in glass houses must not throw stones," President Rajapakse told a press conference in Colombo, where he is chairing the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Mr Cameron's ultimatum was delivered less than 24 hours after the British Prime Minister became the first foreign leader since Sri Lankan independence in 1948 to visit the northern provincial capital of Jaffna.

"It's fair to say to the Sri Lankans there needs to be an independent inquiry into the particularly dreadful things that happened at the end of the war but if they do not set it up I will fully back an international inquiry," he said.

Mr Cameron's tough stand has highlighted the difference between Britain and Australia's position on the fellow Commonwealth founding member, which faces allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses, including torture by state security forces, committed during and after the final stages of the country's 26-year-long civil war

Asked about Tony Abbott's position stated on Friday - that "difficult things happen" in war and it is not his place to lecture or embarrass Sri Lanka - Mr Cameron said he would let the Australian Prime Minister speak for himself.

"I think he's absolutely right that it's important we talk up the potential of this country," he told reporters.

"I am very keen to do that but we do that not by gliding over the difficult issues, the human rights issues, journalistic freedom issues, reconciliation. It's important to talk about those."

Mr Cameron said his visit to northern displacement camps and to the Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna - where five journalists had been murdered which had been subject to numerous deadly attacks

"I will take with me the images of people who have been displaced and are desperate for homes and livelihoods and I will also remember going to that newspaper office and seeing how those journalists had suffered."

"It's very important to see the good and the bad. It's important I was able to take journalists from the UK with me so they can report on that."

Mr Cameron described his Friday night meeting with President Rajapaksa as "frank and clear" in which he raised issues of human rights, media freedom, displaced people.

"At the heart of what I'm saying is an optimistic message about this country. It has a chance for real success after the end of the civil war and my message is to seize that chance by trying to reconcile people within this country," he said.

The biennial Commonwealth summit has been mired in controversy, with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh boycotting the summit over the Colombo government’s failure to address alleged human rights abuses.

Early yesterday Mauritius, which has also boycotted attending this summit, pulled out of its planned role of hosting CHOGM in 2015.

Meanwhile, as reported in The Weekend Australian yesterday, the Sri Lankan government yesterday confirmed an arrangement was being negotiated with Australia to tackle people-smuggling.

Sri Lankan Minister for Media, Keheliya Rambukwella, told journalists in Colombo the deal was a memorandum of understanding between the two navies.

"There is an arrangement, an MOU to be signed between the two naval forces,'' the minister said.

"All the details have been discussed and once it is signed it will be made a public document.''

Mr Abbott told reporters in Colombo on Friday that Australia had "good and close co-operation'' with the Sri Lankan government and navy.

"I'll be thanking the Sri Lankans for the co-operation which they have extended to us on this important issue and I will have more to say about this in the next day or so,'' Mr Abbott said.

At home, Mr Abbott's assessment of torture in Sri Lanka was slammed by the federal opposition.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Sri Lanka that while his government "deplores the use of torture we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen".

Labor rejected the comment.

"The use of torture is never justifiable," Labor's attorney-general spokesman Mark Dreyfus said.

"There is never a 'difficult' situation where torture should be accepted."

Additional reporting: AFP, AAP
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted at a stark divide between Australia and Britain over alleged rights abuses in Sri Lanka, saying it is important not to "glide over difficult issues", but his stance has been rejected by his hosts.

At a media conference on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Mr Cameron made the comments after setting a March deadline for the Sri Lankan government to set up an independent inquiry into war crimes.
Mr Cameron warned that if that did not happen he would formally demand an international investigation.
But last night a senior Sri Lankan minister rejected pressure for any international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of the country's civil war, saying the government would "definitely" not allow it.
"Why should we have an internal inquiry? We will object to it . . . definitely we are not going to allow it," Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, who is a brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, told AFP.
Also last night, President Rajapakse said Sri Lanka must be trusted to conduct its own investigation into war crimes allegations.
"People in glass houses must not throw stones," President Rajapakse told a press conference in Colombo, where he is chairing the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Mr Cameron's ultimatum was delivered less than 24 hours after the British Prime Minister became the first foreign leader since Sri Lankan independence in 1948 to visit the northern provincial capital of Jaffna.
"It's fair to say to the Sri Lankans there needs to be an independent inquiry into the particularly dreadful things that happened at the end of the war but if they do not set it up I will fully back an international inquiry," he said.
Mr Cameron's tough stand has highlighted the difference between Britain and Australia's position on the fellow Commonwealth founding member, which faces allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses, including torture by state security forces, committed during and after the final stages of the country's 26-year-long civil war
Asked about Tony Abbott's position stated on Friday - that "difficult things happen" in war and it is not his place to lecture or embarrass Sri Lanka - Mr Cameron said he would let the Australian Prime Minister speak for himself.
"I think he's absolutely right that it's important we talk up the potential of this country," he told reporters.
"I am very keen to do that but we do that not by gliding over the difficult issues, the human rights issues, journalistic freedom issues, reconciliation. It's important to talk about those."
Mr Cameron said his visit to northern displacement camps and to the Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna - where five journalists had been murdered which had been subject to numerous deadly attacks
"I will take with me the images of people who have been displaced and are desperate for homes and livelihoods and I will also remember going to that newspaper office and seeing how those journalists had suffered."
"It's very important to see the good and the bad. It's important I was able to take journalists from the UK with me so they can report on that."
Mr Cameron described his Friday night meeting with President Rajapaksa as "frank and clear" in which he raised issues of human rights, media freedom, displaced people.
"At the heart of what I'm saying is an optimistic message about this country. It has a chance for real success after the end of the civil war and my message is to seize that chance by trying to reconcile people within this country," he said.
The biennial Commonwealth summit has been mired in controversy, with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh boycotting the summit over the Colombo government’s failure to address alleged human rights abuses.
Early yesterday Mauritius, which has also boycotted attending this summit, pulled out of its planned role of hosting CHOGM in 2015.
Meanwhile, as reported in The Weekend Australian yesterday, the Sri Lankan government yesterday confirmed an arrangement was being negotiated with Australia to tackle people-smuggling.
Sri Lankan Minister for Media, Keheliya Rambukwella, told journalists in Colombo the deal was a memorandum of understanding between the two navies.
"There is an arrangement, an MOU to be signed between the two naval forces,'' the minister said.
"All the details have been discussed and once it is signed it will be made a public document.''
Mr Abbott told reporters in Colombo on Friday that Australia had "good and close co-operation'' with the Sri Lankan government and navy.
"I'll be thanking the Sri Lankans for the co-operation which they have extended to us on this important issue and I will have more to say about this in the next day or so,'' Mr Abbott said.
At home, Mr Abbott's assessment of torture in Sri Lanka was slammed by the federal opposition.
Mr Abbott told reporters in Sri Lanka that while his government "deplores the use of torture we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen".
Labor rejected the comment.
"The use of torture is never justifiable," Labor's attorney-general spokesman Mark Dreyfus said.
"There is never a 'difficult' situation where torture should be accepted."
Additional reporting: AFP, AAP
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-cameron-diverge-on-sri-lanka-human-rights/story-fn59niix-1226761628995#sthash.2KZoEunH.dpuf

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted at a stark divide between Australia and Britain over alleged rights abuses in Sri Lanka, saying it is important not to "glide over difficult issues", but his stance has been rejected by his hosts.

At a media conference on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Mr Cameron made the comments after setting a March deadline for the Sri Lankan government to set up an independent inquiry into war crimes.
Mr Cameron warned that if that did not happen he would formally demand an international investigation.
But last night a senior Sri Lankan minister rejected pressure for any international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of the country's civil war, saying the government would "definitely" not allow it.
"Why should we have an internal inquiry? We will object to it . . . definitely we are not going to allow it," Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, who is a brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, told AFP.
Also last night, President Rajapakse said Sri Lanka must be trusted to conduct its own investigation into war crimes allegations.
"People in glass houses must not throw stones," President Rajapakse told a press conference in Colombo, where he is chairing the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Mr Cameron's ultimatum was delivered less than 24 hours after the British Prime Minister became the first foreign leader since Sri Lankan independence in 1948 to visit the northern provincial capital of Jaffna.
"It's fair to say to the Sri Lankans there needs to be an independent inquiry into the particularly dreadful things that happened at the end of the war but if they do not set it up I will fully back an international inquiry," he said.
Mr Cameron's tough stand has highlighted the difference between Britain and Australia's position on the fellow Commonwealth founding member, which faces allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses, including torture by state security forces, committed during and after the final stages of the country's 26-year-long civil war
Asked about Tony Abbott's position stated on Friday - that "difficult things happen" in war and it is not his place to lecture or embarrass Sri Lanka - Mr Cameron said he would let the Australian Prime Minister speak for himself.
"I think he's absolutely right that it's important we talk up the potential of this country," he told reporters.
"I am very keen to do that but we do that not by gliding over the difficult issues, the human rights issues, journalistic freedom issues, reconciliation. It's important to talk about those."
Mr Cameron said his visit to northern displacement camps and to the Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna - where five journalists had been murdered which had been subject to numerous deadly attacks
"I will take with me the images of people who have been displaced and are desperate for homes and livelihoods and I will also remember going to that newspaper office and seeing how those journalists had suffered."
"It's very important to see the good and the bad. It's important I was able to take journalists from the UK with me so they can report on that."
Mr Cameron described his Friday night meeting with President Rajapaksa as "frank and clear" in which he raised issues of human rights, media freedom, displaced people.
"At the heart of what I'm saying is an optimistic message about this country. It has a chance for real success after the end of the civil war and my message is to seize that chance by trying to reconcile people within this country," he said.
The biennial Commonwealth summit has been mired in controversy, with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh boycotting the summit over the Colombo government’s failure to address alleged human rights abuses.
Early yesterday Mauritius, which has also boycotted attending this summit, pulled out of its planned role of hosting CHOGM in 2015.
Meanwhile, as reported in The Weekend Australian yesterday, the Sri Lankan government yesterday confirmed an arrangement was being negotiated with Australia to tackle people-smuggling.
Sri Lankan Minister for Media, Keheliya Rambukwella, told journalists in Colombo the deal was a memorandum of understanding between the two navies.
"There is an arrangement, an MOU to be signed between the two naval forces,'' the minister said.
"All the details have been discussed and once it is signed it will be made a public document.''
Mr Abbott told reporters in Colombo on Friday that Australia had "good and close co-operation'' with the Sri Lankan government and navy.
"I'll be thanking the Sri Lankans for the co-operation which they have extended to us on this important issue and I will have more to say about this in the next day or so,'' Mr Abbott said.
At home, Mr Abbott's assessment of torture in Sri Lanka was slammed by the federal opposition.
Mr Abbott told reporters in Sri Lanka that while his government "deplores the use of torture we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen".
Labor rejected the comment.
"The use of torture is never justifiable," Labor's attorney-general spokesman Mark Dreyfus said.
"There is never a 'difficult' situation where torture should be accepted."
Additional reporting: AFP, AAP
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-cameron-diverge-on-sri-lanka-human-rights/story-fn59niix-1226761628995#sthash.2KZoEunH.dpuf