Australian FM challenged on Sri Lanka visit amid rights abuses
- Post 17 December 2012
- By Athula Vithanage
Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s decision to strengthen Australia’s military and intelligence cooperation with the Sri Lankan government at a time when there are increasing reports of human rights abuses has been criticised by Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon.
“I urge Minister Carr to acquaint himself with reports out of Sri Lanka that on 12 December, 17 Tamil women were admitted to a hospital in Northern Sri Lanka. There is concern that these women had been sexually abused and brutalised by the Sri Lankan military" she said in a statement issued on Monday.
“The reports I have received indicate that the women were recently recruited into the Sri Lankan army and some were unconscious when admitted to hospital. All were immediately isolated from other patients and I have been informed that a parliamentarian from the Tamil National Alliance was denied access to the women" the statement further said.
Sexual abuse
Last week Greens Leader Christine Milne last week urged Minister Carr to speak with Sri Lankan officials during his visit about ongoing human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, including persistent discrimination, torture, disappearances and abductions.
“Sexual abuse and torture of Tamil women by the Sri Lankan Military has been widely documented by the British media, the Tamil National Alliance and human rights groups" said the Green Senator.
Quoting a statement released by a collective of 11 women's groups from Sri Lanka’s North and East which alleged that the Sri Lankan military have been forcibly recruiting Tamil women, Senator Rhiannon has pointed out that such reports come against the backdrop of the recent detention of students at Jaffna University, some of whom have been reportedly tortured by the Sri Lankan Terrorist Investigation Department (TID).
“Australia’s standing as a country committed to promoting peace and protecting human rights is at risk if Minister Carr seeks to strengthen military ties while turning a blind eye to ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka”, she said.
Photo: Sharmila Logeswaram
© JDS
