ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
New Zealand should not support Sri Lanka’s bid to become Chair of the Commonwealth for the next two years, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.
“Mr Key must deliver a strong message to President Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka to observe basic human rights when he meets him in Colombo next week. Well documented continuing abuses of human rights
continue, there has been no inquiry into the atrocities of the recent civil war and there is no comprehensive reconciliation programme in the Tamil populated north.
“In the past, the Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan and Fiji from the Commonwealth. To agree to Sri Lanka becoming the chair would weaken the Commonwealth’s credibility and
undermine its status as a body that stands up for human rights.
“Instead Mr Key should insist that Sri Lanka implement the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s report that have been largely ignored.
“Sri Lanka should also undertake a committed and extensive programme of reconciliation. It is estimated that more than 45,000 people, mostly civilians, died in the closing stages of the war with the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.
“I worked in the north and east of the country for more than two years carrying out humanitarian programmes,” said David Shearer.
“So perhaps better than most I understand the atrocities that were committed by all sides during the long civil conflict. But the high number of civilian deaths at the end of the war to be carried out by Sri Lankan soldiers
has never been investigated .Since then instead of reconciliation there have been widespread reports that the Sri Lankan government has been behind extrajudicial killings, disappearances and, closing down of opposition.
“I have also written to both Mr Key and Mr McCully and sent them a 181,000 signature petition that was handed to me by Amnesty International demanding a tougher stance on Sri Lanka and its human rights record. “
New Zealand should not support Sri Lanka’s bid to become Chair of the Commonwealth for the next two years, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer. “Mr Key must deliver a strong message to President Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka to observe basic human rights when he meets him in...
New Zealand should not support Sri Lanka’s bid to become Chair of the Commonwealth for the next two years, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.
“Mr Key must deliver a strong message to President Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka to observe basic human rights when he meets him in Colombo next week. Well documented continuing abuses of human rights
continue, there has been no inquiry into the atrocities of the recent civil war and there is no comprehensive reconciliation programme in the Tamil populated north.
“In the past, the Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan and Fiji from the Commonwealth. To agree to Sri Lanka becoming the chair would weaken the Commonwealth’s credibility and
undermine its status as a body that stands up for human rights.
“Instead Mr Key should insist that Sri Lanka implement the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s report that have been largely ignored.
“Sri Lanka should also undertake a committed and extensive programme of reconciliation. It is estimated that more than 45,000 people, mostly civilians, died in the closing stages of the war with the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.
“I worked in the north and east of the country for more than two years carrying out humanitarian programmes,” said David Shearer.
“So perhaps better than most I understand the atrocities that were committed by all sides during the long civil conflict. But the high number of civilian deaths at the end of the war to be carried out by Sri Lankan soldiers
has never been investigated .Since then instead of reconciliation there have been widespread reports that the Sri Lankan government has been behind extrajudicial killings, disappearances and, closing down of opposition.
“I have also written to both Mr Key and Mr McCully and sent them a 181,000 signature petition that was handed to me by Amnesty International demanding a tougher stance on Sri Lanka and its human rights record. “
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