The Commonwealth summit has opened with a colourful ceremony in Colombo, amid continuing scrutiny of Sri Lanka's human rights record.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has repeatedly rejected criticism of his government's actions during the campaign which defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.
Mr Rajapaksa is due to chair the Commonwealth for the next two years.
The leaders of India, Mauritius and Canada have boycotted the summit.
Prince Charles formally opened the summit, for the first time representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of the Commonwealth.
British Prime Minister David Cameron is attending but said he would raise "tough questions".
Correspondents say the government had hoped the three-day event would showcase Sri Lanka's post-war revival, but instead it is turning into a PR disaster.
'Right to life'Dancers in dazzling colour greeted heads of state and officials from the 49 countries in attendance as they arrived for the summit in Colombo.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Mr Rajapaksa again defended his government's record.
"We in Sri Lanka are stepping into a new era of peace, stability and premium economic opportunities," he said.
"Start Quote
End QuoteColombo's airport expressway is just one of the grand infrastructural projects that are literally changing the landscape - so why isn't the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa winning universal praise at home and abroad? "
"In ending terrorism in 2009, we asserted the greatest human right: the right to live."
He said the Commonwealth must not be allowed to "turn into a punitive or judgemental body".
Mr Rajapaksa on Thursday angrily asserted that killings took place in Sri Lanka not only in 2009, as his government crushed the rebels, but for 30 years up until then, with the victims including children and pregnant women.
In May 2009 Sri Lanka's army defeated the separatist Tamil Tigers after almost 30 years of brutal and bloody civil war. But the spotlight has focused on the final phase of that war as civilians were hemmed into a thin strip of land on the north-eastern coast - both sides are accused of atrocities here.
However, one UN report estimates that as many as 40,000 civilians were killed in that final phase, mostly by government shelling.
Sri Lanka faces continued allegations over the rape and torture of detainees, enforced disappearances of activists and the intimidation of journalists.
The government has vehemently denied all such accusations.
'Questions raised'The Commonwealth
- The Commonwealth is a loose association of some 53 nations - former British colonies, plus some others
- Founded in 1931, the head of the Commonwealth is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- Membership brings some practical benefits through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC)
- Unlike the UN, Commonwealth states have no contractual obligations. Members commit themselves to the values of the Charter
- In 1995 a Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) was set up to deal with governments that persistently violate its values
- Four countries - Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Fiji and Pakistan - have been suspended from the Commonwealth in the past
But as Colombo began welcoming delegates to the city on Wednesday, a group of Tamils whose family members disappeared during or after the civil war were prevented from travelling to Colombo. Pro-government protesters also disrupted some journalists' attempts to travel north that day.
On Thursday, a human rights festival being hosted at the main opposition headquarters in Colombo was attacked by protesters before police ordered it to be shut down.
Human rights activist Brito Fernando told the BBC the government was not letting "people practise human rights, the right to dissent, or the freedom of speech and discussion".
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper are staying away from the summit, as is Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.
However, British Prime Minister Cameron said it was "important to shine a spotlight on what's happened in this country and to speak up against abuses that have taken place". He pledged to raise "tough questions" on human rights and allegations of war crimes.
Mr Rajapaksa declined to comment on Mr Cameron's remarks, saying he would certainly be meeting him and that the two were likely to ask each other "some questions".
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Rights row dogs Commonwealth summit
Dengan url
https://gayabugarsehat.blogspot.com/2013/11/rights-row-dogs-commonwealth-summit.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Rights row dogs Commonwealth summit
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Rights row dogs Commonwealth summit
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar