For Immediate Release
October 3, 2024
Ottawa, Canada – After private meetings with the commissioner, Tamil Rights Group (TRG) was granted official standing from the Foreign Interference Commission and participated in a critical public consultation panel alongside other diaspora organizations. This panel addressed the impact of foreign interference on diaspora communities’ affairs in Canada and provided informed insights on how Canada can effectively combat these challenges.
During the submission, TRG underscored the alarming strategies employed by the Sri Lankan government against Tamil Canadians, which include surveillance, disinformation and smear campaigns, and the intimidation of activists. These actions pose a significant threat to our community’s pursuit of justice and accountability for the genocidal crimes committed against Tamils.
TRG presented six key recommendations to the Commission aimed at ensuring accountability for Sri Lanka’s egregious crimes of genocide. They reinforce the imperative that Sri Lanka should not be allowed to evade responsibility for its actions nor intimidate Canadian citizens who advocate for accountability. The recommendations are:
- Public Education on Foreign Interference: Empower communities to recognize and respond to foreign interference threats, ensuring advocates are aware of available resources to take action against such interference.
- Enhanced Accountability: Strengthen existing sanctions and impose additional measures against Sri Lankan state officials.
- Support for Independent Investigations: Continue supporting the UN Human Rights Council and strengthen the Sri Lankan Accountability Project (SLAP) mandate.
- Referral to International Courts: Leverage international law to hold accountable those responsible for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide through referrals to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
- Utilization of Universal Jurisdiction: Encourage direct action against war criminals through universal jurisdiction principles in Canada.
- Formal Recognition of Tamil Genocide: Advocate for the official acknowledgment of the Tamil genocide in Canada and international fora.
To view TRG’s formal statement and detailed recommendations to the Commission, please refer to the following link:
Time stamps: 4:05:21- 4:12:28 and 4:31:09-4:35:50
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For all media enquiries: Katpana Nagendra, General Secretary and Spokesperson | [email protected] | + 1 (778) 870-5824
