SEE INSIDE ....
Anna Hazare storms Delhi, warns of another stir
./012-03#45
1,3
-453678#)%9:* ;;;<6=>?@6?<>4<AB
+,!-.#/012,
!!!"#$%&'(#)"%*"+, !!!"#$%'-#'"%*"+, !"#$%$#&&'(#)&(*
For report see page 25
80p
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side
First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe 31st Mar to 6th April 2012
UNHRC resolution censures Lanka for rights violations
5)6789:;(;<(=>=?@=7?@?;AB
The United Nations recently pulled up Sri Lanka for its dismal record in the human rights cases. In a resolution backed by the United States, the UN’s top human rights body asked Sri Lanka to investigate alleged violations during its war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The resolution urged Sri Lanka to properly investigate alleged war crimes during its 26-year conflict with the Tamil Tigers. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva approved the resolution with 24 countries in favour and 15 against. India also voted for the resolution. Eight countries abstained from vote. Sri Lanka and its allies on the 47-member council had fiercely resisted the resolution saying it unduly interfered in the country's domestic affairs and could hinder its reconciliation process. But backers, such as the United States, the European Union and India, say credible probes into alleged crimes committed by both sides are an
important step for justice and equality in post-conflict Sri Lanka. The resolution in Geneva became the driving issue in Sri Lanka's ties with India, as New Delhi was pressurised by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to vote for the resolution. China, however, backed Sri Lanka and opposed the proposed UN resolution. Sri Lankan representative at UNHRC session, Bandula Jayasekara, urged the members not to adopt the resolution. "We have said
that this is very intrusive. We have explained that we are working on this. But this sort of intrusive force would derail the process," said Jayasekara. Sri Lanka requested India to 'reconsider' its support for the resolution. However, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that his country’s ties with India remains cordial as they have been at all times, pointing to "domestic political compulsions" for New Delhi's change of stance on a US-sponsored resolution on alleged rights abuses.
Rajapaksa, who steered the government's victorious military campaign against the LTTE, said Sri Lanka had noted the change of Indian stance from opposing country specific resolutions to a stance of supporting the US move. "We have to understand the domestic political compulsions for the Indian government," he said. Rajapaksa said a visit to Tamil Nadu by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton last year was a precursor to the American resolution against Sri Lanka. He denied the accusations that government troops had deliberately targeted Tamil civilians in the no fire zones (NFZ) during the final stages of the ethnic conflict with the LTTE. Western countries and international human rights groups have accused the Sri Lankan military of large-scale human rights violations during the war against the LTTE which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009. Continued page 26
Sweatshops for London Olympic 2012, tar the Games image
Pic courtesy: War on Want
VOL 40. ISSUE 47
Shweta Desai Amidst host of protests and opposition, the London 2012 Olympic Games are finding itself surrounding in yet another controversy. With the final lap of the games nearing, the three major Olympics supplier Adidas, Nike and Puma have been accused of running sweatshops in Bangladesh who will be providing clothing apparel for sportsmen and women from around the world. The London Olympics has been struggling hard to maintain the ethical sanctity of the Games which has come under fire from various actors of the Civil society. There has been stiff opposition over the corporate sponsors including Mc Donalds, British Petroleum, Dow
Chemicals, G4S Security which have proven cases on labour exploitation, environment degradation, human rights violation among others thus tarnishing the spirit and message of Olympics of social responsibility and fair play. The War on Want has started a campaign, `Love Fashion, Hate Sweatshops’; asking people to hold Adidas, Puma and Nike accountable for their sweatshops in Bangladesh. The NGO claimed that all three sponsors have made huge profit margins and will continue to benefit from the Games, but the labourers who earn them the profit do not receive any share in form of better wages. Continued page 2
!"#!$
",-.'&/
"$!&'1!
%&'(
%&'(
%&'(
)*++
)**2
)*0+
!"#$%#&'!"(&#%)**&'&+%*)'%",+"$-%(.",$-%/&,0$ )C9:?=@(%6DD=D9(EFF9G(1HIDJC9G(C9GK<L (122%34%567%894:;<44%(2144%+:4=69;><?%*17<4 MMMB!G=>@?LK;A@9B:<N
,-,(../0(.,,1(2(.031(,,44
!"#$
!"#$%&'( )!*%+