January 7, 2013 | Colombo Gazette
The Canadian government today urged Sri
Lanka to address human rights concerns, until which Prime Minister Stephen
Harper will not reconsider his decision to boycott the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo this year.
Canadian Citizenship and Immigration
Minister Jason Kenney, speaking to reporters, Monday, at the end of a short
visit to Sri Lanka said he raised the issue with the government during his
meetings.
“There are concerns over human rights
issues including accountability. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not attend the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting until there is progress on these
issues. I conveyed this message to the Sri Lankan government,” the Minister
said.
Kenney noted that the Canadian government
helped Sri Lanka during the war by banning the LTTE in Canada and cracking down
on LTTE fundraising groups.
However he said at the same time Canada is
firm on the protection of human rights and wants Sri Lanka uphold the
Commonwealth values including on human rights.
He also urged Sri Lankans not to get duped
by human smugglers and seek asylum in Canada through illegal means.
The Canadian Minister said if any Sri
Lankan wants security then they should look at a neighboring country like India
instead of Canada.
He said that while most people seek asylum
in Canada for economic reasons there are some who seek protection as a result
of what he termed as a “push factor”.
However he said Canada will not encourage
illegal asylum seekers and in most cases had deported those who failed in their
asylum claims.
“Under the new Canadian law which came
into effect in June 2012 law enforcement officials now have better tool to
prosecute individuals who organize, engage in and profit from human smuggling,”
the Minister said.
He also said that migrants who reach Canada
through illegal means face mandatory detention.
Report by Easwaran Rutnam
