The Commonwealth Lawyers Association wants all members of the Commonwealth to refuse to attend CHOGM until the visa ban of the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute’s high-level delegation is lifted.
Issuing a statement CLA says; The CLA considers that all members of the Commonwealth should refuse to attend CHOGM until the visa ban is lifted and, further, that the BASL/IBAHRI event should be allowed to proceed as originally planned without any further interference.
We publish below the statement in full;
Statement on Denied Entry to IBAHRI Delegation in Advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Sri Lanka
Gabriela Knaul
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) is dismayed and concerned that members of an International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) high-level delegation were denied entry into Sri Lanka on 7th November 2013. The delegation included the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, and the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy. Entry was denied in spite of visas having been granted and in accordance with normal procedures.
The CLA notes the statement issued by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) on 9th November 2013 reiterating the fact that the delegation was due to travel to participate in a joint event co-hosted by the BASL and the IBAHRI entitled ‘Making Commonwealth Values a Reality: the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Legal Profession’. The event was intended to facilitate discussion of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values in relation to the legal profession and the Rule of Law more broadly. The CLA further notes that all of the arrangements for the event were handled by the BASL and the IBAHRI in accordance with the usual procedures.
The CLA recalls an earlier joint Resolution on the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence in Sri Lanka that was issued by the CLA, together with the Commonwealth Legal and Education Association (CLEA) and the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA), in April 2013. The Resolution referred to previous concerns about the flawed impeachment process by which Chief Justice Bandaranayake was removed from the office of Chief Justice in defiance of the judgements of the highest courts in Sri Lanka. The Resolution called upon members of the Commonwealth to place Sri Lanka upon the Agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and to reconsider the holding of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The CLA considers that all members of the Commonwealth should refuse to attend CHOGM until the visa ban is lifted and, further, that the BASL/IBAHRI event should be allowed to proceed as originally planned without any further interference.
The CLA remains ready to assist BASL in its efforts to maintain and secure the independence of the legal profession in Sri Lanka.
Commonwealth Lawyers Association
Related stories;
Making Commonwealth Values A Reality
Invitation By BASL & IBAHRI: Making Commonwealth Values A Reality
Sri Lanka Denies Entry To International Bar Delegation For The Second Time, Ahead Of CHOGM
selva / November 13, 2013
Sorry to say the present day leaders of the Commonwealth nations are a bunch of monkeys how in the 1st place can they allow Sri Lanka of all the nations in the Now defund Commonwealth group of nations to host this meet when Sri Lanka has just come out of a long drawn Civil War that has gone for more than 30 years, I heard the British PM speak in Parliament supporting Obama for a military intervention into Syria he was talking absolute rubbish ,in this context we all should thank Mr Putin of Russia otherwise this will be another Iraq.
Well if the 50 odd nation still give the green light & attend the meet then Good Luck for the next time there is a similar problem like this then it is our time to laugh our guts out.
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Damma Asoka / November 13, 2013
Yes, Time to hold Rajapakse who has being acting with impunity and immunity protected by Kamlesh Sharma accountable.
Sharma too should be made accountable for supporting a dictator.
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M.Sivananthan / November 13, 2013
More than half million widows are created by US lead invasion of Iraq. Colonial thug UK has no moral authority to talk about human rights while his country still has terrorist criminals like Adele Balasingam and many other LTTE criminals.
Many of the problems of Sri Lanka are originated from UK.
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Burning_Issue / November 14, 2013
You seem to utter complete nonsense!
“Many of the problems of Sri Lanka are originated from UK.”
The UK left Sri Lanka with the 1948 Constitution and a decent infrastructure. It is the Sinhala Buddhists that ruined the country fairly and squarely. Take some responsibility and do not be an apologist for a bunch of racist chauvinists.
If Britain had not amalgamated the 3 kingdoms into one, there would not be a Sri Lanka as we see today. Is that their mistake you refer to? The Tamils would have preferred that :)
In Iraq, the Muslims kill Muslims and not the West. Get your facts right first before you write on public forums.
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Sidney / November 14, 2013
Indeed, the time has come to hold Mahinda Rajapakse, Kamlesh Sharma and the Commonwealth ACCOUNTABLE for supporting and promoting the erosion of Democracy and the Rule of law in Sri Lanka.
We the people of Sri Lanka, DEMAND a comprehensive, measured and results-based EVALUATION of the organizations performance in the past 2 decades.
We also demand that Mahinda Rajapakse demonstrate progress in restoring the proper Chief Justice, the 17 Amendment to the Constitutions, return of lands and demilitarization of north before being made Head of Commonwealth Circus.
No organization is above MONITORING, EVALUATION and results measurement. Given its track record a TRANSPARENT EVALUATION of the organization and its RESULTS is required and should be the HIGHEST PRIORITY. It is time to hold Kamlesh Sharma ACCOUNTABLE to the common citizens and peoples he claims to benefit by the CHOGM circus.
If it is proved as it no doubt will be, that this British Colonial old boys club for third world Dictators really promotes the “Common Poverty of Nations” and inequality and leaves a massive CARBON FOOTPRINT with NO measurable benefits to the peoples of these countries with regard to promoting EQUITABLE growth, development and democracy this WHITE ELEPHANT British Colonial Outfit should be SHUT DOWN.
All Sri Lankans know that the CHOGM circus to celebrate Prince Charles 65th Birthday party in his post-colony, for which the Rajapakse military dictatorship has purchased fleets of Mercedes Benz cars and super luxury buses with massive kick backs will further beggar and indebt this already highly indebted country. The CHOGM circus will also boost the Rajapakse DEEP STATE and military dictatorship with its FACADE OF DEMOCRACY and further damage democracy and the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka.
It is also clear to Sri Lankans that the Common Poverty of Nations is the more appropriate name for the Commonwealth Circus – a British Colonial relic. At this time in Sri Lanka it is clear that the Commonwealth is not just irrelevant and obsolete, it is positively DANGEROUS to the PUBLIC GOOD in the Global South. DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW which it claims to be its “core values” are constantly and consistently violated and undermined by this British colonial outfit’s support for third world dictators.
The Common Poverty of Nations is an organization that promotes MILITARIZATION covertly, while boosting Asian and African Military Dictators (like Mahinda Rajapakse whose regime is accused of war crimes), to whom Britain sells arms and intelligence technologies during CHOGM Business Forums, while preaching human rights and rule of law!
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I am no muslim / November 14, 2013
Double dealing Shitrani is not interdicted but was sacked meaning sent home with no pay. No coming back. Proper CJ seated in office now.
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M.Sivananthan / November 14, 2013
What is democracy Sir?
Invading and killing people in other countries and looting like Americans and Brits in Iraq?
Sri Lanka destroyed a local criminal gang who were backed by Brits and their allies. That is why they are crying for the demise of the LTTE criminals!
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PalmSquirrell / November 15, 2013
The UK and US backed the GOSL, one reason why GOSL was able to defeat the LTTE.
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kris / November 14, 2013
Sorry say now its too late , to call boycott, ,bar association what you have to with C’wealth meeting , to late to discredit SL and MR , all LTTE money and effort are in vain, now LTTE has to find the funds to bribe human rights activaters for their next big meeting
Ha Ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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Ahamed / November 13, 2013
We can understand the BASL arranging an international event without consulting the Foreign Ministry or the Immigration officials, because the lawyers in Sri Lanka are ill-informed casual crowd. But, how could an organization like IBAHRI, with so much international exposure, arrange an international event on the sidelines of the second most largest international conference in the island’s history? To add insult to the injury, now they are blackmailing. Very unprofessional approach by the CLA which should have instead stated that they accept their mistake of not consulting the Commonwealth Secretariat and the host country in advance and respect Sri Lanka’s visa regime. In such a case they would have been welcome to organize the event shortly after the CHOGM!
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PalmSquirrell / November 13, 2013
How can SL host the CommonWealth and deny Lawyers ,especially from the CommonWealth countries the ability to come to SL.
Face it, this is typical GOSL behaviour towards any sort of independent and or international organization that has the capability to expose the human rights violations of the GOSL. You just parrot some lame excuse your handlers are feeding you.
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M.Sivananthan / November 14, 2013
Lawyers are not above anything.
SL host the commonwealth government leaders and not the lawyers and their toilet cleaners.
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PalmSquirrell / November 14, 2013
The Commonwealth has certain ideals; participation by human rights lawyers is a part of that ideal.
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Mikhael / November 14, 2013
And you’re just sucking up to the west. We all know Downing Street too dismissed these people during their invasion of Iraq and where was the independent war crimes investigation there? Where were the boycotts? Oh that’s right you believe in a separate set of rules for third world countries and another set for developed ones. It must be hurting you every day that we are no longer called British Ceylon. You only talk of human rights violations of the GOSL but there does not seem to be any mention of the LTTE which you think might be worth a mention considering the hundreds of war crimes committed over 30 years. PollySquirrell is obviously being fed crackers from his western handlers.
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PalmSquirrell / November 14, 2013
LTTE ended more than 4 years, but that doesn’t stop you lot from beating a dead horse. Why aren’t you lot attacking Rajapaksa regime for allying with some LTTE leaders, or are you ok with LTTE as long as they serve the Rajapaksa regime.
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Rajan / November 15, 2013
Beating a dead horse? Is that what they told you in the west? I apologise if I am not concerned as a Sri Lankan citizen LIVING IN SRI LANKA that the LTTE might not be dead just because VP was killed in the final phase of the war which you LTTE sympathisers like to specifically elaborate about. Since you have such concern for human rights PollySquirrell why don’t you ask David Cameron when he comes here why all the members of the IRA that are now POLITICIANS have not been prosecuted for war crimes or how about why British soldiers were not prosecuted during the 1972 Bloody Sunday killings?
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PalmSquirrell / November 15, 2013
The only LTTE around are the ones under the protection of Rajapaksa regime. If you are soo concerned with LTTE why don’t you take Rajapaksa regime to task for supporting former top LTTE men. LTTE is the convenient bogeman that is always trotted out to deny Tamils self determination in historically Tamil areas.
Re. dredging up British and Irish violence
What has that got to do with Sri lanka. You lot are like a broken record, always bringing up actions by others somewhere in world to defelct, ignore and legitimize the actions fo GOSL.
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Max Silva / November 14, 2013
PalmSquirrell,
You can’t believe what we are doing,eh?We do it our own way.In the meantime keep on dreaming!
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PalmSquirrell / November 14, 2013
Doing it your way will sooner or later get you in hot water with the international community.
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madhava / November 13, 2013
‘The CLA remains ready to assist BASL in its efforts to maintain and secure the independence of the legal profession in Sri Lanka’
If that is the case ask those who are in the legal profession in Sri Lanka to suspend practice altogether until the political stooge appointed to the office of the CJ by force removed.
Truth is that these blood suckers are only talkers and doers, they will never prepare to take and decisive and step if any such step could endanger their private interests.
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Yasodara Fukushima / November 13, 2013
Our King or Mr Gota will never give in to those pressures Ms. Gabriela.
Best thing is you people atay where you are. None of the leaders going to ask our king to lift the ban.
Mr. Cameron is in hon mahinda’s pocket. At least Sonia’s little lamb Mr. Singh has little courage than Mr Abbot and Cameron to say no even though it was too late. So this is not going to work.
Dont you know how Miss Kamalesh Shawarma swept the dirt under the carpet for our king in CJ Bandaranayake case. Do you think your leaders didnt know about it? Rubbish Ms Gabriela, they all knew but our king hon mahinda can buy anybody today. Time and again he proved it.
Why you wasting your time.
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chuti / November 13, 2013
Hey Yasodara,
I don’t think she like Gay rights.. So your try won’t work..
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Nikamata Hukamuko / November 14, 2013
What a rubbish is this CHOGM have become.
We need to get into the international community and start a process for the GOSL to be accountable in gross human rights violations and rule of law.
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Max Silva / November 14, 2013
Nikamata Hukamuko,
A classy name for a defeated Tamil terrorist.I know that you are suffering from an incurable decease since that unfortunate incident at Nandikadal.What to do Mr Nikamata Hukamuko!
I know you are jealous of King Rajapakse for being the leader of the CHOGM for the next two years.If not for that unfortunate incident at Nandikadal your terror lord Prabakaran would have been the Kos Kola king of Ealam.It seems that David Camaron &co have taken you for a right royal ride.How sad.I don’t want to hurt you.You have had enough of bad luck.Let me comfort you.May i send you any leftover food from the grand dinner that King Rajapakse is throwing for prince Charles.If you could hang around near the Kollupitiya police station,i would get a tuk tuk driver to deliver some leftover food nicely parceled in a sili sili bag.Oh!you poor defeated Tamil terrorist!In the meantime Mr Nikamata Hukamuko you can keep on Nikamata Hukamuka around Jinthupitiya!
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Garusinghe / November 14, 2013
ha ha ha Max Silva got a semi erection again by the sound of the name of NH. I think NH should comment often here so Max will get a kick every now and then.
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monaratenne / November 13, 2013
Ms Gabriela, what Yashodara says is right.
Money and sex talks and MR is the kind in the trade who knows all the tricks. He is quite capable of dealing with smaller as well as large fish. Gabriela, you just wait and see, both Cameron and Abbot finally would made to kneel down before the kind Rajapakse of Sri Lanka, probably the best spin master in the 21st Century.
If these two want more precise details they may contact the former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who was made took a laughing stock by king Rajapakse in Ambilipitiya.
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crazyoldmansl / November 13, 2013
The international community has been kicked in the Ba–s by Sri Lanka.
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Thondamanaru / November 13, 2013
Seva…. How or what ask the Monkies who met in Perth.
PK, you keep laughing and tell us when your guts pop out.
IBHARI……… expected to become a law unto themselves in Sri Lanka.
They have just realised Sri Lanka are no “Just Pushovers.”
Bullying days appear to have long gone.
Oh !!!!!!!! they will refuse to atten from friday… Stupid as they are is their statement……………
Quote “The CLA remains ready to assist BASL in its efforts to maintain and secure the independence of the legal profession in Sri Lanka’” THROUGH REMOTE CONTROL.
GABRIELLA KNAUL….YOU’VE JUST CONFRONTED A LION KING…….IT WAS A FACINATING THEATRE SHOW…… GO SEE IT.
You all, IBHARI, CH 4 & IC, AI, HRW, AHRC, Louise Arbour, Navi Pillai, Diaspora together made Mahinda Rajapakshe A KING.
Go lick your wounds.
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Chandima / November 14, 2013
Well said!
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buwaneka / November 13, 2013
Our spin master Rajapaske would say that ‘Cameron, you and Abbot are warmly welcome in Sri Lanka. Whether is perfectly fine here with sunlight beaming through out the day. I will take you and Abbot both to the Galle face green to have some fun and possibly to fly a kite’.
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Lapatiya / November 13, 2013
I think now these Lawyers in the Commonwealth Lawyers Association should be very careful as our Boss also will be the Boss of Commonwealth Countries and our Boss along with Kamalesh Sharma will bring some new Laws to Impeach Lawyers of CLA like in Sri Lanka.
Yasodara is not right to say about Shawarma of Kamalesh Sharma as he is eating Shawarma given by our Hon. King.
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commando695 / November 13, 2013
“The CLA considers that all members of the Commonwealth should refuse to attend CHOGM until the visa ban is lifted.”
Sorry ma’am, but most of them are already here!
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PalmSquirrell / November 13, 2013
The lady pictured in the article, the CLA and the IBAHRI are all LTTE front organizations – signed Gotobhaya Rajapaksa.
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BBS Rep / November 14, 2013
A whole lot of people and organisations suddenly want to join the fray. I wonder where IBAHRI were all these days. Now that the CHOGM carnival is on all such people suddenly want to make a splash. I wonder for whose benefit that they crow just when a party is on.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 14, 2013
Our Bunch of Anti SriLankans ( BASL) are still on the ex CJ’s misfortune, because they have nothing else to attack the Prez.
The great majority of the inhabitant population do not have much respect for them and it is quite understandable, when they suck the blood of the poor and desperate who are in difficulties.
Can’t understand why this good looking knaul wants to hang out with them.
BTW, Where were these Internationals when the Diaspora was depositing Kroners, Euro Pounds and Dollars into Praba’s account to pay the child soldiers and the shipping crews of the LTTE Fleet?.
Did they apply for Visas then to hold seminars to teach our inhabitants all these goodies they are brandishing around now ?.
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Max Silva / November 14, 2013
It is we who decide who should come and who should not.If you don’t like the way we operate,then go and fly a kite!
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Safa / November 14, 2013
It may not be possible to persuade all countries to boycott CHOGM. However only half of the 53 countries are represented by their leaders. IBAHRI and CLA can nevertheless take ex-parte action to downgrade the status and recognition of the judiciary in Sri Lanka and especially the de fact CJ who are acting in collusion with the regime.
It may be possible to monitor and blacklist such judicial officers who are instrumental and party to politicised and corrupt practices so that they will have no recognition outside the borders of Sri Lanka. It is noted that certain judges are practicing in other countries as well.
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kris / November 14, 2013
Too late LTTE and human right protecters , CHOGM big party already started in SL , only you have to watch news about happy party in SL
see you in next geniva meeting
Ha Ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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vinivida / November 14, 2013
Hi Gabriella, there is no point worrying.
Great modern democracy practice in Sri Lanka is somewhat deferent from what you are preaching.
Separation of power is something belongs to the old school of democracy.
Under the modern concept all institutions (legislature, Judiciary and media) come under the direct control of the Executive, which shall enjoy absolute immunity and accountability, guaranteed and preserved by the supreme law, the Constitution.
This CHOGM gives a great opportunity to Cameron Abbot and other leaders to experience how the modern democracy effectively working with assured results.
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