“Australia must end its ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” attitude to the Sri Lankan government and end the cosiness of the relationship,” Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said today.
“With increasing evidence of torture, persecution and human rights abuses being conducted in Sri Lanka, including disturbing footage on the 7.30 Report last night that graphically showed burn marks on the back of a Tamil man, the Prime Minister and Bob Carr can no longer pretend it is not happening.
“It is clear that instead of recognising that Tamils are leaving Sri Lanka to seek asylum because of ongoing persecution and white van disappearances, the Gillard Government and Tony Abbott prefer to demonise the victims and not condemn the perpetrators.
“If you want to stop people seeking asylum then you need to end the persecution and abuse that is driving them to leave. It’s time to treat the source of the problem.
“Why is it that the Labor and Liberal parties are happy to take the word of the Rajapaksas and not even properly interview people who are running away, at the same time as supporting a UN Human Rights Council motion recently acknowledging human rights abuse and Sri Lanka’s refusal to properly investigate war crimes?
“Two-faced politics will do nothing for Australia’s reputation as we take our place on the UN Security Council
“It seems Australia wants to say one thing in the international arena but completely undermine the message in its bilateral dealings because of domestic politics.
“Justice and decency demand Australia stands up to what has become a democratically elected dictatorship engaged in abuse of its people, particularly the Tamils.”
Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne
