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Embargo: immediate

Contact Fred Carver: +44 7763745402

On the 14th and 15th of November, in the luxurious Galle Light House Hotel representatives of 25 of

the world's most powerful countries will be wined and dined by Gotabaya Rajapaksa: thepresident's brother and Sri Lankan defence secretary, arguably the most powerful man in Sri Lanka, abrutal autocrat who has publicly denounced democracy and human rights, and a man against whomthe UN has found credible allegations of the most serious types of war crimes; an allegation that isalso levelled against the LTTE, their adversary in the conflict.

The event is the "Galle Dialogue Maritime Conference" - a series of seminars and banquets hosted byGotabaya, the Sri Lankan MOD, and the Sri Lankan Navy. The ostensible aim is to improve strategicco-operation in the Indian ocean and to protect the sea lanes around Sri Lanka from threats such aspiracy and terrorism. However the event falls into a pattern of similar events hosted by the Sri LankanMinistry of Defence aimed both at rehabilitating their relationship with the internationalcommunity following the UN allegations of war crimes, and at promoting the "Sri Lanka model" zero-

tolerance approach to internal dissent.

Edward Mortimer, Chair of the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice, said, "several of theworld's most powerful Governments are clearly attempting to have their cake and eat it. Many,including the USA, Canada, and South Africa, have said some stern things about Sri Lanka, the warcrimes allegations, and the trajectory it is headed down. And yet these same Governments still wishto enjoy the hospitality and fruits of co-operation from those identified as being most responsible forwar crimes and human rights abuses.

"As I said in my letter to the governments in question the Government of Sri Lanka is attempting,through events such as this, and its earlier conference on defeating terrorism to promote andnormalise morally unacceptable and counterproductive attitudes towards global security; which willonly weaken and undermine attempts to promote maritime security.

"The best way these 15 nations could improve the security of the Indian ocean would be to take amoral stand, and stay away from Gotabya's cynical PR stunt of a conference."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1 The following countries have been invited. We wrote to them twice and gave them three weeks torespond. So far none have denied that they are intending to attend the conference:

AUSTRALIA

BANGLADESH

CANADA

CHINA

FRANCE

INDIA

INDONESIA

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IRAN

JAPAN

KENYA

MALAYSIA

MALDIVES

MYANMAR

OMAN

PAKISTAN

QATAR

RUSSIA

SEYCHELLES

SINGAPORE

SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH KOREA

THAILAND

UAE

USA

UK

2 The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice is a non partisan multi-ethnic international NGOworking towards a lasting peace in Sri Lanka based upon accountability and human rights.

Fred Carver, the Campaign Director of the SLC, is available for interviews using the contact details atthe head of this release. He has recent experience ofSri Lanka, interviewing victims of abuse and civil

society leaders.

3 This event follows on from the "Defeating Terrorism - the Sri Lankan Experience" seminar in June ofthis year. The seminar was seen at the time within Sri Lanka as a cynical PR exercise:

http://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/

We wrote about how a concerted NGO campaign reduced participation:

http://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/06/strong-campaigning-resulted-in-poor.html

However, having previously said they would not attend, the US defence attache underminedinternational solidarity by turning up and giving a supportive speech:

http://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/http://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/http://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/http://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/06/strong-campaigning-resulted-in-poor.htmlhttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/06/strong-campaigning-resulted-in-poor.htmlhttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/06/strong-campaigning-resulted-in-poor.htmlhttp://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/http://groundviews.org/2011/06/02/placing-defeating-terrorism-sri-lankan-experience-seminar-in-a-critical-light/

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http://groundviews.org/2011/06/01/us-defence-attaches-observations-on-the-end-of-war-in-sri-lanka/

4 The "Sri Lanka model" can be characterised as dealing with internal strifepurely through military means, and utilising a mechanism for reconciliation whichinvolves neither truth telling nor accountability, increasingly promoted and seldom

challenged. Burmas military dictator Than Shwe and the Bangladeshi Militaryleaderships recently

visited to Colombo, and former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vijjajivas talked with the Rajapaksas ondealing with internal strife. The Sri Lanka model could be catching on.

5 More information about the "Galle Dialogue" conference can be found ontheir official website:http://www.galledialogue.com/

6 Gotabaya Rajapaska is the Secretary for Defence in Sri Lanka and the President's brother. The UNPanel of Experts Report:

http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf

states both that there are credible allegations that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTEcommitted war crimes and that "credible allegations presented to the panel suggest that SLAcommanders and senior Government officials, as well as senior military and civilian LTTE leaders,bear criminal responsibility for international crimes".

Gota has a history of outspoken distaste for democracy and human rights. In August we reported onhow he had given an interview in which he claimed allegations of rape in IDP camps were clearlyfalse as an "attractive" nurse had not beenraped:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Uyfx75Iqg&t=151s

As we said at the time:

"Gota is the President's brother. The UN says there are credible allegations that he was thechief architect of war crimes.

"His attitudes towards free speech and human rights are well known: his ministry has gone out of itsway to undermine Sri Lanka's independent media [2] and only last Friday he was on the record assaying all NGOs should be thrown out of Sri Lanka and that democracy and human rights are "not forus"[3].

[2] You can read more about the Sri Lankan Army's attack on Sri Lanka's independent mediahere:http://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/07/new-report-sri-lanka-attack-on-media.html. Many ofthe abductions and murders have been linked back to military personnel, the defence ministry websiteencourages vigilante action by publicly labelling journalists they disagree with as treacherous, andGota Rajapaksa is on record as saying he wants a return of strict censorship laws.

[3] You can read the full exchange here:http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.html

The full quote is [NGOs] We should throw them out ... They talk of defending democracy and humanrights. As far as I am concerned, democracy and human rights are western values. They are not forus,.

7 Excerpts from the letter we sent to the invited government's are included below:

http://groundviews.org/2011/06/01/us-defence-attaches-observations-on-the-end-of-war-in-sri-lanka/http://groundviews.org/2011/06/01/us-defence-attaches-observations-on-the-end-of-war-in-sri-lanka/http://www.galledialogue.com/http://www.galledialogue.com/http://www.galledialogue.com/http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdfhttp://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdfhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Uyfx75Iqg&t=151shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Uyfx75Iqg&t=151shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Uyfx75Iqg&t=151shttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/07/new-report-sri-lanka-attack-on-media.htmlhttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/07/new-report-sri-lanka-attack-on-media.htmlhttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/07/new-report-sri-lanka-attack-on-media.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/exclusive-democracy-and-human-rights.htmlhttp://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2011/07/new-report-sri-lanka-attack-on-media.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Uyfx75Iqg&t=151shttp://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdfhttp://www.galledialogue.com/http://groundviews.org/2011/06/01/us-defence-attaches-observations-on-the-end-of-war-in-sri-lanka/

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Sri Lanka has been rightly criticised by human rights groups and in particular a UN Panel Report setup by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, with respect to its conduct during the civil war. The UNPanel Report directly accuses the Sri Lankan Military of gross misconduct and war crimes.

In addition the Government of Sri Lanka are currently engaged in a consistent attack on pressfreedoms, apolitically motivated torture, disappearances, murder, and the militarisation of the public

sector.

It is essential for the future stability of Sri Lanka and the region as a whole that the Government of SriLanka moves away from its current trajectory and embraces equality, justice and human rights.Supporting the regime in its current trajectory can only damage the long term security of the region.The Government of Sri Lankas failure to implement a meaningful war crimes investigation tailoredwith a refusal to address the legitimate grievances of minority groups will only lead Sri Lanka backinto civil unrest and possible conflict.

The Galle Dialog Maritime Conference seeks to sell Sri Lanka as a key strategic nation for maritimecommerce. The Government of Sri Lanka will attempt to use this conference to secure what it sees asits economic future. However, it is important for Sri Lanka to realise that economic prosperity cannot

occur without a move towards a free and modern democratic nation state. Sri Lankas history ofmaritime commerce was stifled due to the threat on maritime security from the LTTE. Withoutaddressing the spiralling impunity, rights abuses and the brutalisation of society; Sri Lanka risks areturn to a climate of which maritime security cannot be assured.

Justice, equality and human rights are universal principles, and it is incumbent upon all of the worldsmaritime powers to promote those values in their actions. In addition, self-interest dictates that weshould discourage the Government of Sri Lanka from heading down a road which will lead in the long-term to greater instability and insecurity in the region.

The Government of Sri Lanka is attempting, through events such as this, and their earlier conferenceon defeating terrorism to promote and normalise morally unacceptable and counterproductiveattitudes towards global security; which will only weaken and undermine attempts to protect sovereign

nations from sub-national threats.

--

The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justicehttp://srilankacampaign.org

You can donate to the campaignhere

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