Cameron Defends Sri Lanka Visit Amid Criticism

Prime Minister David Cameron says he was right to reject a boycott and go to the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting.
David Cameron has justified attending the Chogm summit-UK,

Monday 18 November 2013

David Cameron has defended his decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting after it was boycotted by three countries. he leaders of !ndia" Canada and Mauritius all decided not to attend the summit in #ri $an%a in &rotest at alleged human rights violations. he '( and rights grou&s say as many as )*"*** civilians may have been %illed in the final stages of #ri $an%a+s ,--year civil war against the rebel amil igers in May ,**.. $abour has said Mr Cameron should have also boycotted the meeting" %nown as Chogm" as it would have sent a message to #ri $an%a that the rights violations should be investigated. !n his first statement since returning from #ri $an%a" Mr Cameron told the House of Commons/ 0! was determined !+d use the &resence of the Commonwealth and my own visit to shine a global s&otlight on the situation there and that is e1actly what ! did. 0! became the first foreign leader to visit the north of the country since

inde&endence in 2.)3" and by ta%ing the media with me gave the local &o&ulation the chance to be heard by an international audience. 04hen ! met with President 5aja&a%sa" ! &ressed for credible" trans&arent and inde&endent investigations into alleged war crimes and ! made clear to him that if these investigations were not begun &ro&erly by March then ! will use our &osition on the '( Human 5ights Council to wor% with the 'nited (ations Human 5ights Commission and call for an international in6uiry.0

Ed Miliband did not agree with the PM's view of the summit's achievements He said that" during his visit" he met a newly-elected minister from the amil-dominated &art of the country and too% 7ritish journalists to meet #ri $an%an journalists who had e1&osed atrocities. He said he also met &eo&le left dis&laced by the conflict. 8fter doing so" he said he was able to tell the #ri $an%an &resident that he had a clear o&&ortunity to build a future for the country based on reconciliation. #etting out what he felt he achieved for 7ritain by attending the conference" Mr Cameron added/ 0 he Commonwealth allows us to cham&ion values and economic growth that are so vital to our national interest. 08t this summit we reached im&ortant conclusions on &overty" human rights and trade.0 On &overty he said he was able to get leaders to unite behind a '(

&rogramme which lin%s aid to reducing corru&tion and increasing justice and the trans&arency of government.

Sri Lankan's Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied rights violations allegations On human rights" he said leaders reiterated their su&&ort for the Commonwealth Charter" which encourages individual member countries to u&hold certain standards. He said 7ritain was able to successfully resist an attem&t to get 9imbabwe bac% into the Commonwealth" as it had no right to until it had addressed human rights issues. he Prime Minister added that he also used his tri& to build trade" &articularly with !ndia" which he visited for his third time. $abour leader :d Miliband res&onded by saying/ 0 he Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of !ndia decided not to attend this summit. 0!n e1&laining his decision" Prime Minister Har&er said this/ +!n the &ast two years" we+ve seen a considerable worsening of the situation+. 0:1ce&ting the good intentions of the Prime Minister ;Cameron<" weren+t Prime Minister Har&er and #ingh right to believe that the attendance of heads of government at Chogm would not achieve any im&rovement in human right in #ri $an%a= 0!ndeed the summit communi6ue" failed even to reference human rights in #ri $an%a. 04e believe we cannot let the matter rest. 7ritain must do what it can to

ensure the truth emerges. 4hen the government acts to ma%e that ha&&en" we will su&&ort them.0