Marking the 14th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, called for the arrest of Sri Lanka’s former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, “so that he answers for his crimes at an international court or tribunal”.
Poilievre’s statement recognised the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan State as an act of genocide. The final stages of the armed conflict were marked by a brutal military campaign in which the Sri Lankan army engaged in the indiscriminate shelling of hospitals, food lines and government-designated "no-fire" zones. An estimated 169,796 Tamil were slaughtered during this final phase of the conflict.
Poilievre maintained that if elected Prime Minister, he will “stand up for the Tamil people and work to impose Magnitsky sanctions and remove the gatekeepers that stand in the way of Sri Lanka’s prosperity”.
His statement concludes by reaffirming the Canadian Conservative Party’s commitment to justice and accountability for Tamils stating:
“On Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, Conservatives reiterate our commitment to promoting human rights, justice, and accountability for all individuals in Sri Lanka. We will continue to support all those striving to bring home human rights and equality for Tamils and all Sri Lankans. Together, we will do the work necessary to turn the hurt of the past into hope for the future.”
Read the full statement here.
