November 18, 2020 Ottawa – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a response on the 16th of November 2020 to a petition tabled by MP Gary Anandasangaree on the 2nd of October 2020. The petition was the result of a highly controversial walk organised by the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), a government in exile comprising former (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) LTTE Tamil Terrorists.
The Petition requested:
(1) Support a legislative effort to remove sovereign immunity as a defense by states for international crimes: namely genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and enforced disappearances, and;
Government of Canada Answered:
With respect to the request that the government support a legislative effort to remove sovereign immunity as a defense by states for international crimes, it must first be noted that only individuals can have criminal responsibility, not states. In this respect, Canada is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which was established to hold to account those responsible for the most serious international crimes in instances when states are unwilling or unable to do so.
The Petition requested:
(2) Refer Sri Lanka to the Committee established under the Convention Against Enforced Disappearances pursuant to Article 32 of the Convention.
Government of Canada Answered:
Further to the request that Canada refer Sri Lanka to the Committee established under the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, it must be noted that Canada is not party to the CED. Only State Parties can refer another State Party to the Committee established under the Convention under Article 32; accordingly, Canada is unable to refer Sri Lanka to the Committee. Other State Parties to the Convention may refer Sri Lanka, if they so choose.
Full response from the Government of Canada can be found at:
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=432-00052
In October Dr. Neville Hewage submitted a 619 page rebuttal against the petition tabled. In that he outlined the links of Transnational Tamil Asylum Factories and abuse of Canadian Refugee program. He also outlined how extremists forces attempts to influence foreign policy on western governments. His full rebuttal can be found at:
https://policy-research.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/01-Neville_Hewage_Report_432-00052_V3.pdf
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