Indian NGOs upset over MP’s seminar participation

Compiled by RHYS LEE JIA WEI, NG SI HOOI and R. ARAVINTHAN

VARIOUS Indian NGOs in Malaysia are upset over Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto’s participation in a human rights seminar in Sri Lanka, Tamil dailies reported.

The seminar, which was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Parliament of Sri Lanka, took place from Feb 1 to 3 in Colombo and saw attendance by parliamentarians from the region.

A new Asian Commonwealth Parliamentary Human Rights Group was formed to increase cooperation on human rights under the Kotte Declaration, which was adopted during the seminar.

However, the NGOs, which gathered in Seberang Prai on Thursday, expressed their displeasure at her visit to the country whose government allegedly killed thousands of Tamils during the civil war.

The groups said Kasthuri, who apparently shook hands with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister and other leaders, has shown insensitivity towards Tamil people.

Meanwhile Kasthuri said Malaysian Parliamentary Caucus on Displaced People of Sri Lanka, will be visiting the country to assess progress made helping the victims.

Found in translation is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.