Comments on: Sri Lanka, the story continues… http://www.unitingworld.org.au/2009/05/sri-lanka-the-story-continues%e2%80%a6/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:04:50 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: FAY WILLIAMS BURTON http://www.unitingworld.org.au/2009/05/sri-lanka-the-story-continues%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-211 FAY WILLIAMS BURTON Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:10:20 +0000 http://www.unitingworld.org.au/?p=485#comment-211 I am pleased to read that the UCA is active in its ministry to the Sri Lankan people. After war there is much to be done to bring healing to all concerned at every level of human endeavour. I hope that Hon Stephen Smith and our Federal Government can bring about a just and equitable resolution to those Sri Lankan men on board the Australian boat in Indonesian waters. They hijacked our boat after we carried out our Christian duty and our obligations under International Law of the Sea which required us to rescue them from certain death. Their subsequent manipulative, emotional blackmail tactics are to be deplored and I view them as ungrateful. I notice that today all the women and their children on board the Australian ship have agreed to Australia's generous offer of care and support should they agree to leave the ship and live in Indonesia till appropriately processed by UNHCR. Trust women to bring a bit of sense and equity to an otherwise confrontational situation. The war is over and the country needs every able-bodied male to help rebuilt their country. As a consequence the remaining hijackers need to be returned to Sri Lanka with appropriate assurances on both sides that they will not be persecuted nor will they break the law. This situation needs to be oversighted by the United Nations as insurance. I am pleased to read that the UCA is active in its ministry to the Sri Lankan people. After war there is much to be done to bring healing to all concerned at every level of human endeavour.

I hope that Hon Stephen Smith and our Federal Government can bring about a just and equitable resolution to those Sri Lankan men on board the Australian boat in Indonesian waters. They hijacked our boat after we carried out our Christian duty and our obligations under International Law of the Sea which required us to rescue them from certain death. Their subsequent manipulative, emotional blackmail tactics are to be deplored and I view them as ungrateful.

I notice that today all the women and their children on board the Australian ship have agreed to Australia’s generous offer of care and support should they agree to leave the ship and live in Indonesia till appropriately processed by UNHCR.

Trust women to bring a bit of sense and equity to an otherwise confrontational situation.

The war is over and the country needs every able-bodied male to help rebuilt their country. As a consequence the remaining hijackers need to be returned to Sri Lanka with appropriate assurances on both sides that they will not be persecuted nor will they break the law. This situation needs to be oversighted by the United Nations as insurance.

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