Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka

On March 13, Secretary Clinton called Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to express the United States’ deep concern over the deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life occurring in the Government of Sri Lanka-designated “safe zone” in northern Sri Lanka. The Secretary stated that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone. The Secretary offered immediate and post-conflict reconstruction assistance and she extended condolences to the victims of the March 10 bombing outside a mosque in southern Sri Lanka. She condemned the actions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are reported to be holding civilians as human shields, and to have shot at civilians leaving LTTE areas of control.

Secretary Clinton called on President Rajapaksa to devise a political solution to the ongoing conflict. She urged the President to give international humanitarian relief organizations full access to the conflict area and displaced persons camps, including screening centers.

The United States believes that a durable and lasting peace will only be achieved through a political solution that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to put forward a proposal now to engage Tamils who do not espouse violence or terrorism, and to develop power sharing arrangements so that lasting peace and reconciliation can be achieved.
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SRI LANKA: ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES, REBELS POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES – UN RIGHTS CHIEF

SRI LANKA: ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES, REBELS POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES – UN RIGHTS CHIEF
New York, Mar 13 2009 10:00AM

The top United Nations human rights official today deplored the mounting deaths and injuries of civilians due to the "bitter" conflict in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and a rebel group, pointing out that some moves by both sides could amount to war crimes.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that certain actions undertaken by the
Sri Lankan military and by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could constitute violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

"We need to know more about what is going on, but we know enough to be sure that the situation is absolutely desperate," she said. "The world today is ever-sensitive about such acts that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Although there is a Government-designated 'no-fire' zone for civilians in the Vanni region, repeated shelling has continued inside these areas, according to information made available to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Last week, the UN humanitarian wing said that that the conflict zone has shrank from 300 square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February, with many civilians – the UN puts their number at between 150,000 and 180,000 – taking refuge in a new 14-square kilometre 'no-fire zone.'

Other areas where civilians are sheltering have been hit, and OHCHR noted reports that over 2,800 people may have been killed and 7,000 others injured – many in the no-fire zones – since 20 January. Many children are believed to be among the casualties, with hundred having lost their lives and over 1,000 hurt.

"The current level of civilian casualties is truly shocking, and there are legitimate fears that the loss of life may reach catastrophic levels if the fighting continues this way," Ms. Pillay said, adding that "very little attention is being focused on this bitter conflict."

The LTTE is believed to be continuing to hold civilians as human shields and shooting those trying to leave their control. Further, they are reportedly forcibly recruiting civilians, including children, as soldiers.

"The brutal and inhuman treatment of civilians by the LTTE is utterly reprehensible, and should be examined to see if it constitutes war crimes," the High Commissioner said.

Limited amount of food and essential medial supplies to treat victims are leading to further deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Ms. Pillay called on both the Government and the LTTE to immediately halt the fighting to allow all civilians to evacuate the conflict zone, urging Sri Lankan authorities to give UN and other independent agencies full access to accurately assess conditions.

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the mounting civilian death and stressed the urgent need for the end of clashes.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban repeated his call to the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to "suspend hostilities for the purposes of allowing civilians to leave the conflict zone, and allowing immediate humanitarian access to them."

He appealed to the LTTE to take its weapons and fighters out of areas where there are many civilians, cooperate in humanitarian efforts and instantly end recruiting children, some as young as 13 years of age, as soldiers. In addition, he urged the Government to begin "serious" efforts to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict.
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SRI LANKA: BAN DEPLORES RISING CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL FROM ONGOING FIGHTING

SRI LANKA: BAN DEPLORES RISING CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL FROM ONGOING FIGHTING
New York, Mar 5 2009 2:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly deplored the mounting civilian death toll in areas of fighting between Sri Lankan Government forces and Tamil rebels, and called for an immediate halt to the fighting.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today that conditions for people confined in the war zone in the northern Vanni region deteriorated last month.

The conflict zone has shrank from 300 square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February, with many civilians – the UN puts their number at between 100,000 and 200,000 – taking refuge in a new 14-square kilometre 'no-fire zone.'

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban repeated his call to the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "suspend hostilities for the purposes of allowing civilians to leave the conflict zone, and allowing immediate humanitarian access to them."

Further, he appealed to the LTTE to take its weapons and fighters out of areas where there are many civilians, cooperate in humanitarian efforts and instantly end recruiting children, some as young as 13 years of age, as soldiers.

According to OCHA, civilians continue to lose their lives within the war zone, as well as in the no-fire area which has suffered shell strikes. The world body has no verifiable numbers due to lack of access for relief workers, but estimates that thousands have been killed and wounded.

The no-fire zone is believed to be very squalid and overcrowded, and the UN has received information that people are dying from lack of food. The conditions there could lead to outbreaks of malaria, dengue fever and measles, and a chicken pox outbreak has already been reported.

OCHA said that the LTTE has prevented civilians from leaving the war zone, with people consistently reporting that the rebel group has killed family members trying to cross the front lines and forcibly moving civilians.

The UN has called for $155 million for humanitarian needs in Sri Lanka's north and east to help those caught in fighting and those who have fled hostilities.

The Secretary-General today also urged the Government to begin "serious" efforts to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict.
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UN RELIEF CHIEF CONCERNED OVER PHYSICAL CONDITION OF SRI LANKANS TRAPPED BY CLASHES

UN RELIEF CHIEF CONCERNED OVER PHYSICAL CONDITION OF SRI LANKANS TRAPPED BY CLASHES
New York, Feb 27 2009 5:00PM

The top United Nations humanitarian official today voiced concern for the hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans pushed into a progressively shrinking pocket of land in the northern part of the country due to clashes between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The world body estimates that some 200,000 people are being squeezed into a narrow 14-square kilometre patch of land on the coast in Vanni which the Government has declared a 'no-fire zone.'

Many of these people have been uprooted several times in recent months or years, and are in danger of getting caught in the crossfire between the two sides, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who visited Sri Lanka last week, told the Security Council in a closed meeting today.

"And there is strong evidence that the LTTE are preventing them from leaving," he cautioned.

The violence has impeded humanitarian aid delivery, with supplies of food, medical supplies, clean water and other essential supplies in critically short supply.

"The risks from hunger and diseases are growing rapidly, in addition to those from fighting," noted Mr. Holmes, who also serves as UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

He told the 15-member Council of his visits to camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), adding that movement into and out of these sites is "currently highly and unacceptably restricted."

With reports of the LTTE shooting some civilians trying to flee the Vanni pocket, Mr. Holmes said he called on the rebel group to allow people to leave and stop forced recruitment, especially of children.

He said he also called on the Government to do all they can to allow civilians to get out of the area safely through such measures as a halt to fighting or the creation of a humanitarian corridor.

"I trust that my pleas to all parties to do all they can to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law will not fall on deaf ears," Mr. Holmes said. "The continuing close attention of the international community will be a very important part of this, including scrutiny of the implementation of the assurances given by the Government."

He also appealed to "those with any influence on the positions of the LTTE" to persuade the rebels to let civilians go.

"There is no time to lose," the Under-Secretary-General stressed.

Addressing reporters following the closed-door meeting, Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan, which holds the monthly rotating Council presidency, said that there was a convergence of views among members that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Holmes continue to be engaged on the issue.

In a related development, a recently-opened sea route has allowed the World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver 40 metric tons of the agency's food – enough to feed 80,000 people for a day – to the Government-designated safe zone in the Vanni region.

Sailing under an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flag, the supplies in the tugboat reached the area yesterday, with another shipment planned for tomorrow.

WFP now aims to deliver up to 300 metric tons of food supplies weekly by sea.

Since last September, the agency had been bringing food to the Vanni region by road convoys, but was forced in January to halt its deliveries due to the escalating hostilities.

WFP food has been reaching some 40,000 displaced people seeking refuge in Government-controlled areas in the north, with 145 metric tons of food having been supplied to 11 camps.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency today urged the Government to exercise caution and the LTTE to allow civilians to move to safe areas.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has received 300 acres of land from the Sri Lankan Government and seeks to set up a camp for 42,000 people by the end of the week. But given the large number of people trapped by fighting, the agency has asked for an additional 300 acres to shelter 85,000 civilians in all.
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