Tripoli, 10 April, (Asiantribune.com):Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has blamed that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam solely responsible for the sufferings the innocent Tamil civilians at present undergoing in the 'No Fire Zone' in the North of Sri Lanka. He accused LTTE leadership for holding hundreds of thousands innocent Tamil civilians as human shield despite repeated calls for their freedom
This was said when United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon talked yesterday over the telephone with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Libya where he is at present on a three-day state visit.
In the telephone conversation initiated by the UN Secretary-General to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian situation regarding Tamil civilians in the North of Sri Lanka, Ban Ki-moon had expressed his concern about thousands of civilian trapped in the No Fire Zone.
President Rajapaksa told Ban Ki-moon that he understood the Secretary-General’s deep preoccupation with the fate and condition of this civilian population, and informed him that the suffering of the civilians was due to LTTE continuing to hold them hostage and as human shields, ignoring the many calls by the UN and humanitarian organizations to free them.
He had also informed the UNSG of the continuing numbers of civilians who were fleeing the LTTE’s hold in the rapidly diminishing land they control, where these civilians are held forcibly, and facing great danger to leave to the Safe Zone established by the Government.
President Rajapaksa had also assured the UNSG that Sri Lanka was well aware of the predicaments and repeated his call on the UN and all interested parties to bring increased pressure on the LTTE to give the people the freedom to leave the affected area.
The UN Secretary-General and the Sri Lankan President agreed to continue working together in the coming days for the interests of the affected civilians in the North of Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Sir John Holmes UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, writing to The Guardian UK of April 08, 2009, said:
"Civilians trapped by the fighting must be allowed a free choice of whether to leave or stay, as we have made clear to the LTTE. If the LTTE truly has the best interests of the Tamil people at heart, they should contribute to ending this unnecessary civilian suffering.
"The LTTE's leadership claims that the civilians in the conflict zone do not want to leave because they accompanied the LTTE voluntarily in the first place and are afraid of government reprisals. Yet there are continuing reports that the group's fighters are shooting at fleeing civilians, limiting fishing and sabotaging boats that might be used to escape, and forcing people to fight against their will."
He adds that: "There have been many hundreds of civilian deaths caused by firing from both sides, though exact numbers and who fired at what and when is impossible to verify. It is clear that the LTTE is refusing to let people flee, though many are managing to escape somehow, and I fear the combatants may be gearing up for a final confrontation. This is a very grave situation."
Meanwhile, there are news reports that Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister, had told a group of Tamil demonstrators, who had recently gathered outside the Norwegian Parliament demanding that Norway intervene to stop the war in Mullaitivu, that LTTE leaders now in the No Fire Zone in Mullaitivu were maintaining close contact with the United Nations.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
Sarath What the President
Sarath
What the President Mahinda Rajapakshe has told is true that LTTE leader Prabakaran now has fallen into such a desperate state in which he seeks protection from civilins who are not allowed to cross that small stretch of land to the govenment controlled area because he fears the death at the hands of Sri Lnakan army. Once powerful and dectatorial Prabakaran has now become the most hated person of the majority of Tamils who love to live in peace and harmony hand in hand with the rest of the communities in Sri Lanka. Prabakaran never thought that a wheel can turn clock-wise as well as anti-clock wise.
The Sri Lankan military has
The Sri Lankan military has demonstrated a compassion and consideration for the civilians caught up in this final battle with the LTTE that has not been shown by ANY other army in the world.
Lets look at the facts as we know from past wars..e.g.,
1. The carpet bombing of Dresden by the British
2. Bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the US
3. Napalm bombings in Vietnam by US
3. Bombings in Iran and Afghanistan by US and NATO
4. Other several wars in Central and South America in which the US has been engaged.
Clearly the Sri Lankan army could finish off this last battle in a few days if not for consideration of the civilians. Did any such consideration take place in the wars listed above?
So, let the UN and the world be convinced about the facts. The NoFireZone is a concession by the Sri Lankan govt. Clearly, the LTTE fires from within it, and is killing its own civilians in order to bring pressure on the Govt. by the internationals. THE LTTE ARE THE VIOLATORS.
Lies and deceit are the hallmarks of the LTTE...the world should know that by now.
The humanitarian agencies should get acquainted with what the LTTE is doing to these innocent people in articles by other Tamils like Rohini Hensman (The Island, April 8, 09), and the statement by Mr. Balasubramaniam (The Island, April 10), which should clearly show the LTTE's treatment of Vanni civilians and reveal also the character of the LTTE.
At this time in which they have been cornered the LTTE will try anything to survive and killing their own people is nothing new.
It is common knowledge that the LTTE are blatant liars, and will resort to any form of deceit.
I'm a Sinhala UK Resident,
I'm a Sinhala UK Resident, most my freinds are Tamils. I know very well how they feel. Let the SL Govt to wipe out LTTE and give freedom to my Tamil brothers/Sisters, so that I get well fed with Thosay, Iddali, Sambar etc. when I visit SL every year. Gamini
If the news report is
If the news report is correct and as Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister, had told a group of Tamil demonstrators that LTTE leaders in the No Fire Zone were maintaining close contact with the United Nations, why is that UN representatives failed to apply pressure on the LTTE to permit the civilians to leave for safer areas or alternatively, LTTE should be asked to leave the No Fire Zone for the safety of the civiians.
UN can also start negotiations with LTTE to arrange to bring the civilians to safety through ICRC or any other UN agency.
Although I do not advocate UN to negotiate with terrorists, we must go that extra mile to save the lives of the innocent civilians.
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