Dear friends,
We wish to share with you the following statement from the UN General Secretary.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Statement from UN General Secretary forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: Secretary-General, Appalled At Killing Of Hundreds In Sri Lanka, Urges Government To Explore All Options To Bring Conflict To End Without Further Bloodshed
11 May 2009
Secretary-General
SG/SM/12235
Department of Public Information News and Media Division New York
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General is appalled at the killing of hundreds of civilians in Sri Lanka over the weekend. Thousands of Sri Lankans have already died in the past several months due to the conflict, and more
still remain in grave danger.
The Secretary-General has repeatedly called upon the parties to the conflict to stop using heavy-calibre weaponry, including mortars, in the areas with high civilian concentrations. The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the continued use of heavy weapons in this situation. The reckless disrespect shown by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the safety of civilians has led to thousands of people remaining trapped in the area.
The Secretary-General once again calls on both sides, in the strongest terms possible, to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. The LTTE must immediately allow the remaining civilians in the conflict zone to leave. He reminds the parties that the world is watching events in Sri Lanka closely, and will not accept further violations of international law.
The Secretary-General urges the Government of Sri Lanka to explore all possible options to bring the conflict to an end without further bloodshed and to make public the terms under which that can be achieved without further loss of civilian life, and for the LTTE to give sober and positive consideration of those terms.
INTENSE FIGHTING CONTINUES IN SRI LANKA’S CONFLICT ZONE
In Sri Lanka, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA <http://ochaonline.un.org/>) says government security forces continue operations in the conflict zone. Intense fighting has been reported over the weekend with a heavy toll on civilians, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and more injuries.
Earlier today, a reported 900 civilians escaped from the conflict zone in Mullaitivu and most have reached Omanthai. So far, a total, 196,044 persons have crossed to the Government controlled areas from the conflict zone. But the United Nations still estimates at least 50,000 -and probably more – remain in the conflict zone.
Over the weekend, the International Committee of the Red Cross evacuated 515 patients and caregivers from the conflict zone to Pulmoddai, and transported 25 metric tons of food and some medicine provided by the World Food Programme for the civilians trapped in the conflict zone. Family reunification is also a priority, and the United Nations stresses that efforts to reunite families without delay must be redoubled. In addition, every effort must be taken to avoid additional separations during transfers and decongestion efforts.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s contacts on Sri Lanka over the past few days, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was receiving daily briefings on the situation there. She noted that he had spoken with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week, and with the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka this morning. She described the situation in that country as one of his top priorities.
Asked whether the Secretary-General intended to travel to Sri Lanka, Montas said that he is currently analyzing the information that he is getting before deciding on travel.
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.
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