Action Alert ArchiveOutbreak of war threatens safety of thousands of civiliansAugust 4, 2006 The recent outbreak of violence in Sri Lanka has caused a humanitarian crisis in the eastern areas of Sri Lanka and left the four-year-old ceasefire in tatters. The conflict began with a dispute over a water canal funded by the Asian Development Bank project and meant to provide drinking water to both Government and LTTE controlled areas. Civilians in LTTE areas protested being neglected in the project implementation, depriving them of necessary water storage, and they then cut off the sluice gates. Civilians in government areas were deprived of necessary irrigation water, which threatens their year’s worth of crops. Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission Head Ulf Henricsson met with protesters to discuss solutions, however, during this meeting the Sri Lankan Air Force dropped a bomb less than 750m away. Henricsson said of the events, “We sat talking and got clearance from the government and tried to convince the LTTE to have confidence in the government. They dropped a bomb in the vicinity. That's not the right signal.” The bombing campaign was followed by a ground attack on the canal and an LTTE counter-attack. Both warring sides claim to be fighting for humanitarian reasons, but the fighting has resulted in thousands of displaced. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that between 6,000 and 7,000 people had fled the town of Muttur, where much of the violence has taken place. At least 29 have been killed and dozens more wounded in Muttur, which is predominantly Muslim. On August 3rd, the Sri Lankan Army opened fire on an ambulance carrying two civilians, who were killed on the spot, and a driver who succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital. The previous day artillery fire landed on a church where some 600 Tamil Civilians were taking refuge, killing an 8-year-old boy and wounding 3 women. What is truly tragic is that all of the affected areas lie in the East, the hardest hit area by the tsunami of 2004. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding where more than 10,000 are displaced internally, and food and water supplies are fast running out. A people who have already suffered due to the politicization of post-tsunami recovery should not be punished again for want of relief supplies. This outbreak of violence must come to an end and the indiscriminate bombing and killing of civilians must stop. Both parties must come to a peaceful resolution that restores the ceasefire and the lives of the civilians in these areas. Therefore, we are calling on you to urge both sides to cease the violence that is endangering the lives of innocent civilians. We also call on you to provide urgent and substantial humanitarian relief to the tens of thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire. |
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Jun 20, 2008 - Aftenposten
Peace brokers from around the world will once again gather for the annual Oslo Forum next week, to swap experience in conflict mediation. Participants include Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran; Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff for ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Gareth Evans, president of the International Crisis Group. Read this article
As Sri Lanka's civil war escalates, so do attacks on its journalists
Jun 19, 2008 - AP
With civil war raging in Sri Lanka, the journalists trying to cover the conflict find themselves increasingly under siege. They have been hounded by the government, attacked by unknown assailants and accused of aiding the rebels. Many reporters have been arrested or fled the country, while others have resorted to self-censorship, journalists said.Read this article
Review of Sri Lanka under the Universal Periodic Review
Jun 14, 2008 - Amnesty International
Themes raised by member states participating in the review of Sri Lanka under the UPR dialogue included concerns related to the lack of protection of civilians caught in the internal conflict; enforced disappearances, unlawful/extrajudicial killings; torture and other forms of ill treatment, threats to freedom of expression, the need to strengthen national human rights institutions, attacks on dissent and ongoing impunity for human rights violations.
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Press freedom in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate
Jun 13, 2008 - CPJ
The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by government’s policies toward journalists who write critically about the conflict between Sri Lanka’s military forces and Tamil secessionists. We have seen an increase in harassment, intimidation, and detention of reporters, many of whom are columnists in senior positions with well-established careers.
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S.Lanka says peace brokers can't visit rebel area
Jun 12, 2008 - Reuters
Sri Lanka has refused requests by Norwegian peace mediators to visit rebel territory, and said fresh peace talks hinged on Tamil Tiger guarantees to lay down arms and stick to a negotiation timetable. Nordic ceasefire monitors quit the country this year after the six-year Norway brokered truce disintegrated.
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