Action Alert Archive

Government's ceasefire abrogation intensifies civilian suffering

January 31, 2008

I am writing to bring to your attention the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka and to urge the United States to take a leading role in calling for a United Nations human rights monitoring mission.

Following the Sri Lankan government's unilateral withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement on January 2, hostilities have increased between the government and the Tamil Tigers, putting thousands of civilians at risk. Civilian disappearances in Jaffna and Batticaloa have increased and refugees have been injured in Sri Lankan Airforce strikes in the North.

On January 29th, an especially tragic attack on civilians left 11 schoolchildren dead. A claymore mine was detonated against a civilian bus in Mannar, northern Sri Lanka. About 18 people were killed in this attack, according to local Roman Catholic Church sources. The BBC quoted a local hospital official saying about 20 people were injured, who were then taken to a nearby hospital where there is only one doctor.

The increased violence has also severely hampered aid distribution to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Tamil areas in the North. The UN Humanitarian Affairs office reports that the government's withdrawal from the ceasefire has "implications for humanitarian access to those most in need of assistance." Earlier this month, the World Food Programme was unable to deliver food to 32,000 IDPs in Mullaitivu district due to worsening conditions.

Human Rights Watch recently stated that "Sri Lanka lacks credible domestic institutions to address human rights violations" and has called for the presence of a UN human rights monitoring mission. Countries including Japan and Norway and other international human rights organizations have also expressed regret over the Sri Lankan government's decision to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement and echoed the need for an independent human rights monitoring mission.

I appeal to the U.S. government to exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government to permit UN human rights monitors on the island to provide protection and a secure environment for civilians.