|
  INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA
The Charge is Ethnic Cleansing
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONTINUE
AT AN ALARMING RATE - 1992
''Team members of the Canadian Human Rights Mission
to Sri Lanka were alarmed by the extent of human rights
violations and the enormous human cost of the conflict.
Equally distressing was the fact that the severity of
the situation is so little known or addressed by the
international community...
Human rights violations continue to occur in Sri
Lanka at an alarming rate... Most distressing was the
failure of the government to acknowledge the level of
human rights abuses occurring in the country...
It was apparent to team members that many Tamils are
genuinely grateful for the protection provided to them
by the LTTE... Contributing to the problems in Sri
Lanka is a climate of repression. Electronic media is
state controlled. The print media is largely used to a
significant extent to promote the government point of
view or give voice to Buddhist chauvinistic opinions.
There seemed to be little public participation in the
political process.''
The organisations who are signatories to this letter
have all had a direct interest in programmes in Sri Lanka
in recent years. We are writing out of humanitarian
concern for the innocent civilians in the north of Sri
Lanka, suffering not only from the effects of war but
also from the continuing military blockade and the
shortage of food, medicine, and fuel. We are also writing
to the LTTE.
Our immediate concern is at reports of increased
bombing in the Jaffna area. There is no doubt that this
will involve civilian casualties, loss of live and
increased suffering. Short of ending the war, we would,
at the very least, urge you to ensure that innocent
civilians do not become targets, and that all possible
steps are taken to protect civilians in the North, and in
Jaffna in particular.
We appeal to you to respect international standards on
the conduct of warfare, particularly those designed to
protect people who are not or are no longer taking an
active part in the conflict, in accordance with those
articles and protocols of the Geneva convention governing
internal conflicts.
The wide disparity between the Sri Lankan
Government's numbers of detainees and those of
independent NGOs is a cause of grave concern. We would
urge that all possible steps are taken to ensure that all
detainees in both official and "unofficial" places of
detention be allowed access to the ICRC and their rights
under international laws and conventions be
respected.
Yours sincerely
Michael Taylor
Director
on behalf of
Richard Miller, Assistant Director, CAFOD
Jane Winder, Director, One World Action
Alf Dubs, Director, The Refugee Council
Giampi Aldaheff, Director, War on Want Campaigns Ltd
"The Sri Lanka Army encamped at Mullaitivu
launched artillery shell attacks directed towards the
Amman Temple at Vattrapalai on Monday, May 18 1992 -
when thousands of Hindu devotees had congregated at the
temple for the annual Pongal festival.
The report in this connection states that the
Vattrapalai Amman temple situated about 2 miles away
from Mullaitivu Army Camp along the sea beach is a
Hindu temple of antiquity where an annual Pongal
festival is held. Hindus from all parts of the island
congregate at Vattrapalai Amman Temple for this annual
event.
This year the festival took place on Monday, May 18
...Towards noon shells launched from the Sri Lankan
Army Camp at Mullaitivu exploded first near the beach
and the large crowd became panicky and started running
from the temple premises. Many people were injured in
the stampede that followed.
One shell exploded near a bicycle stand and ten
persons died on the spot. Five others died while being
rushed for treatment. The Red Cross was on duty at the
temple premises in connection with the festival. Two
Red Cross Volunteers - Shanmugalingam (46) and
Rajanimal (19) died. A third female nurse volunteer of
the Red Cross Society. R. Suganthinidevi suffered
serious injuries.
The Hindu Federation has severely criticised the
wanton attack on the temple premises and said the Army
action is consistent with the previous history of
destruction of Hindu temples by the Sri Lankan Armed
forces. Another report adds that the Temple authorities
had earlier informed the Army of the impending
festival. (Tamil Nation Monthly, June 1992)
|
