No ceasefire call from UN

Government stand remains:

Rasika Somarathna

Contrary to certain reports in the international media, no ceasefire call has been made by the United Nations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the UN has not officially informed him of any such call for a ceasefire yesterday.

At a media briefing in New York on Monday the UN Secretary General, Ban-Ki-moon had only stated that he was in support of a ‘suspension of fighting for the purpose of allowing safe passage of the civilian population, trying to flee the conflict’.

“The intention of the Government too is to ensure these civilians are afforded safe passage. But these efforts have been greatly hampered, as the LTTE continues to hold civilians hostage and using them as a human shield,” the Minister noted.

“Restricting their freedom of movement in this manner is clearly a breach of international humanitarian law.

This was also stated by UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Sir John Holmes during his recent visit to the country” the Minister added.

The Minister also re-iterated that the stand taken by the Government on the ceasefire issue had not changed, and the LTTE had to lay down their arms.

The Minister said, the Government continued to do its utmost to help the displaced both within and outside the conflict zone. But the LTTE kept abusing international humanitarian laws by holding them against their will, and preventing them free movement.