US expresses solidarity with Lanka
The United States is concerned over wider implications for Sri
Lanka’s security, especially in the light of the terrorist attack on the
Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore last Tuesday.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian and Central Asian
Affairs, Richard Boucher made this observation in response to Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama’s remark that the terror strike in Lahore
was the first occasion where Sri Lanka nationals had been targetted
abroad, although thousands of Sri Lankans have lost their lives due to
atrocities unleashed by the LTTE within the country.
This exchange of views took place when the US Assistant Secretary
telephoned Minister Bogollagama in Colombo on Friday to express
solidarity with Sri Lanka following the near fatal attack on the Sri
Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
Recalling the immediate reaction to the terrorist outrage by US
President Barack Obama, Boucher reiterated the strong opposition of the
US to terrorism. The Foreign Minister conveyed his sincere appreciation
for President Obama’s forthright and spontaneous condemnation of this
cowardly assault on a sports team. Briefing his American interlocutor on
the discussions he had held with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad,
including President Asif Al Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani
and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during his brief visit to
Pakistan in the aftermath of the incident, Bogollagama said he was
satisfied with the assurances given by the Pakistani leadership that no
effort will be spared to apprehend the culprits and bring them to
justice.
Moreover, the Pakistani leader had offered to share complete details
of their investigation with the Sri Lankan authorities.
The Foreign Minister said it was not possible to rule out the role of
the LTTE in the terror attack, given the high degree of sophistication
of the planning and the evidence of a nexus between terrorist groups
worldwide.
Boucher offered US assistance in the investigation that is underway,
which Minister Bogollagama deeply appreciated. They agreed to remain
engaged in this regard.
The Minister expressed Sri Lanka’s firm opposition to isolate
Pakistan in the sporting arena or in any manner internationally over
this incident.
Responding to Boucher’s concern over the fate of the civilian
population being held hostage by the LTTE in the tiny coastal pocket in
the Mullaitivu district, the Foreign Minister urged the US to use its
considerable influence on the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to exert
pressure on the LTTE to free the innocent civilians, in line with
similar demands on the LTTE by other quarters of the international
community.
The US Assistant Secretary responded positively to this suggestion.
He said the US Government was aware that the LTTE was firing at Sri
Lankan Security Forces from among the civilians, and hoped that the
latter would exercise restraint and not take retaliatory action.
Minister Bogollagama assured him that the Security Forces have always
respected the sanctity of safe zones designated by the Government, where
the civilian population has been herded into by the LTTE, and will
continue to desist from directing retaliatory fire at such areas,
notwithstanding the repeated provocations by the LTTE against them,
using the hapless civilians as human shields.
The Minister underscored the profound concern of the Government over
the plight of the trapped civilian population who are being forcibly
held against their will and is acutely conscious of their untold pain
and hardship.
Hence, he said that despite the almost insurmountable logistical and
practical difficulties, the Government will continue to keep these
people supplied with food, medicine and other essential items.
He noted that the Government had enough stocks of goods in hand, but
the main difficulty was the delivery mechanism, as these goods had not
to be sent by sea, due to land access being denied by the LTTE.
Bogollagama concluded the telephone conversation with the US Assistant
Secretary by reiterating the Sri Lankan Government’s firm commitment to
remain fully engaged with the international community in addressing the
humanitarian situation. |