Holmes tells Guardian newspaper:
LTTE shooting fleeing civilians
Walter JAYAWARDHANA
UN Under Secretary General Sir John Holmes said that although the
LTTE leadership says that the Tamil civilians accompanied them into the
war zone voluntarily and they do not want to leave, there are continuing
reports of shooting at fleeing civilians, destroying boats to prevent
them leaving and forcing them to fight against their will by the LTTE.
He said it is clear that the LTTE is refusing to let people flee,
though many are managing to escape somehow. He added: ?I fear the
combatants may be gearing up for a final confrontation. This is a very
grave situation.?
Sir John Holmes |
Sir John Holmes writing in the London?s Guardian newspaper of April 8
said they have told the terrorist group that civilians trapped by the
fighting in the North must be allowed a free choice of whether to leave
or stay.
The Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs of the United
Nations said, the LTTE?s leadership claims the civilians in the conflict
zone do not want to leave because they accompanied the LTTE voluntarily
in the first place and are afraid of government reprisals. Yet there are
continuing reports that the group?s fighters are shooting at fleeing
civilians, limiting fishing and sabotaging boats that might be used to
escape, and forcing people to fight against their will.
Holmes further added, civilians trapped by the fighting must be
allowed a free choice of whether to leave or stay, as we have made clear
to the LTTE. If the LTTE truly has the best interests of the Tamil
people at heart, they should contribute to ending this unnecessary
civilian suffering.
There have been many hundreds of civilian deaths caused by firing
from both sides, though exact numbers and who fired what and when are
impossible to verify. It is clear that the LTTE is refusing to let
people flee, though many are managing to escape somehow, and I fear the
combatants may be gearing up for a final confrontation. This is a very
grave situation. As a full-scale, long-term ceasefire is unlikely to be
agreed now, the only way to get the civilians out of harm?s way is a
temporary humanitarian lull, during which aid workers and relief
supplies must be allowed into the conflict zone, and those who want to
leave must be given the chance to do so.
He also wrote: Both sides have a duty to bring this about. The LTTE?s
leadership claims the civilians in the conflict zone do not want to
leave because they accompanied the LTTE voluntarily in the first place
and are afraid of government reprisals. Yet there are continuing reports
that the group?s fighters are shooting at fleeing civilians, limiting
fishing and sabotaging boats that might be used to escape, and forcing
people to fight against their will. Civilians trapped by the fighting
must be allowed a free choice of whether to leave or stay, as we have
made clear to the LTTE. If the LTTE truly has the best interests of the
Tamil people at heart, they should contribute to ending this unnecessary
civilian suffering.
For its part, the government of Sri Lanka must stick to its promise
of not using heavy weapons while the fighting lasts, and hold off from
any final attack in the conflict zone while the pause is negotiated.
With so many people packed into such a small area, further military
action not only risks more civilian deaths and injuries but also
threatens to undermine the government?s credibility with the
international community and the national groups with whom it must soon
seek reconciliation.
At this critical juncture independent aid workers must be allowed to
bring in more aid, assess the situation and help civilians to decide
their own fate. Indeed, unless better access for supplies and aid
workers is urgently secured, the ravages of disease, untreated wounds
and hunger will kill many more people.
The government must also show flexibility by recognising that many of
the civilians in the conflict zone have genuine fears about possible
mistreatment, whether the government deems them well-founded or not. It
must also make clear that the safety of all civilians will be
guaranteed, and that all those laying down their arms will be treated in
accordance with the rule of law.
A vital part of this is ensuring that treatment of internally
displaced people is in line with international standards - including the
need for transparent screening and registration processes, guaranteed
freedom of movement, and commitments to ensure speedy return to their
places of origin. If the UN can play a role in bringing this about and
monitoring it with other international groups, it is fully ready to do
so.
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Sir John Holmes
* He entered the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
in 1973.
* He first took up an appointment in the Near
East and North Africa Department before becoming Assistant Private
Secretary to the Foreign Secretary in 1982.
* In January 2007, he was appointed
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon.
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