Civilian casualties reaching appalling levels
February 14th, 2008
Geneva, Colombo (ICRC)-The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply concerned about the growing number of civilian casualties, including children, resulting from the deteriorating security situation across Sri Lanka.
[8-year-old Fuline admitted at Kilinochchi hospital, after a blast in Thadchanaamaruthamadu, near Mannar-29 Jan, 2008-file pic-TN]
Since the beginning of this year, the ICRC has observed an increase in the number of civilians killed or injured in targeted and/or indiscriminate attacks.
In the first six weeks of 2008, more than 180 civilians were reported killed and almost 270 injured in a series of attacks on civilian buses, railway stations and individuals in Colombo, Dambula, Kebhitigollewa, Madhu, Okkampitiya and Welli Oya.
“The number of civilians affected by the violence throughout the country, either by being directly targeted or as bystanders, has reached appalling levels,” says Toon Vandenhove, head of the organization’s delegation in Colombo. “Sadly, many of the victims have been children on their way to or from school.”
While international humanitarian law does not prohibit the targeting of persons taking direct part in hostilities, attacks against those not directly involved in the fighting are prohibited without exception and constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population and civilian objects.
As a humanitarian organization with a mandate to protect and assist persons affected by armed conflict, the ICRC strongly condemns any attacks on civilians and urgently calls on all concerned to put a stop to violence against civilians.
The ICRC has been working in Sri Lanka since 1989. It activities include acting as a neutral intermediary between the parties to the conflict, protecting and assisting the civilian population, visiting security detainees, transferring the remains of fallen fighters and promoting international humanitarian law.
Related: The Relevance of International Humanitarian Law to Contemporary Armed Conflicts
Entry Filed under: Federalidea, Full Text of Press Release
8 Comments Add your own
1. Sam Thambipillai | February 15th, 2008 at 5:28 am
The International Committe of the Red Cross (ICRC), AI and other international agencies have told umpteen times that there are arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearnces in the hands of Sri Lankan soldiers.
In the North and East, mass displacements and exodus of civilians reached unacceptable heights. Women and children are being bombed and killed indiscrimainately. Civilans are either injured or killed by artillery fire. Collective punishment, mass arrests and detention without trial are common occurences. People are denied free travel and access to food by the closure of highways.
Human rights violations remain uncontrolled and unpunished in government controlled areas in the North East with a view to accomplish state terror.
The UN charter clearly stipulates the freedoms and rights of all people living in this world of ours. Genocide is a crime against humanity according to the UN conventions.
And here is a rebel country with a rebel constitution, calling itself Sri Lanka, representing the North East of the former island of Ceylon illegally and occupying a seat in the UN Genearl Assembly, pretending to be dignified.
None of the other UN member countries have the guts to challenge this country for its acts of state terror against Tamil civilians.
President Rajapakse and the Army commander Sarath Fonseka should be tried for war crimes in the International Criminal Court (ICC) but that is not being done.
Is the world not guilty of this crime against the people of North East? Will anything change just because ICRC says about the civilian killings?
The answer is an unequivocal “NO”.
2. Chales Ryan | February 15th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
There are not only civilian deaths the goverment soldiers are also dying like flies.Many are victims of land mines and sniper attacks. The Colombo press is under strict orders not to publish demoralizing details of government loss. Because this will lead to loss of recruitment and loss of mass support.. According to local press in the North dead sodiers are buried randomly.
3. Dyan | February 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am
After 1983 riots, India made such a outcry in the media regarding the genocide of Tamils. And the mother India dropped food from the air into the marsh lands of Jaffna without the the request from the Tamils in North East of Sri Lanka. Within a year, Indian peace keepers rampaged through the Jaffna streets to kill innocent civilians and raped untold number of beautiful girls.
And the ICRC make a lot of noise about killings of Tamils , abductions of Tamils and more at present. Are they really interested in stoping the genocide of Tamils or another wave of genocide of Tamils in the name of War on Terror?
Tamils are not fools all the time.
4. bk | February 16th, 2008 at 9:32 am
ICRC has said;
‘In the first six weeks of 2008, more than 180 civilians were reported killed and almost 270 injured in a series of attacks on civilian buses, railway stations and individuals in Colombo, Dambula, Kebhitigollewa, Madhu, Okkampitiya and Welli Oya.’
Majority of those incidents (about 90%) were atrocities confirmed to have been carried out by the LTTE.
5. A.Rajasingam | February 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Humanitarian Organizations knew such attacks on innocent civilians not only in Sri Lanka but throughout the third world countries. There is justification in their call on all concerned to end violence against civilians. But the question is the LTTE has already infiltrated in all government departments including the Armed Security Forces. The situation is very complex. Further it is a battle between the visible and the invisible. As a result it is very difficult to distinguish between a terrorist and a innocent civilian. Will it not be better if such Humanitarian Organizations apply pressure through the United Nations to make such third world countries as signatories to the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and give due weight to such Covenants. The present situation calls for such changes in Constitutions that have not received the mandate from the aggrieved minority community. Apparently Article 7 of the UN Charter discourages any States from interfering into the domestic affairs of any country. However if there is a mass exodus of refugees to the neighboring State due to excess violation of human rights such as genocide posing a threat to it, then the neighboring State can interfere. Powerful Nations or the UN will have to give thought to the Regional Associations among States that call for a negotiated settlement in he country. Though it appears to be genocide in weeding out the terrorists, the answer lies in rectifying the Constitution to a Federal model to meet the aspirations of all races without any discrimination.
6. Devinda Fernando | February 16th, 2008 at 11:53 am
*** There are not only civilian deaths the government soldiers are also dying like flies.Many are victims of land mines and sniper attacks. ***
But you say that with Glee, don’t you Charles Ryan. The more the better for you and your Cowardly LTTE who use Tamil Civilians as Shrapnel Sponges against the mines and grenades they use in ambush attacks in public civilian areas.
*** Because this will lead to loss of recruitment and loss of mass support.. ***
You only wish this were the case. Don’t worry this will all be over soon. Whiel the loss of life is regrettable on all sides (except the Enemy of course) the SL forces will finish the Job once and for all.
7. Devinda Fernando | February 16th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Sam Thambipillai, one day you will realize the realities of War, probably having never actually lived through one, and OBVIOUSLY never having actually researched the History on one. it comes to me as no surprise you Cue the Violins for the casualties of a conflict and allege and exaggerate the situation to the maximum.
Good Work! You keep it up..!.keep crying falsehoods like GENOCIDE and ETHNIC CLEANSING and whatever the most Horrific Adjectives you can Google Search from your keyboard and you will see why the IC looks at you Diaspora Barkers like the the Bunch of Chicken Littles’ and ‘Boys who cried Wolf’ that you are
8. Tamil Diaspora | February 22nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
The tamils are treated like 3rd class citizens in Europe.Most work in groceries ,petrol pumps and pizza delivery jobs and looked downupon,spitted at,bully by whites/europians ,but demand equality in sri lanka.
HAHAHAHA .What childish politics.
My advice to all tamil diaspora is to beg your supervisors for an extra hour of Overtime rather than talk politics in this forum .
The myth “Ealam” have destroyed the tamil race & the IC usually refer the tamils as “tamil tiger terrorists”
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