Mounting Civilian Casualties as Conflict Persists

April 10th, 2008

[Public Statement by Amnesty International]

Amnesty International condemns the suicide bomb attack of 6 April 2008 in Gampaha district, Weliveriya, near Colombo. The bomb blast killed at least 12 people, including Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, a senior government minister, and injured over 90 people including children. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been blamed for the bomb attack that targeted a local sports event. Amnesty International reiterates that attacks targeting civilians and indiscriminate attacks violate international humanitarian law which binds all sides to the conflict and constitute war crimes. All such attacks must cease immediately and unconditionally, and perpetrators must be brought to justice.

The organisation is alarmed that since the abrogation of the ceasefire agreement in Sri Lanka on 16 January 2008, the conflict continues to involve the intentional targeting of civilians and indiscriminate attacks. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 180 civilians died in the first six weeks of 2008, and nearly 270 more were injured in a series of attacks on civilian buses, railway stations and individuals in Colombo, Dambulla, Kebhitigollewa, Madhu, Okkampitiya and Welli Oya. The ICRC has expressed concern that “since the start of the year civilian casualties had gone up as the number of indiscriminate attacks had grown in the north, east and south of the country.”

Since 2006, the conflict in Sri Lanka between government forces, the LTTE and other armed groups has escalated and has continued to be marked by widespread human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. These have included unlawful killings; torture and other ill-treatment; recruitment of child soldiers; abductions and enforced disappearances. There are reports of both sides bombing and shelling schools and hospitals5. Hundreds of civilians have been killed; hundreds others injured and more than 200,000 people have been displaced.

Abuses by the LTTE

The LTTE has attracted increasing criticism since the 1980s for its use of child soldiers, targeting of civilians and indiscriminate attacks, including using suicide bombers. During the conflict the LTTE has also endangered civilians by sheltering among them and by launching attacks from civilian areas. Its members have also abducted and killed civilians. With the abrogation of the CFA the mission responsible for monitoring its implementation, the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has terminated.

Recommendations

To the LTTE and other armed groups

· To stop immediately any direct or indiscriminate attacks on civilians, condemn all such
acts publicly and state that they would not be tolerated;

· To immediately suspend any persons suspected of participating in (including ordering)
violations of international law from any position or placement in which they may commit
additional violations;

· To ensure that their forces take special care to avoid damage to cultural property,
including buildings dedicated to religion.

To the Sri Lankan government

· To ensure that all security force personnel respect obligations under international human
rights humanitarian law

· To ensure that its armed forces take special care to avoid damage to cultural property,
including buildings dedicated to religion;

To allow the establishment of an independent, international human rights monitoring presence on
the ground without delay.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized