(August 02, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil Democratic Congress (TDC) appeals to the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to safeguard the civilian population form the ongoing military offensive of the state security forces in the north of the island.
Historical evidence confirms civilian population becoming easy pawn for the military offensives and many thousands have lost their lives under unaccountable situations arising as a result of the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators.
The government is on the euphoric mood that it will make further advances into LTTE controlled territories even to the extent of wresting full control of these territories. Tamil Democratic Congress is not opposed to any direct confrontations with the LTTE, but is concerned about the impending catastrophic humanitarian and human rights situation during and post these advances.
The government by restricting the access to independent media and the international monitoring missions is expected, as usual, to down play and cover up any human tragedy of its war efforts.
Thirty years of war has seen unending sufferings and colossal human rights violations and these are now forgotten events. The people living in the remaining LTTE territories are unwilling citizens who have to live under the subjugation of the LTTE. These people can be subjected to unprecedented human rights abuses for being in that area and they require the safeguards from blindly falling victims to the violent and hostile military operations there.
The government has not gone on public as to how it will address the anticipated humanitarian and human rights situation in the captured territories. Its hostile attitude towards the media and the local and international agencies reflects our fear of impending catastrophe to be faced by the civilian population.
Further, the government has not made progress to sincerely address the underline causes that has alienated the minority population in Sri Lanka. Its All Party Parliamentary Representative Committee (APRC) that is formulating a political resolution for over two years is fast proving to be a meaningless exercise due to government’s inability to reach a bipartisan agreement with the opposition United National Party. The APRAC process has been used as a peddling process to carryout its massive military onslaught under the disguise of defeating the LTTE.
We appeal to the President of Sri Lanka to publicly state:
What measures have been taken to safeguard the civilian population from further military advances into the LTTE territories.
Whether the government would give unhindered access to the media and the humanitarian and human rights organisations.
What measures the government will take to deal with lapses on the part of the security forces.
That any major victories into the LTTE territories are not followed by unwanted euphoric celebrations as though Sri Lanka has consolidated extra territories outside the country as had happened with Yappana Pattuna celebrations when Jaffna peninsula was brought and government control and the wresting control of the eastern province.
That it will seriously engage with the opposition UNP beyond inter party petty parochial conflicts to reach a bipartisan agreement to politically empower the minorities to be part of Sri Lanka.
We also appeal to the international community to bear upon the Sri Lankan government.
to take all measures to safeguard the civilian population as outlined above.
to help find a durable political resolution to empower the minority populations in the country.
to bear upon international justice when systematic human rights violations are perpetrated against the civilian population.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Historical evidence confirms civilian population becoming easy pawn for the military offensives and many thousands have lost their lives under unaccountable situations arising as a result of the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators.
The government is on the euphoric mood that it will make further advances into LTTE controlled territories even to the extent of wresting full control of these territories. Tamil Democratic Congress is not opposed to any direct confrontations with the LTTE, but is concerned about the impending catastrophic humanitarian and human rights situation during and post these advances.
The government by restricting the access to independent media and the international monitoring missions is expected, as usual, to down play and cover up any human tragedy of its war efforts.
Thirty years of war has seen unending sufferings and colossal human rights violations and these are now forgotten events. The people living in the remaining LTTE territories are unwilling citizens who have to live under the subjugation of the LTTE. These people can be subjected to unprecedented human rights abuses for being in that area and they require the safeguards from blindly falling victims to the violent and hostile military operations there.
The government has not gone on public as to how it will address the anticipated humanitarian and human rights situation in the captured territories. Its hostile attitude towards the media and the local and international agencies reflects our fear of impending catastrophe to be faced by the civilian population.
Further, the government has not made progress to sincerely address the underline causes that has alienated the minority population in Sri Lanka. Its All Party Parliamentary Representative Committee (APRC) that is formulating a political resolution for over two years is fast proving to be a meaningless exercise due to government’s inability to reach a bipartisan agreement with the opposition United National Party. The APRAC process has been used as a peddling process to carryout its massive military onslaught under the disguise of defeating the LTTE.
We appeal to the President of Sri Lanka to publicly state:
What measures have been taken to safeguard the civilian population from further military advances into the LTTE territories.
Whether the government would give unhindered access to the media and the humanitarian and human rights organisations.
What measures the government will take to deal with lapses on the part of the security forces.
That any major victories into the LTTE territories are not followed by unwanted euphoric celebrations as though Sri Lanka has consolidated extra territories outside the country as had happened with Yappana Pattuna celebrations when Jaffna peninsula was brought and government control and the wresting control of the eastern province.
That it will seriously engage with the opposition UNP beyond inter party petty parochial conflicts to reach a bipartisan agreement to politically empower the minorities to be part of Sri Lanka.
We also appeal to the international community to bear upon the Sri Lankan government.
to take all measures to safeguard the civilian population as outlined above.
to help find a durable political resolution to empower the minority populations in the country.
to bear upon international justice when systematic human rights violations are perpetrated against the civilian population.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
 The Tamil Democratic Congress (TDC) appeals to the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers ...){kind=link}
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