"Continued confinement of innocent civilians may lead to renewed conflict"

(August 31, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) 100 days on from the conflict which blighted Sri Lanka for decades, William Hague has expressed serious concerns about the fate of the innocent civilians who are now residing in internment camps.

William Hague, the British Conservative Party MP and the Shadow Foreign Secretary on Thursday urged the Sri Lankan government to take all possible measures to prevent further suffering".

He called for UN and relief organisations to be given "full and unrestricted access to provide shelter, food, water, and medicine, and to oversee the screening process" – a call made all the more urgent by the onset of the monsoon season.

Hague also stressed the importance of the Sri Lankan government living up to its commitment to allow the people to return to their homes by the end of the year. "Their continued confinement in camps will simply sow the seeds of discontent and may lead to renewed conflict in years to come. This would be a disastrous setback for the country when peace has been so hard won."

-Sri Lanka Guardian