Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - The United Nations and the international community have urged the government of Colombo to guarantee respect for human rights in Sri Lanka even in the sad situation of civil war. Fighting between Tamil separatists and the regular army particularly fierce in the north and east of the Island continues to cause suffering to civilians. Recently LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) guerrillas attacked an army base at Anuradhapura, with casualties in both sides. More than 5,400 people have been killed since the end of 2005 (when fighting resumed). Since civil war first started in 1972, more than 60,000 have died.
Yesterday the foreign minister in Colombo announced the capture in Thailand of Kumaran Pathmanathan, one of the principal LTTE leaders. The government hopes the capture of the man, in charge of keeping the LTTE supplied with arms, will disorient the rebels.
In the meantime the UN has called on the government of Sri Lanka to guarantee respect for human rights and asked to open a monitoring office in the Island. However Colombo's minister for human rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, replied that the country will not accept the intervention of international agencies in issues connected with its territory, and said the issue is the competence of the government's own Human Rights Commission.
UN Special Envoy in Sri Lanka Louise Harbour, denounced in a report an alarming rate of impunity for violation of human rights perpetrated in the Island with responsibility on both sides, rebels and army troops and he underlined the need for an urgent intervention.
The United States has also urged the government of Sri Lanka to accept the creation of an independent body of international experts to monitor respect for human rights in the country. However so far Colombo shows no signs of giving in to international pressure. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2007 righe 29 parole 293)
