LTTE must lay down arms: No ceasefire call to Sri Lanka - consensus
at UN Security Council
"Influence Tigers to let civilians go" - Sir John Holmes: Sri
Lanka not on UNSC Agenda
UN Security Council yesterday (27) received a briefing
by Under Secretary General Sir John Holmes who visited Sri Lanka at
President Rajapaksa's invitation last week. The briefing did not result
in a ceasefire call to Sri Lanka from the Security Council, but general
agreement that the LTTE must lay down arms and ease suffering of
civilians.
At the end of the briefing Sir John Holmes told
reporters that humanitarian concerns about the people held captive by
the LTTE remains a major concern while the concerns about IDPs who have
already come to cleared areas seems less than what was feared for. He
was strongly critical of the LTTE's continuing ruthlessness by not
allowing people to leave the conflict area. Sir John had good words
about increasing cooperation with the government and made positive
comments about the Government's policy and objective to send back about
80 percent of IDPs as soon as possible or within a year. He was strongly
critical of the LTTE's continuing ruthlessness by not allowing people to
leave the conflict area.
Sir John appealed to "all those with any influence on
the position of the Tigers to use that influence to force them to let
the civilians go". "There is no time to lose" he said.
He described the situation of trapped people as dire
but acknowledged IDPS in transit camps are reasonably well. He was not
aware of major outbreak of disease in the conflict area. He gave some
descriptions of his conversations with IDPs and commented on the fairly
satisfactory physical conditions and the efforts made to have acceptable
screening procedures.
The President of the Security Council, Ambassador
Takasu of Japan , was clear in saying that Sri Lanka situation is not on
the Council agenda and that what was given today was a briefing on a
visit by Sir John Holmes at the invitation of the President of Sri
Lanka. He also said in response to reporter's question that Sri Lanka
cannot be compared with other situations like Sudan where there are
implications for international peace and security, as Sri Lanka's is an
internal issue where a Government is combating a group described as a
terrorist organization by many countries.
He confirmed that there is no formal decision for
pronouncement about the situation by the Security Council but that all
members were hopeful that Government will continue to do all it can to
protect civilians and remain engaged with Secretary General and the UN
team for that purpose.
The Japanese Ambassador said that one has to
understand the nature of the conflict and the intransigent nature of the
LTTE and acknowledged the precautions Government had taken to minimize
casualties. It was also well known that the Tigers were firing from
behind civilians but irrespective of the source of fire there is great
deal of suffering as a result of the conflict, he said.
The President of the Council reiterated that laying
down arms by the Tigers will be the most practical way of bringing this
conflict to an end. After the briefing several ambassadors to the UN
told reporters that LTTE should lay down arms to end conflict.
The British Ambassador said they have all along been
sympathetic to a briefing but made his position very clear that Sri
Lanka is not on the Agenda of the Council and the spotlight should be on
the LTTE which is a proscribed as terrorist outfit and they should lay
down arms and allow civilians to go free so that political process can
begin.
The Russian Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin was more
categorical in saying that the today's briefing is a one time affair and
that it will not go beyond that. This is an internal situation against a
terrorist group which the Government is trying to handle through
military and political means.
Observers at the UN say that the LTTE lobbyist's
attempt to get UN Security Council to give them further breathing space
through a phony ceasefire failed to materialize. The LTTE has only to
blame itself for holding civilians hostage and shooting the very people
who were trying to flee to freedom. The Government on the other hand
seems to have scored by expanding its cooperation and assistance through
the UN, ICRC and by the action of the armed forces who took
extraordinary measures of restraint and precaution to minimize civilian
casualties while taking more casualties among its ranks, they said.
Here are the individual remarks, on record, by
Security Council member Ambassadors in response to reporters' questions,
at United Nations, New York
H.E. Mr. Vitaly I. Churkin, Ambassador of Russian Federation
Q: What is Russia 's position on Sri
Lanka situation in Security Council?
A: This is an internal conflict that has been there
for sometime and it is coming to an end now. It is not on the agenda of
the Security Council. Therefore, today's briefing we think is one time
affair and it will not go beyond that. There is no proposal for it to be
put on the agenda.
H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh , Ambassador of Viet Nam
It is a legitimate Government fighting a terrorist
group.
H.E. Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Ambassador of Austria
The Security Force activity in Sri Lanka is against
terrorist organization conducted by an elected Government. However,
international humanitarian law must be respected by both sides. The Sri
Lanka delegation briefed the Council Members at a meeting held at the
Mission of Japan in New York where Mr. Akashi too provided information
and it outlined action being taken regarding humanitarian matters.
H.E. Sir John Sawers., Ambassador of UK
LTTE is a terrorist organization proscribed by many
countries including the UK . They are cornered and under pressure and
the solution to the current situation is the LTTE laying down arms and
allowing civilians to freely move and for political process begin.
We have received an interesting briefing from Sir John
Holmes. The IDP situation in transit camps are not as concerning as once
feared. The problem is those trapped by the LTTE. UN Secretary General
and his team can continue to remain engaged in this humanitarian
situation and assist the process. The United Kingdom was in favour of
receiving a briefing on Sri Lanka humanitarian aspect but the UK has
a clear position that Sri Lanka is not on the agenda of the Security
Council and it is not that kind of situation and the briefing was
therefore received informally under other matters.
H.E. Mr. Yukio Takasu, Ambassador of Japan and President of the
Security Council
Sri Lanka is not on the Security Council agenda and
there was no decision on the discussion or on that matter. The occasion
was to get a briefing and there was no other formal decision. There are
serious concerns about the plight of the IDPs and those that are trapped
by the LTTE
Once has to understand the nature of the conflict and
it is clear that the Government is combating a group of people, the LTTE
who are described as terrorist organization by many countries and banned
as such.
It was acknowledged that Government of Sri Lanka is
taking a lot of precautions to minimize casualties. However, there are
reports of great deal of suffering and casualties. It is well known that
LTTE is firing from behind civilians and it is hoped that the Government
will continue to exercise maximum restrain.
A strong focus should be on Tamil Tigers as they are
not allowing civilians to go to safety, freely in Government controlled
areas. There were reports that the LTTE has attacked and killed their
own people trying to free themselves and go to government areas
including a report about child suicide bombers being sent. They are also
putting obstacles in the way of supplies and evacuations. Tigers
should lay down arms to bring this conflict to an end.
SG and USG can remain engaged with the Government and
cooperation offered by the Government is appreciated. LTTE military
actions in the safe zone should stop. The Government has given
assurances that 80 percent of the IDPs will go back within the shortest
possible time and that strategy of the Government makes sense.
Difficult to compare Sri Lanka with other situations
e.g. Dafur situation in Sudan is a case of threat to international peace
and security. Sri Lanka is clearly not such a situation and members
recognized that and Sri Lanka is not on the agenda. And we appreciate
Government's openness in providing information.
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