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May 14, 2009

Urgent appeal on Sri Lanka’s human rights and humanitarian situation

The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)

The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) expresses its deepest concern about the recent situation in the north of Sri Lanka, where hostilities between Sri Lankan Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continue. Over the past few days, large-scale, intensive and indiscriminate shelling attacks by government forces, targeting densely populated areas including makeshift hospitals, have killed a myriad of civilians in the “No-War Zone” at an unprecedented level. Over a single night from May 9 to 10, the shelling reportedly killed “nearly 400” or “more than 2,000” according to different sources, and injured a larger number of people. Moreover, it was reported that even those makeshift hospitals which provide the injured with medical treatment were bombed on the 12th and 13th, resulting in the death of tens of people respectively. We deeply regret the fact that the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to keep its pledge stating that they would not use artillery weapons in the declared No-War Zone. As we have been repeatedly calling for, we hereby strongly urge both the Government and the LTTE to immediately cease fire in order not to cause any more casualties.

To deter the on-going tragedy from taking place, the active engagement and decisive actions of the international community are vital. To our utmost regret, however, the lack of such attitude of the international community has allowed the occurrence of massacres and atrocities committed by the Government and the LTTE, ignoring international humanitarian law. In this regard, we urge the international community, especially the United Nations, to take immediate and concrete actions. As per the joint NGO appeal we made on May 6, 2009, we request anew the Human Rights Council to hold a special session on Sri Lanka, include the human rights situation of Sri Lanka in its agenda on a regular basis, and send an international mission to assess the conditions of civilians who are confined in the war-affected areas. Also, the humanitarian situation of Sri Lanka should be taken up at formal meetings of the UN Security Council.

Last but not least, IMADR stresses on the significance of the role the Government of Japan should play under the current circumstances. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Japan, which is one of the largest aid donors for Sri Lanka, to take an active part towards a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the country. The Government of Japan should urge the Government of Sri Lanka to address the matter in a decisive attitude and to resort not to arms but to peaceful means, and further provide Sri Lanka with assistance including technical assistance necessary for a peaceful resolution. At the same time, Japan as a member state of the Human Rights Council should take the lead in supporting the convening of a special session on Sri Lanka. As a non-permanent member, the Government of Japan is also urged to take necessary actions so that the Security Council can formally take up the present humanitarian situation of Sri Lanka as one of its agendas. At any cost, any further loss of human lives must be prevented. We believe that it is the responsibility of Japan as a state upholding human rights and democracy to show a strong leadership in the arena of international politics.