United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed deep concern over the fate of civilians caught in the fighting in Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil rebels.
Ban “is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of civilians caught in intensified fighting in the Vanni region of Sri Lanka between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam [LTTE] and the government of Sri Lanka,” said a statement issued by his press office.
The UN said on Monday at least 30 civilians had been killed in the fighting, amid a government drive to root out the last pockets of Tamil Tiger resistance.
The UN spokesperson in Colombo, Gordon Weiss, said at least 10 civilians were killed on Monday morning inside an area declared as a “safety zone” by the Sri Lankan military, while dozens more were killed or wounded over the weekend.
Ban urged the Tigers and the Sri Lankan government “to accord immediate and absolute priority to ensuring the protection and well-being of civilians, including humanitarian aid workers” and to “ensure that all people, including the displaced, are treated in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
The UN chief also appealed to both sides to respect “no-fire zones,” “safe areas” and civilian infrastructure including schools, medical facilities and humanitarian facilities and assets.
Ban pleaded with all parties “to allow and facilitate the movement of 250 000 civilians currently in the area of fighting to safe areas.”
He also expressed concern about attacks on “members of the media and urges all parties to demonstrate respect for the freedom of the press”.
The Sri Lankan government last week declared a safe zone inside what is left of rebel-held territory in the district of Mullaittivu to prevent tens of thousands of civilians getting caught up in the crossfire.
The rebel Tigers did not comment on the casualties, but the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said more than 100 civilians were killed in artillery fire on Monday, a charge denied by the military.
Government troops on Monday pushed deeper into the last pockets of jungle still held by the Tigers after capturing the rebels’ final urban stronghold and military headquarters of Mullaittivu on Sunday. — AFP