Category: Politics
EU expresses regret as Sri Lanka avoids war crimes probe
BRUSSELS, May 28, 2009 (AFP) – The European Union expressed regret Thursday at the failure to launch a probe into alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan military during its offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution proposed by Sri Lanka and non-aligned states that welcomed Colombo’s […]
Sri Lanka blocks call for human rights probe
GENEVA, May 27, 2009 (AFP) – The UN Human Rights Council ended a special session on Sri Lanka’s conflict on Wednesday with diplomats failing to bridge an Asian-Western divide over whether to probe alleged abuses.“There is no reason for a probe.These are political statements made by various people. I don’t think we should get excited […]
Sri Lanka confident of avoiding war crimes probe
May 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Wednesday it was confident of averting an international probe into alleged war crimes committed during its offensive against the Tamil Tigers. At the council meeting, two draft resolutions have been put forward — each one at odds in their approach to the aftermath of the conflict. The […]
UN rights council divided over Sri Lanka probe
GENEVA, May 26, 2009 (AFP) – UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Tuesday called for an international investigation into attacks on civilians during the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka.“There are strong reasons to believe that both sides have grossly disregarded the fundamental principle of the inviolability of civilians,” Pillay told […]
UN rights council divided over Sri Lanka
GENEVA, May 26, 2009 (AFP) – Asian and Western members of the UN Human Rights Council failed to find a common voice on the situation in Sri Lanka before they were due to hold a special session on the issue Tuesday. Switzerland, with the support of about 30 mainly Western states, has tabled a draft […]
Tigers admit leader dead; UN presses Sri Lanka over access
May 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers on Sunday admitted for the first time that their leader was killed by government forces a week ago as the UN demanded better access for civilians displaced in recent fighting. Almost a week after the government said its troops had killed Velupillai Prabhakaran, 54, in an […]
Sri Lanka to hold local elections in north
May 25, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is to hold local elections later this year in parts of northern areas formerly held by the Tamil Tigers for the first time in 15 years, an official said Monday. A spokesman for the local government ministry said voting will be held between August 4 and 17 to […]
Sri Lanka says aid access only after screening
May 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Sunday it would allow UN aid workers access to civilians who remain in camps after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, but only once rebels hiding among the refugees had been weeded out.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to one camp housing 200,000 Tamils, had […]
Sri Lanka to restrict aid until rebels screened out
May 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Sunday it would not allow aid workers complete access to civilians who remain held in camps after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers until rebels hiding among the refugees had been weeded out.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to one camp housing 200,000 Tamils, […]
UN chief in Sri Lanka amid fears for civilians
May 22, 2009 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived Friday in Sri Lanka to press for humanitarian access to civilians displaced by the separatist conflict, as the island’s president dismissed international concerns.Ban is the first world leader to visit since Colombo’s assertion earlier this week that the Tamil Tigers’ bloody decades-long crusade for an […]
Sri Lanka needs help to meet refugee challenge: UN chief
May 23, 2009 (LBO) – The UN chief Ban Ki-moon who pressed for access to camps housing nearly 300,000 refugees in northern Sri Lanka says more help is needed to meet their needs while a longer term solution is needed to permanently solve the conflict. “If equality is not delivered history could repeat itself,” Ban […]
Sri Lanka president dismisses threat of war crimes charges
May 22, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday brushed off calls for an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by government troops in their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.“There are some who tried to stop our military campaign by threatening to haul us before war crimes tribunals,” Rajapakse said in a […]