The Hindu : International : Situation in Sri Lanka grim: Irene Khan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 07, 2005

International

International

Situation in Sri Lanka grim: Irene Khan

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, on Monday described the current Sri Lankan situation as "grim, volatile and ready to implode." She called upon "all sides" to the conflict — the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) — to "take responsibility" as the situation was "extremely fragile."

Ms. Khan who met President, Mahinda Rajapakse, diplomats, NGOs and the LTTE's political wing leader, S.P. Tamilselvan, expressed concern over the "dramatic escalation" of violence in the east, "which is now spreading to the north." Ms. Khan's observations are against the backdrop of an outburst of violence in the North-east since Friday.

Referring to the number of unsolved cases in Sri Lanka, Ms. Khan said, "The issue of human rights has become a political weapon," and called for independent probes.

"Time is running out but there is a small window of opportunity," she said and called upon the new President to be "open, flexible, and rapid" in respect of human rights activities.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has called upon the LTTE "to desist from acts of violence aimed at Muslims and Muslim interests." It wants the LTTE to "actively engage in activities that promote amity, peace and communal harmony which could eventually be taken forward to achieve the aspirations of the Muslims and Tamils together with just and durable peace."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International