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EU calls for political solution

COLOMBO: Hours after the LTTE urged the Co-Chairs of Sri Lanka to pressure Colombo to declare a ceasefire to protect the lives of those stranded in the war zone, the European Union called on the LTTE to lay down arms and renounce terrorism and violence.

At a meeting in Brussels, the EU Foreign Ministers urged the Tigers to end inhuman use of child soldiers and forced recruitment.

“The EU calls on the authorities of Sri Lanka to engage in an inclusive political process, which addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities,” a resolution adopted by the Ministers said.

They also expressed concern over the evolving humanitarian crisis and the vast number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) trapped in the fighting.

The EU stressed the need for international humanitarian law and laws of war to be respected by parties to a conflict.

“The EU calls for an immediate ceasefire, thereby providing for the establishment of full and unrestricted access, allowing humanitarian aid to be safely delivered and allowing civilians to leave the conflict area. The EU condemns the LTTE’s use of violence and intimidation to prevent civilians from leaving the conflict area.”

It urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure that the temporary camps for IDPs and the screening process complied with international standards and that independent monitoring be allowed.

In its letter to the Co-Chairs, the LTTE complained that whenever it had the upper hand militarily, the Sri Lankan ruling party, offering to find a political solution, proposed peace talks. “But, once finding the time space to strengthen its armed forces, the Sri Lankan ruling party disrupted the peace talks and again created the conditions for war.”

The LTTE letter charged that for the past few weeks, 50 to 100 Tamil civilians had been getting killed daily in attacks by the armed forces. More than 2,000 civilians had been killed and 5,000 injured, it added.

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