Washington, Feb 03: Two senior US Senators jointly
urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to
safeguard civilians and ease humanitarian access to areas
affected by the deadly conflict.
Democrat John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and Republican Richard Lugar, the panel's
top Republican, said they were "greatly concerned about the
deteriorating humanitarian situation."
"We urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam to immediately take all necessary steps
to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access," the
lawmakers said in a joint statement.
Kerry and Lugar said they were "deeply troubled" by the
government's recent threats to expel aid agencies, diplomats
and foreign journalists seen as supportive of Tamil rebels.
Sri Lanka does not allow independent media free access to
the island's conflict zone and to the camps housing those
displaced civilians who have managed to flee the fighting.
"Reporters have already experienced physical attacks and
intimidation, including the latest brazen assassination of
renowned journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga," Kerry and Lugar
said.
"Together, we urge the government of Sri Lanka to protect
all of its citizens and conduct swift, full, and credible
investigations into attacks on journalists and other
civilians."
The government maintains that it has a policy of "zero
civilian casualties" and accuses the Tamil Tigers of using
tens of thousands of men, women and children as a human
shield.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 00:00