Tamilen wollen in Berlin demonstrieren

Tamilen aus ganz Deutschland wollen am Mittwoch (4. Februar, 13.00 Uhr) in Berlin gegen das Vorgehen der Regierung von Sri Lanka protestieren. Zu der Demonstration sind 2000 Teilnehmer angemeldet, wie die Polizei am Dienstag mitteilte. Die Tamilen werfen der singhalesischen Armee Völkermord an der tamilischen Minderheit in dem Inselstaat vor.

Bislang sei man seitens der internationalen Gemeinschaft auf Stillschweigen getroffen, hieß es. Dies sei unter anderem auf die mangelnde Medienfreiheit auf der Insel zurückzuführen. Die Veranstalter sprachen von einer Eskalation der Lage in den vergangenen Wochen. Mit der Veranstaltung in Berlin wollten sie auf die «Unmenschlichkeit der singhalesischen Regierung» aufmerksam machen und ein «Ende des Genozids» herbeiführen wollen, hieß es.

In Sri Lanka leben rund 19,5 Millionen Menschen. 75 Prozent davon sind Singhalesen, 18 Prozent zählen zur tamilischen Minderheit. Die Tamilen betrachten sich als unterdrückte Minorität auf der Insel. Informationen des Auswärtigen Amtes zufolge sind aufgrund der andauernden Kampfhandlungen zwischen Regierung und tamilischen Rebellen gegenwärtig über 300 000 Zivilisten in einem 30 Kilometer langen Küstenstreifen von internationaler Hilfe abgeschnitten.

Source :

Sri Lanka droht deutschen Diplomaten mit Ausweisung

Die Regierung in Sri Lanka hat Kritik am Vorgehen der Regierungstruppen gegen die tamilischen Rebellen scharf zurückgewiesen und den deutschen und schweizerischen Botschaftern mit Ausweisung gedroht. Verteidigungsminister Gotabaya Rajapaksa warnte, sie würden “davongejagt”, wenn sie den Rebellen einen “zweiten Lebenshauch” geben würden.

Die Regierungstruppen hatten nach eigenen Angaben in den vergangenen Wochen die tamilischen Rebellen aus ihren Hochburgen verdrängt. Bei den Kämpfen wurden nach Angaben der Vereinten Nationen auch zahlreiche Bewohner der Bürgerkriegsregion getötet. Dies hatte internationale Kritik ausgelöst.

“Unverantwortliches Verhalten” der Botschaften

Verteidigungsminister Rajapaksa warf besonders den deutschen und schweizerischen Botschaftern sowie den Sendern CNN, BBC und Al Dschasira “unverantwortliches Verhalten” vor. In einer Zeit, in der die Regierungstruppen den Rebellen “den finalen Todesstoß” versetzten, schadeten sie den Sicherheitskräften, sagte er der Zeitung “Sunday Island”. Der Verteidigungsminister sagte, die genannten Medien versuchten, das Leiden der Zivilbevölkerung zu sensationalisieren, indem sie Videos der Rebellenorganisation LTTE verwendeten.

Zudem rief Rajapaksa die UNO und das Internationale Rote Kreuz auf, die Rebellen unter Druck zu setzen. Diese sollten die Zivilisten freilassen, die im Kriegsgebiet eingeschlossen seien und als “menschliche Schutzschilde” benutzt wüden.

Soldaten der Regierungstruppen in der Stadt Mullaittivu, die sie von den tamilischen Rebellen zurückerobert hat. (Foto: AP)

Source (Stand: 01.02.2009 11:54 Uhr) : tagesschau

Hunderttausende Flüchtlinge in Sri Lanka im Kreuzfeuer von Armee und Rebellen – Hilfswerke fordern sofortige Feuerpause und die Entsendung internationaler Beobachter

Das Bündnis Entwicklung hilft fordert Fluchtkorridore, freien Zugang zu den eingeschlossenen Menschen sowie die sofortige Entsendung internationaler Beobachter in den Norden Sri Lankas. Dort sind nach Angaben lokaler Partnerorganisationen derzeit 300.000 Menschen auf einer Fläche von 250 Quadratkilometern eingeschlossen. Die srilankische Armee und tamilische Rebellen liefern sich heftigste Kämpfe um dieses Gebiet. Innerhalb weniger Tage wurden mehrere hundert Zivilisten getötet, ungezählte weitere verletzt.

„Auch wir arbeiten unter Beschuss“, sagt ein Helfer vor Ort, der aus Sicherheitsgründen nicht namentlich genannt werden kann. „Krankenhäuser werden angegriffen, mehrere Mitarbeiter sind verwundet. Die Kapazitäten reichen nicht, um die stündlich wachsende Zahl der Verletzten versorgen zu können. Es fehlt an allem, Verbandszeug, Medikamenten, Wasser und Lebensmitteln.“ Der Krieg werde ohne Rücksicht auf die zusammengedrängte Bevölkerung geführt.

Die Rebellen der LTTE hindern die Eingeschlossenen am Verlassen des Kampfgebiets. Mehrere tausend Menschen konnten trotzdem flüchten. Die Armee drängt die Flüchtlinge in Lagern bei Vavuniya, Mannar und Jaffna zusammen. Nach Berichten kommt es dort immer wieder zu gewaltsamen Übergriffen von Seiten des Militärs.

„Nur die internationale Gemeinschaft kann die systematischen Kriegsverbrechen, Menschenrechtsverletzungen und die dramatische humanitäre Krise stoppen. Wir fordern gemeinsam mit unseren Partnern vor Ort eine sofortige Feuerpause, freien Zugang zu den Menschen, sichere Fluchtkorridore und die Entsendung internationaler Beobachter“, so Peter Mucke, der Geschäftsführer des Bündnisses.

Brot für die Welt, medico international, Misereor, terre des hommes und Welthungerhilfe leisten als Bündnis Entwicklung hilft akute Nothilfe und langfristige Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Das Bündnis arbeitet mit anderen deutschen Hilfsorganisationen, wie z.B. bei dieser Presseklärung mit der Kindernothilfe, als Bündnispartner zusammen.

Für Nachfragen und Interviews stehen zur Verfügung:

– medico international: Thomas Seibert, 0160 – 97557350, seibert(at)medico.de

– Misereor: Anna Steinacher, 0241 – 442 133, Steinacher(at)misereor.de

– Brot für die Welt: Ingrid Ostermann, 0711 – 2159293; i.ostermann(at)brot-fuer-die-welt.de

Kontakt bei der Kindernothilfe: Jörg Denker, 0203 – 77 89 135, joerg.denker(at)knh.de

Verantwortlich:

Bündnis Entwicklung hilft – Pressestelle

Tel. 030 – 44 35 19 89

presse(at)entwicklung-hilft.de, www.entwicklung-hilft.de

Civilians trapped in Sri Lanka fighting = AlJazeera English=

The plight of civilians trapped between the opposing forces of the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers is causing increasing concern in the international community.

There are calls for camps housing people fleeing fighting in northern Sri Lanka to to be run by civilians and not the military.

Despite civilians being kept in a ‘no fire zone’, it has been reported that between 120,000 and 350,000 civilians are caught in the conflict zone. The Internatioanl Red Cross says at least 300 civilains have been killed so far.

Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley has more from Colombo.

Clip

Tamils share concerns over Sri Lankan conflict – 02 Feb 09

The conflict in northern Sri Lanka has raged on for most of the last 25 years, forcing millions of Tamils to seek refuge abroad.

Al Jazeera’s Azhar Sukri reports on the impact of the conflict on the Tamil community in Malaysia.

Clip

Timeline: Conflict in Sri Lanka

Though picturesque, the island-country of Sri Lanka has been blighted by a long-running conflict between government forces and armed Tamil rebels. Thousands have died and many more have been made homeless by the unremitting violence.

Ethnic composition

The Sinhalese, who are in power in Sri Lanka, comprise about 73.8 per cent of the population and are concentrated in the densely populated southwest. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-European language derivative of Sanskrit.

Tamils in Sri Lanka form two distinct groups. The first group, the so-called Sri Lanka Tamils, are descendents of Tamils who lived on the island for centuries. They comprise approximately 18 per cent of the population and live predominantly in the north and eastern coasts.

The second group are called the hill country Tamils or the plantation Tamils. They are the descendants of the labourers brought to Sri Lanka by the British and are about five per cent of the Sri Lankan population.

Tamils speak an ancient classical language which is said to be 4,000 years old.

They remain concentrated in the “tea country” of south-central Sri Lanka. Muslims form about eight per cent of the population.

Unlike the Buddhists, Christians or Hindus on the island, whose identity stems from the language that they speak, religion determines the identity of Sri Lankan Muslims who speak Tamil in Tamil-dominated areas and Sinhalese on the rest of the island.

The rest of the population consists of Burghers – descendants of European colonists, and tribesmen, known as the Veddahs.

Below is a guide to some of the key events in the island’s history since independence:

1948: Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, gains independence from British rule. Ethnic Tamils feel disenfranchised by the so-called “Citizenship Act” which denied citizenship to Tamils and their descendents brought by the British from India to work on tea plantations

1956: Solomon Bandaranyake, then prime minister, enacts a law making Sinhala the only official language of Sri Lanka, alienating the Tamils. Peaceful protests by Tamils are broken up by a Sinhala mob and riots follow.

1957/65: Pacts are signed between the government and the Tamils giving them a measure of regional autonomy and freedoms in language and education, but the agreements remain largely on paper.

1970: New constitution enshrines earlier law making Sinhala Sri Lanka’s official language and makes Buddhism the country’s official religion, further alienating Tamils who are mainly Hindus and Christians.

1972: Ceylon becomes a Republic and is officially renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka. Velupillai Prabhakaran forms the Tamil New Tigers group to set up a separate homeland – the Tamil Eelam.

1975: Tamil New Tigers re-named Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

1978: LTTE proscribed as an illegal organisation.

1981: Riots in Jafna. A state of emergency is declared.

1983: First guerrilla-style ambush by LTTE kills 13 soldiers. Rioting erupts killing hundreds of people. About 150,000 Tamil refugees flee to India where Tamil military training camps are established.

1987: The Indian government cracks down on armed Tamil groups in India.
First suicide attack by LTTE kills 40. Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord signed and India agrees to deploy peackeepers – the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), which quickly gets drawn into the civil war.

1990: IPKF withdraws from Sri Lanka. LTTE becomes the prominent Tamil armed group. Over 100,000 Muslims are expelled from LTTE dominated areas, many with just two hours notice.

1991: Rajiv Gandhi, then Indian prime minister, is assassinated by a female LTTE suicide bomber.

1993: Ranasinghe Premadasa, then president of Sri Lanka, is killed in a LTTE suicide bomb attack.

1999: Chandrika Kumaratunge, a former prime minister and later the first female president of Sri Lanka, is wounded in an assassination attempt during an election rally.

2002: Norway-brokered ceasefire between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government comes into effect. It holds for five years despite many incursions from both sides. A road linking Jaffna peninsula and the rest of Sri Lanka opens after 12 years.

2004: The LTTE splits. Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, also known as Colonel Karuna, commander for the Batticaloa-Amparai, breaks from the LTTE forming a pro-government outfit.

2005: The government of Sri Lanka and LTTE sign Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-Toms) by which the two entities agreed to work together to offer relief to the communities devastated by the Asian Tsunami. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan foreign minister, is assassinated by the LTTE.

2007: After weeks of heavy fighting, the Sri Lankan army takes back the LTTE-held town of Vakarai. LTTE air force attacks various Sri Lankan targets including Colombo airport. SP Thamilselvan, leader of the LTTE’s political wing, is killed in an air raid.

2008: The Sri Lankan government formally withdraws from the ceasefire with the LTTE and renewed fighting erupts. Amid attacks and counter-attacks, Sri Lankan forces seem to gradually gain the upper hand.

2009: The government claims its forces have captured the town of Kilinochchi, the political hub of the Tamil Tigers and the the last rebel-town of Mullaittivu. Remaining LTTE fighters thought to be trapped in a small area in northeast of the island prompting military claims that the war could end in days.

Anna Coren from CNN interview with Lisabeth List (Doctors without Borders)

Clip

How a Newspaper Editor was attacked in broad daylight

By  Upali Tennakoon, Editor, Rivira

(Lanka-e-News 02.Feb.2009 11.55AM) It was just another Friday for me. Like any other Friday, on Friday January 23 too I started my routine by getting up at 4:30 in the morning. As usual I started my morning exercises in the front garden. I do my walking also inside the garden. On that day, I felt a strange uneasiness in my mind. I did not know why, and I never told anyone about it.

I usually walk from one end to the other in the garden. Even though it was early dawn, there was sufficient light in the garden. However, I could not see anything beyond the garden wall. But, inside, there was enough light. When I walked towards the extreme end of the garden, I felt some fear gripping my mind. I thought someone would be able to launch an attack on me from beyond the wall. Each time I reached that spot, the same thought started nagging me. I started getting stressed, but somehow managed to suppress my fears.

“No… such a thing cannot happen… There is no one who would want to harm me… I have never wronged anyone… who would want to threaten me?” Such were the thoughts in my mind, as I tried to suppress my fears. But I did not succeed in doing so. So, I began to concentrate on different thoughts. Finally I focussed my mind on Buddhist gatha and managed to calm my restive mind.

After finishing my exercises, I started my routine morning work. I was able to get through it all by 6:30 a.m. I then got into my car, with my wife on the passenger seat, and started the engine, at exactly 6:40 a.m. When we started our journey that morning, we never in our wildest dreams, thought there would be a group of people waiting to block our passage and prevent us from going to our destination.

Mother
————-
Every morning, it is I who put my books and lunch into the car. Then our domestic aid opens the gate. We always leave the house after cracking a joke or two with her. A few yards away from our gate, is my sister’s house. Next to hers is my ancestral home, where my parents reside. My mother usually sits in the veranda near the kitchen. I could always see her when I leave for work in the morning. Sometimes, I stop the car there and speak a few words to her, before proceeding further. On that day, there was no particular need to halt there. I looked towards the house, but I could not see my mother there. I slowed down the car and looked closely. But I still could not see her.

At that moment I turned and looked in front of me, and saw a well-built man, standing right across the main road. Our vehicle was slowly moving towards him and I realised his eyes were fixed on me. Yet I did not see any reason to worry.

I got ready to turn the car to the main road, and while doing so, smiled at the stranger. I never imagined him to be my attacker, but rather thought he was an acquaintance who wanted to exchange a few words with me.

Battle
————–
It took only a fraction of a second. The windscreen was shattered. Then my wife shouted, “What’s happened? Why is this?” I still cannot understand why. I thought it was a mistake. Then, the glass shutter of my side door was also smashed. It was then they started attacking me. I tried to muster a protest. I could only come out with, “don’t… don’t… don’t.”

There were four of them. One was carrying an iron shaft with a sharpened end. Another had a dagger in his hands. The other two had wooden rods. All four of them started attacking us. It was some battle.

There were blows on my face, chest and abdomen. I tried to ward off the blows by trying to grab their weapons. But, I could feel the blows on my hands and body.

At that moment, my wife, who was in the passenger seat, flung herself across the seat to cover me. And she shouted out loudly while doing so. But they kept jabbing at me trying to avoid hitting her. In the end, I received several blows to my face.

Finally the four of them got onto their two motorbikes and sped towards Yagoda Railway Station. Unfortunately we are unable to clearly remember either the number plates of their motorbikes or their faces.

Police
—————-
We also cannot recollect exactly how long the attack lasted. We think we must have struggled with them for several long minutes. But, according to many, it could not have lasted more than a mere minute. Everything was over in a moment. By that time, it would have been 6:42 or 6:43 in the morning. I then opened the door and stepped out of the car.

The first thing I did was to call the Gampaha Police from my mobile telephone. I remembered that number well. It was 0332 222 222. A female answered the call.

I clearly mentioned my name and related the incident to her. I requested her to make arrangements to stop the two motorbikes which were speeding towards Yagoda. I also requested her to inform Veliweriya Police. I don’t know how well she understood what I was telling her. “Ok Ok… we will take care of everything. You come to the Police,” she told me.

Then I dialled 119 and repeated the same information given to the Gampaha Police. They too made note of the information. But after about 20 minutes they called back to once again ask for the information regarding the place. I disconnected the call and remained silent.

Neither of the places I called had taken any effective measures to arrest my attackers. They had not even informed the Veliweriya Police about the incident. Nor had they taken any steps to catch the two fleeing motorcyclists.

President
—————
My next step was to call my Associate Editor Mr. Sisira Paranathanthri and inform him about the incident. It was on his information that the Inspector General of Police had started reacting to the incident. It was the IGP who had ultimately informed the Veliweriya Police.

After learning about the incident, within minutes, the President called me. He informed me that he was absolutely shocked to learn of the horrible experience I had just undergone. He requested me to seek medical help immediately, and said that he had ordered the IGP to find those responsible as soon as possible, and bring them to justice.

Meanwhile, a vehicle from my office reached the place where the incident had occurred. It had arrived in just minutes. When I was about to leave for hospital in that vehicle, a team from the Veliweriya Police, including the OIC arrived there. I spoke with them for a few minutes and the OIC ordered one of the Policemen to escort us in the van. With the help of my driver and the Policeman, we were able to reach the Accident Ward in no time. Many were waiting for us there to see us before we were admitted.

Invisible force
———————-
There were several injuries on my hands. I had received them while trying to ward off the attack. There was a bone fracture in one finger of my left hand. The left side of my face, just below the eye, had received a severe blow from a wooden rod. It had fractured my facial bone. It could have been a fatal blow and caused my death, in a matter of seconds.

I can now see knife marks on my body, where the knife had slid off without fatally injuring me. I had just missed a knife jab to the neck. There is only a small wound there now.

When I consider all this, I believe that my life was saved by some powerful invisible force. Otherwise, all those knife jabs to the face and neck would not have slid off my body so easily. Similarly, there is no other explanation why the jabs aimed at my chest and abdomen with knife and shafts had slid off of my body that day.

If someone were to insinuate that this was done to threaten me or scare me, I would consider it to be a mere jest. If that were so, the attackers would not have brought with them knives and sharpened iron shafts. Also, it is certain that if either one of the blows to the face or neck had shifted just a mili centimetre, then the attack would have been fatal. Therefore, no one could argue that the attack was not intended to be lethal. No one can say that it was not a lethal attack.

Reason
—————
I’m now in a great quandary, trying to understand the reason for this attack. Who felt the need to harm me? I don’t have any enemies or anyone who wants to take revenge on me. No one has threatened me.

Many people came to visit me from the moment I was admitted to hospital. There were members of the Maha Sangha, the reverend priests of other religious denominations, my neighbours, those who brought me to hospital, government and opposition politicians, many friends and all those who wished me a speedy recovery over the telephone, among them. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the priests who have conducted Bodhi Pooja, and priests of other religions who have conducted special masses and poojas at churches and kovils wishing me a speedy recovery.

I have been involved in the media field for nearly 35 years. But I never realised I would ever receive so much kind and considerate attention from so many people. It was only after this tragic incident, that I was able to experience such a lot of kind attention for the first time in over three decades of journalism.

There had been many periods of threats and anxiety while I was with the Divaina paper. During those days, we had reasons to be worried. We were quite anxious. I would not have been surprised if something similar had happened during that time. I would have even accepted it, even if I had died in the incident. But, today, the situation is different. That’s what makes me wonder about this incident.

But what was done, has been done. At least my life was saved, although I’m carrying deadly wounds on my body. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. That is the only difference. Anyone can present any argument. But, what was done, has been done.

If anyone wants to murder me, I am prepared to face that threat. But, that is not by killing them while dying at their hands. Or, even by trying to save myself. That is, by becoming a victim to their threats. I say this because there is no other way. We have always lived freely. I do not want to live an imprisoned life amidst bodyguards. I must reclaim my free and liberal life. This effort might push me towards death. There is no point in telling this to the hangman. For him, I would be just another victim.

Motive
————–
The motive behind the attack is not clear. But it would not change any circumstance in my life. My routine lifestyle or work would not change. Therefore, what is expected of these types of attacks is unclear. I cannot even begin to think which of my activities angered those who perpetrated this attack on me. But, one thing is crystal clear. That is, on whose shoulders lies the burden of responsibility of this attack?

There is no clear evidence yet, as to who had done this. In such a scenario, inevitably, the finger would be pointed at the incumbent government and the President. That doubt will remain until the real perpetrators are brought to justice. Therefore, what they need to do is to catch those behind this attack.

To do this, the full commitment and responsibility of the Police, and the proper execution of the law, is mandatory

Source : LankaEnews

PLIGHT OF DISPLACED TAMILS SET TO CONTINUE

–Jehan Perera

When two foes that are determined to destroy each other and to resist each other by military means are at war, one side cannot be expected to give heed to the unilateral  pronouncements of the other side. This is especially the case with the LTTE, which has a long track record of putting their struggle above everything else. At the present time the existence of the LTTE as an organization is being threatened on the ground. It has lost nearly all the territory it once controlled, its armories are falling into
government hands, and members of its top leadership have been seriously injured in the most recent rounds of fighting. In these straitened circumstances, it is to be expected that the LTTE will use every means at their disposal to prolong their survival. This includes using civilians as a human shield. On the other hand, the government appears determined to pursue its strategy of defeating the LTTE completely and as soon as possible even if the cost is high to its own soldiers and to the civilian population. The government is aware that international conditions are currently favourable to its military campaign. The Congress-led government in India has been supportive of the war effort to a greater extent than any previous Indian government, due perhaps to the influence of the slain former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s widow being at the helm of affairs in that country. So far the Indian government has been able to deflate pressures from Tamil Nadu state to put a stop to the Sri Lankan government’s military campaign.

The other great influence on Sri Lanka and the world, the United States, continues to adhere to the Bush Administration’s policy of the war against terrorism. But this policy might be at its tail end with the election of President Barack Obama. Already President Obama has given an inkling of the possible shift in US foreign policy by saying that the Palestinians should be provided with a solution they accept, rather than one that is imposed on them by others. Therefore the Sri Lankan government would be aware that with elections looming in India, and President Obama making policy changes in the US, the present favourable climate to war as a solution might soon change. It is therefore in the government’s interests to accelerate the war effort to defeat the LTTE without permitting other considerations to slow it down.

TRAGIC SCENARIO

In this context, it is tragic but to be expected that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pronouncement of a 48 hour period of safe passage to the trapped civilians of the north elapsed without any major movement of people. Only a few hundreds seem to have made, or been able to make, use of this opportunity. The rest either did not feel able to, or were prevented from leaving by the LTTE. Several humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies, working in the conflict zones have issued a statement in the grave humanitarian crisis. They have said that “The LTTE continues to prevent civilians from leaving areas under its control, denying the right to seek safety in other parts of the country…We call upon the LTTE to allow full freedom of movement to all civilians, and to allow safe passage for those wishing to leave the conflict area.”

It is reported that the LTTE has placed its artillery at the perimeters of the area that the government has designated as a safety zone. The civilians will fear to move from wherever they are in a situation where artillery duels continue. This has prompted the humanitarian organizations to call on “the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to accord priority to ensuring the safety and security of all civilians. The humanitarian community calls on the Government and the LTTE to respect the 32 square km “safe zone”, within the Vanni, announced by the Government.” Tragically even hospitals within the safety zone have been shelled with each side blaming the other. The likely scenario in the days and weeks ahead is a continuation of the full scale effort by the government to enter into the remaining LTTE-held territory and take it over. The price paid by Tamil civilians will be incidental to the main goal of defeating the LTTE. This will not bode well for future peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. The worst fears of the Tamil people that they are not considered citizens with equal rights to life, property and freedom will be borne out in the last battle to be fought unless the priorities of the government and LTTE change even at this  last minute.

HUMANITARIAN OPTION

The trapped population is said to be anywhere between 200,000 to 400,000, with the government giving the lesser figure, and Tamil and humanitarian sources giving the higher one. Whether it is the higher figure or the lower one, it is still a very large number. They are akin to a people held hostage. The presence of these civilians in the last territory controlled by the LTTE will necessarily slow down the progress of the Sri Lankan military which will be constrained in its ability to use its superior firepower. On the other hand, by not permitting the civilians to leave, the LTTE is clearly in violation of international law. In effect, they are holding the people hostage, where the hostage-takers put forward their conditions for the release of the hostages. In these circumstances securing the safety of the trapped civilians is a priority requires a negotiated movement of people under the auspices of internationally recognized organizations, such as the ICRC. Consequently,several local and international organizations including some foreign governments have called for the declaration of a humanitarian truce for a temporary period to facilitate the movement of the trapped civilians. Those who issue such calls do so at the risk of being labeled as LTTE supporters, a very grave danger that can lead to death threats and to being declared persona non grata in this time of heightened nationalist sentiment.

However, the option of a negotiated solution to the humanitarian crisis needs to be considered. Even in other situations of hostage taking, such as hostages being taken in passenger aircraft or schools, the first option is generally to negotiate. A humanitarian truce can lay the ground for mutual dialogue and confidence, save the lives of the internally displaced civilians and reduce the social and psychological pressures that will otherwise occur in the long run. But the difficulties in promoting this idea cannot be underestimated. The experience of the past, in which periods of negotiation and ceasefire were utilized by the LTTE to rearm and reposition itself is a lesson that most people in Sri Lanka remember with both anger and dismay. The risk of being misunderstood has to be borne by those who uphold humanitarian values as a priority.

Sri Lankas Armee tötet Zivilisten Kinderkrankenhaus unter Artilleriefeuer

Bei einem Angriff der Regierungstruppen im Norden werden mindestens neun Menschen getötet und zwanzig verletzt. Die Propaganda-Maschinerie Sri Lankas bestreitet die Tat. VON RALF LEONHARD

WIEN taz Mindestens 9 Tote und 20 Verletzte forderte ein Artillerieangriff auf ein Krankenhaus im Norden Sri Lankas. Die überbelegte Kinderklinik wurde Sonntag kurz vor Mitternacht getroffen. Sie liegt im letzten Rückzugsgebiet der tamilischen Separatistenorganisation LTTE. Im Januar hat die Armee die letzten von den Rebellen gehaltenen Städte in blutigen Schlachten erobert. Jetzt will sie die militärische Lösung des ethnischen Konflikts zu Ende bringen. Die Schuld für zivile Opfer gibt die Regierung der LTTE, die rund 250.000 Menschen als Schutzschild missbrauche.

Das Spital von Puthukkudiyiruppu sei innerhalb von 24 Stunden dreimal getroffen worden, bestätigte das Internationale Komitee vom Roten Kreuz (IKRK). Neben der Küche und der Kapelle schlugen Sprengkörper auch im Krankensaal ein. Unter den Toten seien Patienten und deren Angehörige. Im Umkreis der Klinik wurde eine noch unbekannte Anzahl von Menschen getötet und verletzt. Das Krankenhaus beherbergt über 500 Patienten. Viele müssen auf den Gängen versorgt werden, da die Krankenzimmer überbelegt sind.

Die Klinik ist eine der letzten Gesundheitseinrichtungen im Rebellengebiet, das auf 300 Quadratkilometer zusammengeschmolzen ist. “Wir sind schockiert über diesen Angriff auf das Krankenhaus. Es war der zweite in den letzten Wochen”, sagte IKRK-Delegationsleiter Paul Castella in Colombo. “Verwundete und Kranke werden vom humanitären Völkerrecht geschützt. Sie dürfen unter keinen Umständen direkt angegriffen werden”. Schon am Samstag sollen mindestens 30 Zivilisten unter Artilleriefeuer und Sonntagmorgen weitere 13 bei Luftangriffen umgekommen sein. Laut TamilNet wurde dabei Streumunition eingesetzt. Die Opfer seien total verbrannt.

Während die Internetagentur TamilNet – das letzte Medium, das aus dem Kriegsgebiet berichtet – die Meldungen mit Fotos von den Opfern der Attacke dokumentierte, bestritt Lakshman Hullugalle, Direktor des Medienzentrums für die Nationale Sicherheit (MCNS), dass das Krankenhaus überhaupt getroffen wurde. Das MCNS füttert Medien, denen der Zutritt zum Kriegsschauplatz verwehrt ist, mit Regierungspropaganda. Journalisten, denen das nicht reicht, werden als “unpatriotisch” abgestempelt. Ausländische Pressevertreter, die auch die Tamilen zu Wort kommen lassen, müssen die Ausweisung fürchten.

Auch Diplomaten sind unter Druck. Der deutsche Botschafter Jürgen Weerth wurde vom Außenminister getadelt, weil er im Januar bei der Beisetzung des ermordeten Zeitungsherausgebers Lasantha Wickrematunge dessen Engagement für die Pressefreiheit gelobt hatte.

Verteidigungsminister Gothabaya Rajapakse legte am Sonntag nach. Wenn Diplomaten wie Weerth und dessen schweizerische Amtskollegin Ruth Flint, die auf die humanitäre Katastrophe der tamilischen Zivilbevölkerung aufmerksam gemacht hatte, der LTTE einen “zweiten Wind” verschaffen wollten, würden sie “davongejagt”.

Link : TAZ