Hague issues Sri Lanka appeal
By politics.co.uk staff
The shadow foreign secretary has issued an immediate appeal to the Sri Lankan government to minimise civilian casualties in its ongoing struggle with the Tamil Tigers.
The appeal comes as Tamil demonstrators continue to congregate in Parliament Square, with one man – Prameshwaran Sabramaniyum – still continuing a hunger strike among the crowd.
“We are deeply concerned about the desperate humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka and the suffering of innocent civilians who have been trapped by the fighting,” Mr Hague said.
“It is crucial that both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) spare these civilians further suffering.
“We call for an immediate ceasefire on both sides to allow the civilians to leave the conflict area, to be monitored by international observers including the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“We also call on the Sri Lankan government to take all possible measures to alleviate the humanitarian situation by allowing aid to reach those who so desperately need it. The UN and the Red Cross should be allowed full and unfettered access to all areas to assess the needs of trapped civilians.”
Both sides have accused the other of putting civilian lives in danger with their tactics.
The UN estimates between 150,000 and 200,000 remain trapped in the north eastern territory where the LTTE continue to come under attack from the Sri Lankan army.
Official Sri Lankan sources claim over 30,000 people escaped the region yesterday after they destroyed an earth fortification, and the rebels were given an ultimatum to either surrender or face further attacks.
After the deadline passed at 06:30 BST, a military spokesman confirmed the attacks would continue.
Yesterday, around 3,500 Tamils gathered in the Square, at one point managing to breach police lines.
