As the number of Tamil civilian deaths mounted inside the government proposed safety zone due to artillery bombardment by Sri Lankan forces, the co-chairs and India reacted with varying responses showing disarray within the international community on Sri Lanka’s ongoing civil war.
The Royal Norwegian government, which facilitated the latest peace process between Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), condemned the war whilst the European Union and the United Kingdom demanded a humanitarian ceasefire to supply food and medicine and create a safe passage for civilians.
Over 500 civilians died last week in the military’s deliberate shelling of populated areas, including the ‘safe zone’ Colombo announced.
The United States and Canada limited their reactions to merely expressing their concern but India and Japan remained unmoved by the plight of the Tamils caught in the war.
Humanitarian ceasefire
EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel on Thursday, January 29 called for a ceasefire between Sri Lankan forces and LTTE to allow food and medical supplies to be sent to the civilians living in the LTTE controlled territory in Vanni.
"This is an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. We are extremely worried about the terrible situation facing people trapped in the fighting," in the combat zone in the northeast of the island, Michel said in a statement.
"Everything must be done to prevent the suffering of the population and stop further bloodshed and I therefore urge that a window of cessation of hostilities be agreed by the parties to allow civilians to leave the combat zone," he urged.
Michel said that "many civilians have died and hundreds of wounded people are deprived of adequate medical care."
The EU's Michel said the top priorities at the moment were the safe passage for food convoys organised by the World Food Programme, and full access for medical staff and life-saving medicines.
On the Same day, the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to agree on immediate 'Humanitarian Ceasefire'.
Miliband said in his statement that "military advances by the Sri Lankan Government against the LTTE have come at a severe humanitarian cost."
Humanitarian corridors must now be set up and respected by both sides so that civilians have the opportunity to move away from the conflict area and humanitarian assistance can be safely delivered, he said.
Political observers, commenting on statements made by the UK noted the adjective of the nuanced statement 'Humanitarian Ceasefire', and said that it may imply allowing Colombo government to continue its war while separating civilians from the LTTE.
Political observers, commenting on statements made by the UK noted the adjective of the nuanced statement 'Humanitarian Ceasefire', and said that it may imply allowing Colombo government to continue its war while separating civilians from the LTTE.
No ceasefire
However, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka's human rights minister, rejected calls for a ceasefire, vowing to continue the military offensive against the LTTE.
"There will be no ceasefire," Samarasinghe said.
"We will continue with our military operations and we will continue to liberate areas which had not been liberated so far."
US Saddened
On Friday January 31, the United States expressed its concern over humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and hoped the 25-year old civil war would soon come to an end, without urging the Sri Lankan government which is waging the bloody war to end it.
"We're very concerned about the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka," State Department spokesman, Robert Wood, told reporters at his daily press briefing yesterday when asked about the worsening humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
Wood said the US is working through UN organisations to try to provide whatever help it can.
"It's a very sad situation, especially some of the attacks against the media. We've been very concerned about that," he said.
Terming it as a longstanding conflict, Wood said the US would like to see a better outcome of this civil war in Sri Lanka.
"Hopefully at some point, you know, this war will come to an end and, the Sri Lankan people can begin to think about a better life for themselves and their children," he said.
Deep concern
Canada also reflected similar sentiments, in a statement of its own, expressing its deep concern by the ongoing unrest in northeast of Sri Lanka.
"Recent developments underline the urgent need for progress toward a meaningful and durable political solution," Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said.
"Canada calls on all parties to allow full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers, and ensure the safe and voluntary movement of civilians from combat zones," said Cannon.
The Canadian government, added that it continues "to deliver strong messages to all parties to the conflict about the importance of a return to the peace process and the need to promote and protect the values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law."
Unmoved
India which sent its Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, did not release any statements demanding a ceasefire or condemning the killing of civilians.
Japan, which is the second largest aid provider to Sri Lanka, after Iran, was also not concerned with the civilian casualties.
