Human Rights Watch (HRW) based in New York has accused the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) of ‘slaughtering’ civilians with indiscriminate shelling in its attempt to finish off the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
HRW, in a a 45-page report published on February 19, following a two-week fact-finding mission to northern Sri Lanka, estimated 2,000 civilians have been killed and 5,000 have been injured in January alone and called on the Sri Lankan government to end its "indiscriminate artillery attacks" on civilians.
The New York based group has criticized the Sri Lankan Government’s conduct, particularly in their handling of an estimated 36,000 civilians, who have fled the conflict zone.
James Ross, legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch, said: "This 'war' against civilians must stop. Sri Lankan forces are shelling hospitals and so-called safe zones and slaughtering the civilians there."
"Sri Lankan forces are shelling hospitals and so-called safe zones ad slaughtering the civilians there." Ross added.
The rights group also criticized the Sri Lankan Government’s conduct in its handling of an estimated 36,000 civilians, who have fled the conflict zone.
Commenting on the treatment of internally displaced people by the Government, Ross said, “They are held by the Government in squalid military-controlled camps and hospitals with little access to the outside world”.
“The Government seems to be trying its best to keep its role in their ordeal away from public scrutiny." Ross added.
The HRW representative is not alone in expressing his concern over the proposed “welfare villages”, which are being enforced by the Government.
Prominent Tamils worldwide, including India, Britain and Sri Lanka have likened these “welfare villages” to the conditions of concentration camps set up by the Nazi government during the Second World War under Hitler’s rule.
The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes urged the Government to ensure the camps met international standards during his visit this week.
Holmes said, "Our concern is ... to make sure international law and principles are being fully met in the transition period before they return to their homes once military operations are over."
However, Rights groups say the plans for these “welfare villages” violate international law and monitoring camp conditions is difficult whilst the Government insists on blocking most journalists and aid workers.
In its report Human Rights Watch also condemned the LTTE for "increased brutality" towards trapped civilians and accused the organisation of preventing civilians from leaving the conflict zone.
However, these unsubstantiated accusations have been dismissed by LTTE political chief B. Nadesan as “malicious propaganda”.
In a recent interview Nadesan declared “There are 300,000 people who want to stay with us because they are confident that we are their guardians”.
