Alarmed by the dramatic escalation in violence in Sri Lanka’s Northeast over the past two weeks, the international community called for its immediate cessation and the resumption of talks.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan joined the United States, European Union, Japan and peace broker Norway in condemning the violence and calling for talks.
“[It is of] utmost importance to find ways to implement the Ceasefire Agreement, start re-building trust and lay the foundations for a lasting peace,” Annan’s spokesman said.
The co-chairs of the Tokyo donor conference, the US, EU, Japan and Norway, last Wednesday urged the government and the Liberation Tigers to halt the violence and to live up to the commitments made in Geneva.
Peace broker Norway separately condemned the violence, as did the international ceasefire monitors, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), the latter expressing concern that the violence could spread to the rest of the island.
In a press release issued Tuesday last week in Colombo, the United States condemned the “recent terrorist attacks carried out by the LTTE against the armed forces of Sri Lanka,” and “other recent incidents of violence, in particular the April 7 murder of Mr. V. Vigneswaran in Trincomalee.”
The US commended the continued restraint shown by the Sri Lanka government in the face of, what it called, ‘provocations’ and called upon the LTTE and the GOSL to “fulfill the commitments made at the February talks in Geneva and to take all possible steps to build a positive atmosphere for future talks.”
Japan also separately said it “condemns in its strongest terms such acts of violence.”
“The Government of Japan is seriously concerned with the recent escalation of violence in the North and East of Sri Lanka, including the claymore attack against the Navy bus [last] Tuesday in Thambalagamam Trincomalee,” said a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Colombo last Wednesday.
“It has been noted that the latest attacks took place no sooner than the Ambassadors of Co-chairs visited Kilinochchi on Monday [last week] and stressed the absolute importance of fulfilling commitments to stop violence, which was stated at the first round of Geneva talks on the implementation of Ceasefire Agreement,” the press release said.
The European Union also condemned the violence in the strongest terms and urged the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to live up to the public commitments made in Geneva.
“The recent incidents illustrate a flagrant disregard for the commitments made in Geneva and places in serious jeopardy the upcoming talks. The attacks must be seen as an attempt to derail these talks”, the EU said.
The EU urged all involved not to return to the hostile situation witnessed at the beginning of this year. “The parties are urged to do all they can to ensure there are no acts of violence, intimidation, abductions or killings. In order to reach a lasting peace, it is imperative to engage in a discussion on a political outcome of the conflict, ensuring the democratic rights of all people in Sri Lanka,” said the EU.
Noting the heavy loss of life in Tuesday’s claymore attack in Trincomalee, Norway said that the assassination of the prominent Tamil civil society representative in Trincomalee, Mr V. Vigneswaran, and other serious incidents are adding to the vortex of violence that could eventually create a situation similar to that in December 2005 and January this year.
“I strongly urge the two parties to meet”, said Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim in the press statement. “This meeting will provide an opportunity for finding ways to implement the Ceasefire agreement and the promises the parties gave in their previous meeting.”
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan joined the United States, European Union, Japan and peace broker Norway in condemning the violence and calling for talks.
“[It is of] utmost importance to find ways to implement the Ceasefire Agreement, start re-building trust and lay the foundations for a lasting peace,” Annan’s spokesman said.
The co-chairs of the Tokyo donor conference, the US, EU, Japan and Norway, last Wednesday urged the government and the Liberation Tigers to halt the violence and to live up to the commitments made in Geneva.
Peace broker Norway separately condemned the violence, as did the international ceasefire monitors, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), the latter expressing concern that the violence could spread to the rest of the island.
In a press release issued Tuesday last week in Colombo, the United States condemned the “recent terrorist attacks carried out by the LTTE against the armed forces of Sri Lanka,” and “other recent incidents of violence, in particular the April 7 murder of Mr. V. Vigneswaran in Trincomalee.”
The US commended the continued restraint shown by the Sri Lanka government in the face of, what it called, ‘provocations’ and called upon the LTTE and the GOSL to “fulfill the commitments made at the February talks in Geneva and to take all possible steps to build a positive atmosphere for future talks.”
Japan also separately said it “condemns in its strongest terms such acts of violence.”
“The Government of Japan is seriously concerned with the recent escalation of violence in the North and East of Sri Lanka, including the claymore attack against the Navy bus [last] Tuesday in Thambalagamam Trincomalee,” said a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Colombo last Wednesday.
“It has been noted that the latest attacks took place no sooner than the Ambassadors of Co-chairs visited Kilinochchi on Monday [last week] and stressed the absolute importance of fulfilling commitments to stop violence, which was stated at the first round of Geneva talks on the implementation of Ceasefire Agreement,” the press release said.
The European Union also condemned the violence in the strongest terms and urged the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to live up to the public commitments made in Geneva.
“The recent incidents illustrate a flagrant disregard for the commitments made in Geneva and places in serious jeopardy the upcoming talks. The attacks must be seen as an attempt to derail these talks”, the EU said.
The EU urged all involved not to return to the hostile situation witnessed at the beginning of this year. “The parties are urged to do all they can to ensure there are no acts of violence, intimidation, abductions or killings. In order to reach a lasting peace, it is imperative to engage in a discussion on a political outcome of the conflict, ensuring the democratic rights of all people in Sri Lanka,” said the EU.
Noting the heavy loss of life in Tuesday’s claymore attack in Trincomalee, Norway said that the assassination of the prominent Tamil civil society representative in Trincomalee, Mr V. Vigneswaran, and other serious incidents are adding to the vortex of violence that could eventually create a situation similar to that in December 2005 and January this year.
“I strongly urge the two parties to meet”, said Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim in the press statement. “This meeting will provide an opportunity for finding ways to implement the Ceasefire agreement and the promises the parties gave in their previous meeting.”
