As the international community eased off the limited constraints it had placed on Sri Lanka over its human rights abuses, analysts speculate that this, especially in the light of the government’s recent military successes, is an indication of not so covert support for the ongoing military effort.
Acknowledging the increasing human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the US Human Rights, Democracy and Labour Assistant Secretary nevertheless merely urged both sides to uphold the 2002 Norwegian brokered ceasefire agreement.
“Together with our allies, we will continue to work towards brokering a lasting peace agreement between the government and the LTTE and urge both sides to uphold the cease-fire and eliminate human rights abuses,” Mr. Krilla said while participating in an online web chat organised by the US State department.
“We are aware that the return to conflict in Sri Lanka has contributed to a deterioration of human rights conditions in the country. Reports of torture, extra-judicial killings, and curtailment of media freedom are on the rise,” he noted.
But there was no condemnation of this, except to note that “The US government is also concerned about reports of disappearances and the large number of internally displaced persons.”
“Human rights monitors also report arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of fair public trial, government corruption and lack of transparency, infringement of freedom of movement, and discrimination against minorities,” he added.
“The LTTE engage in politically motivated killings; suicide attacks; disappearances; torture; arbitrary arrest and detention; denial of freedom of speech, media and of assembly and association; and the recruitment of child soldiers,” he said.
Mr. Krilla also noted that there were numerous reports that paramilitary groups linked to government security forces participated in armed attacks, some against civilians.
However analysts observe that after the Thoppigala victory the Sri Lankan government is in no mood to listen to International Community’s calls for peace.
Speaking at the 'Dawn of the East' ceremony held to mark the capture of Thoppigala jungles by the Sri Lankan army in the eastern province at the Independent Square in Colombo on July 19, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse warned the International Community "not to obstruct this New Dawn of the East by raising false slogans, and not engage in globe-trotting to betray the Sri Lankan State."
"I wish to ask the international community and even some of our own politicians, not to obstruct this New Dawn of the East by raising false slogans, and not engage in globe-trotting to betray the Sri Lankan State.” Rajapakse said.
The president’s defiant speech followed a decision by the co-chairs of the Sri Lankan peace process not to get actively involved in Sri Lanka’s conflict until the country finds a lasting solution through the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC).
The US, EU, Japan and Norway had taken this stance to enable Sri Lanka to decide by itself, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported, quoting a top Western diplomat.
“Once the parties find a common solution, then the co-chairs can actively involve in helping the country to implement it,” the diplomat told the paper.
At the time of the co-chairs meeting the Sri Lankan government was considering putting on hold a donor forum on funding development projects in the Eastern province as donors, specifically the European Union, were reluctant to provide new aid.
However the EU this week said it would provide €15 million in humanitarian aid to victims of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
The aid will help provide access to clean water, shelter, food, basic health care, education and sanitation for refugees living in Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the current situation in Sri Lanka, EU Development Aid Commissioner Louis Michel said the European Commission was "extremely worried by the increase in violence" in Sri Lanka, which has put thousands of civilians and international aid workers at risk.”
She described the lack of accessibility and safety of aid workers in the conflict zones as “totally unacceptable.”
“Aid agencies need to have access to victims with full security and protection for their personnel. I urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and condemn any attack against humanitarian operations and workers,” she added.
Prior to last co-chairs meeting there were signs of a concerted effort on the part of the International Community to apply pressure on the Rajapakse administration.
There was increased focus on the human rights violations of the Sri Lankan government, with international media and governments criticising the government.
In June this year, the Sri Lankan government came under severe criticism for human rights and humanitarian abuses at a public hearing in Brussels in the European Parliamentary Development Committee.
Whilst representatives of the European Commission and Council of External Affairs slammed the lack of respect for international humanitarian laws in Sri Lanka, NGOs, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and aid agency Action Contre la Faim (ACF), decried the continuing abuses of human rights.
Also in June a resolution was tabled before the US Congress calling on all parties to the Sri Lankan conflict to negotiate a political solution that will be fair to all ethnic communities whilst ruling out a military solution to the conflict.
The were also small scale aid freezes with Germany leading the effort by announcing an aid freeze on all new projects in October 2006.
“For weeks we have been demanding an immediate return to the negotiating table and a shaping of a common future,” Minister Heidi Wieczorek-Zeul said in a statement at the time.
As long as both sides engage in intensive conflict, “it is not meaningful for the German government to commit additional funding that cannot reach the people of Sri Lanka,” the statement added.
The UK followed suit in May 2007 by freezing £ 6 million in aid citing concern that government forces have been responsible for violence against civilians in government-controlled territory.
The US also put tangible pressure on Sri Lanka by suspending some, though not all, development aid it provided Sri Lanka through the Millennium Challenge account. Citing “a deterioration of human rights on the island”, the US government stressed that the government must rein in paramilitary forces, which are fighting the LTTE alongside security forces.
However all these efforts came to abrupt end following the co-chairs meeting in Oslo on June 25.
According to reports, at the meeting the possibility of further sanctions against Sri Lanka was discussed. However, Japan and the United States had argued strongly against such a move. And as a result, the co-chairs agreed to give Sri Lanka more time.
The co-chairs decisions to not take punitive measures against the government and to keep off the peace process is sending a signal to the
Rajapakse administration to continue on the war path, Sri Lankan analysts speculated.
The government has no need to rein in the daily abductions, extrajudicial killings and discriminate bombings, because there is no pressure to do so, one analyst said.
“The international community is certainly no longer sending the message that this is unacceptable.”
