5 years today - HRW, TAG urge international

intervention, ethnic conflict not 'war on terror'

says UK oreign !ffice "inister
04 May 2014
4
May 2009 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Tamils Against Genocide (TAG)
urge international action !ri "an#a$s ethnic con%lict is not $&ar on terror$
says '( )oreign *%%ice minister
The +nternational ,riminal ,ourt ,hie% -rosecutor Moreno-*cam-o &as
urged .y an ad/ocacy grou- to o-en in/estigations into &ar crimes and
crimes against humanity committed .y %our high-ran#ing o%%icials in the !ri
"an#an go/ernment re-orts Tamil0et1
Tamil Against Genocide (TAG) in a letter to Moreno urged the +,, to o-en
in/estigations against !ri "an#an -resident Mahinda Ra2a-a#sa 3e%ence
!ecretary Gota.aya Ra2a-a#sa M4 5asil Ra2a-a#sa and Army ,ommander
!arath )onse#a1
The 6uartet should .e in/estigated %or &ar crimes crimes against
humanity and genocide o% !ri "an#an ci/ilian Tamils unconnected &ith the
con%lict .et&een the go/ernment and the "TT78 the letter read1
+n an o-inion -iece on !ri "an#a and the need to address Tamil grie/ances
the Human Rights Watch "egal and 4olicy 3irector 9ames Ross &rote
The current go/ernment is unli#ely to ta#e u- these initiati/es on its o&n1
The 'nited !tates and other concerned states ha/e an im-ortant role to
-lay in !ri "an#a$s %uture1 *ther&ise the .loody %ighting on the sandy stri-
&ill not .e mar#ing the end o% the current &ar .ut so&ing the seeds o% the
ne:t one18
!-ea#ing on the con%lict .et&een the !ri "an#an go/ernment and the "TT7
at the House o% ,ommons the )oreign *%%ice Minister "ord Malloch-
5ro&n said
+ share the /ie& that ;the &ar on terror is a much a.used and o/erused
-hrase1 *./iously this is a 6uarrel that has ancient roots1 +t is also an
e:tremely /iolent 6uarrel &ith a--alling things .eing done .y .oth sides18
May < 2009 - )ears that military is -re-aring to use illegal &ea-ons a%ter
re-ort o% a shi-ment o% gas mas#s .eing im-orted T0A &arns international
aid &ill .e used in &ar against Tamils
The !ri "an#an Military de-loyed hea/y and -rohi.ited &ea-ons to the
%ront lines in -re-aration %or a %inal onslaught on the 0o )ire =one sources
in ,olom.o told Tamil0et1
)urther re-orts detailed the shi-ment o% gas mas#s to soldiers in &hat &as
thought to .e -re-aration %or the use o% illegal chemical &ea-ons1
+n a meeting &ith 9a-anese Am.assador to !ri "an#a >asushi A#ashi a
team o% T0A -arliamentarians &arned the di-lomat that any aid gi/en to
the !ri "an#an go/ernment &ould .e used against the Tamils1
T0A -arliamentarian !uresh 4remachandran in a -ress .rie% shortly a%ter
the meeting said
We told the 9a-anese Am.assador that !ri "an#a go/ernment -lans to
-lace the +nternally 3is-laced Tamils held in detention centres -ermanently
in sheds %or at least %i/e years and &e as#ed him not to gi/e aid meant %or
Tamils reha.ilitation to the go/ernment as it is certain that the money &ill
.e use din the &ar against the Tamils instead18
!ee %ull statement here1
7astern 4ro/ince -arliamentarians %rom the T0A accused the go/ernment o%
a--ro-riating land o% dis-laced -ersons and colonising Tamil traditional
areas on the .order o% Trincomalee and 5atticaloa1
02 May 20?4 - 0o )ire =one hos-ital shelled international in/estigation
needed %or enduring -eace says "TT7
The !ri "an#an Army shelled the %inal remaining 0o )ire =one hos-ital t&ice
#illing @4 -eo-le a%ter recei/ing the e:act location coordinates o% the
.uilding re-orted Tamil0et1
A &or#er at the hos-ital < days earlier con%irmed the hos-italAs location
&ith mem.ers o% the +,R, &ho intended to -ass the location on to the !ir
"an#an go/ernment to sto- them %rom shelling hos-itals1
The "TT7 citing their declaration o% a cease%ire on A-ril 2@ &arned that !ri
"an#a &as a Ato eradicate a distinct Tamil identityA and that international
inter/ention &ould no& .e needed %or ;enduring -eace on the island1A
The statement %urther said
+t is in the %ace o% this situation that &e see# the recognition and the
su--ort o% the international community %or our struggle1 +t is a struggle %or
democracy and an enduring -eace .ased on our as-irations as a -eo-le1
!hould the !ri "an#an regime .e -ermitted to continue &ith its ultimate
o.2ecti/e o% im-osing a ;%inal solutionA through military means &e ha/e no
dou.t that it &ill desta.iliBe the region18
!ee %ull statement here1
? May 2009 - +ndiscriminate shelling continues in 0o )ire =one shoc#ing
%ailure to -rotect ci/ilians says 5ritish )oreign !ec
The !ri "an#an Army ignoring calls .y the /isiting 5ritish )oreign !ecretary
%or a cease%ire and immediate international access to the 0o )ire =one
continued the relentless shelling o% the 0o )ire =one #illing and in2uring
scores o% ci/ilians in Mulli/aai##al1
!ources on the ground told Tamil0et that ??0 in2ured ci/ilians had .een
admitted to the ma#eshi%t ci/ilian &hilst 2C in2ured ci/ilians had -assed
a&ay during the night1
The -re/ious day sa& 200 ci/ilians .rought into to the hos-ital &ith <9
deaths1
!ources %rom ma#eshi%t hos-ital &ere only a.le to gi/e accounts o% -eo-le
that died in care as se/erely in2ured ci/ilians and dead .odies &ere .eing
le%t in the %ields .y this stage1
The 5ritish and )rench en/oys s-ea#ing on their /isit to !ri "an#a said
DTime is running out %or those tra--ed or dis-laced .y the %ighting1 *ur
mission &as sim-leE to ma#e in -erson the case %or the humanitarian
relie% that the '0 the 7' and the GF ha/e called %or1D
DHere the re%usal to allo& the '0 the aid agencies and the media %ull and
-ro-er access is 6uite &rong1D
DAs mem.ers o% the '0 !ecurity ,ouncil &e do not shy a&ay %rom the
res-onsi.ility o% so/ereign go/ernments and the international community to
-rotect ci/ilians

<0 A-ril 2009 - !atellite images con%irm shelling o% 0o )ire =one o/er C000
Tamils #illed in < months alleges T0A
"ea#ed satellite imagery %rom the 'nited 0ations +nstitute %or Training and
Research ('0+TAR) re/ealed e/idence o% !ri "an#an shelling in the 0o )ire
=one &here ?00000 Tamil ci/ilians &ere estimated to .e re-orted
the +nner ,ity 4ress1
The Tamil 0ational Alliance in a .rie%ing to the 5ritish )oreign !ecretary
alleged that o/er C000G ci/ilians had .een #illed in Hanni &ith at least
?4000 in2ured o/er the -re/ious three months1
!-ea#ing at a -ress meet T0A M4 !uresh 4remachandran said
!ri "an#a go/ernment &hich had decei/ed the Tamils %or the last <0 years
is no& decei/ing the +nternational ,ountries1 +t is #illing its o&n citiBens in
/iolation o% all the con/entions o% the '0 including the one on Human
Rights &hich the !ri "an#a go/ernment has rati%ied18
IWhy should the international community &hich had success%ully made
(oso/o an inde-endent state %or the #illing o% ?J00 -eo-le remain -assi/e
though more than C000 Tamils ha/e .een #illed in the last < months
aloneK8 he added1
The Tamil Guardian in its editorial &rote
Those &ho thin# that the "TT7 &ill .e destroyed in the coming &ee#s and
that then it is a 6uestion o% $-eace .uilding$ and $de/elo-ment$ %or the ne:t
%e& years are gra/ely mista#en1 The %oundations %or a cataclysmic ci/il &ar
are .eing ine:ora.ly laid today1 The #ind o% -olarisation that sustain not
decades .ut generations o% struggle has .ecome &ides-read and
em.edded18
(GThe T0A estimates &hich echoed -u.lished '0 estimates &ere later
%ound to .e drastically inaccurate1 Anonymous '0 o%%icials s-ea#ing to a
)rench %oreign corres-ondent in 9une 2009 said
DWe rang the alarm .ells %or some months .ut no-one e/er too# the !ri
"an#an go/ernment to tas# -u.licly1+t ga/e the go/ernment a .lan# che6ue
to car-et .om. the &hole area1D
The 'nited 0ations in an internal re/ie& -anel re-ort later %ound that
$!een together the %ailure o% the '0 to ade6uately counter the
Go/ernmentAs under-estimation o% -o-ulation num.ers in the Hanni
the%ailure to ade6uately con%ront the Go/ernment on its o.structions to
humanitarian assistance the un&illingness o% the '0 in '0HL and ,olom.o
to address Go/ernment res-onsi.ility %or attac#s that &ere #illing ci/ilians
and the tone and content o% '0 communications &ith the Go/ernment on
these issues collecti/ely amounted to a %ailure .y the '0 to act &ithin the
sco-e o% institutional mandates to meet -rotection res-onsi.ilities1$)
29 A-ril 2009 - Hos-ital attac#ed in 0o )ire =one 5ritish )oreign !ec calls
%or cease%ire !ri "an#a do&n-lays casualty %igures
The !ri "an#an 0a/y %ired artillery at a ma#e-shi%t hos-ital &ithin the 0o
)ire =one in Mulli/aai##al #illing -atients Tamil0et re-orted1
*/er ?@0 ci/ilian .odies &ere reco/ered %ollo&ing intense gun%ire earlier in
the day &ith another ?J0 %eared dead .y the e/ening1
The 5ritish )oreign !ecretary 3a/id Mili.and during a one day /isit to the
island calledon the !ri "an#an go/ernment to declare an immediate
cease%ire1
D0o& is the time %or the %ighting to sto-1 -rotection o% ci/ilians is a.solutely
-aramount in our mindsD he said to -ress in !ri "an#a1
(G"ea#ed di-lomatic ca.les re/ealed a year later that Mili.and$s tri- to !ri
"an#a to call %or a cease%ire &as -art result o% the strong -rotests and
$/ocal$ -resence o% Tamils in -arliament s6uare1)
Mahinda Ra2a-a#sa in a statement said that ?J000G ci/ilians remained in
the 0o )ire =one1
(G'0 estimates -u.lished in the 4anel o% 7:-orts Re-ort in 20?? stated that
o/er ?2C?CC ci/ilians remained in the 0o )ire =one1)
Mean&hile internally dis-laced -eo-les demanded that they .e resettled in
their original homes1
Mem.ers o% the Tamil dias-ora continued to -rotest and demand their
go/ernments to ta#e action to sto- %urther deaths o% Tamil ci/ilians1 Tamils
in "ondon 4aris Toronto !&itBerland and se/eral other cities -rotested
outside .uildings o% go/ernance1
2F A-ril 2009 - ,arnage ensues in 0o )ire =one
'n-recedented le/els o% shelling and aerial .om.ardment &ere re-orted .y
medical %acility &or#ers &ithin the 0o )ire =one &ho said that the &ounded
&ere le%t to die as shelling &as so intense that -eo-le could not mo/e out
o% their .un#ers to retrie/e .odies1
The "TT7 told Tamil0et that o/er J@00 shells had .een %ired into the 0o
)ire =one &ithin the s-ace o% ?J hours in &hat &as the most intense day
o% shelling the 0o )ire =one had seen to date1
2C A-ril 2009 - Aerial .om.ardment o% 0o )ire =one '( -oliticians &arn o%
carnage o% unimagina.le magnitude
The !ri "an#an Air )orce continued the onslaught in the 0o )ire =one
dro--ing at least 2< .om.s and countless shells into the ci/ilian -o-ulation
re-orted Tamil0et1

7arlier assurances to sto- using hea/y &ea-ons around the 0o )ire =one .y
the !ri "an#an go/ernment -ro/ed %utile as hundreds o% Tamil ci/ilians &ere
in2ured and se/eral #illed .y the areal .om.ardment1
The "TT7 3irector o% the 4eace !ecretariat 4ulide/an s-ea#ing to
Tamil0et said that !ri "an#a &as Iattem-ting to decei/e the +nternational
,ommunity18

Mean&hile the All 4arty 4arliamentary Grou- %or Tamils (A44GT) a cross-
-arty committee o% M4s in 5ritain called on the international community to
-re/ent the ;%inal onslaughtA o% the !ri "an#a Army &hich &ould result in
Icarnage o% unimagina.le magnitude18
!ee %ull A44GT statement here1
2@ A-ril 2009 - Relentless .om.ing o% 0o )ire =one !ri "an#a re2ects "TT7
cease%ire announcement 5ritish Tamil enters 20th day o% %ast
*/er 200 ci/ilians &ere in2ured and se/eral died a%ter the !ri "an#an air
%orce indiscriminately .om.ed the 0o )ire =one <9 times
re-orted Tamil0et1
!ources in the 0o )ire =one also re-orted an increasing num.er o% military
-ersonnel around the .orders o% the 0o )ire =one s-reading %ears o% an
imminent aerial and ground assault into the 0o )ire =one1
+n a statement that ac#no&ledged international concerns the "TT7 -olitical
di/ision announced a unilateral cease%ire1
!ee %ull statement here1
The !ri "an#an go/ernment res-onded immediately re2ecting the idea o% a
cease%ire as a ;2o#eA re-orted The Guardian1
Mean&hile a 5ritish Tamil acti/ist entered the 20th day o% his hunger stri#e
in 4arliament !6uare calling %or an end to the genocide o% Tamils1 4rotests
in 4arliament !6uare continued day a%ter day calling %or international
inter/ention to sto- a genocide1
2J A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#an go/ernment denies /ital aid to the 0o )ire =one
A ?1J Mega Tonne World )ood 4rogramme (W)4) shi-ment that &as
scheduled to arri/e at the coastal region o% the 0o %ire =one Mulli/ai#al
&as di/erted to 9a%%na at .y the !ri "an#an go/ernment re-orted Tamilnet1
The di/ersion came as earlier re-orts %rom the 0o )ire =one suggested that
?@J000 Tamil ci/ilians &ere a.out to %ace a humanitarian disaster1
2J A-ril 2009 - 9ayalalitha concludes inde-endent 7elam is only solution
The Tamil 0adu o--osition -arty leader 9ayaram 9ayalalitha a%ter seeing
e/idence o% mass atrocities in the 0o )ire =one concluded that an
inde-endent Tamil 7elam &as the only solution to the ethnic con%lict in !ri
"an#a1
ITill today + ha/e ne/er said that a se-arate 7elam is the only solution1 +
ha/e s-o#en a.out -olitical solution this and that1 5ut no& + em-hatically
say a se-arate 7elam is the only -ermanent solution to the "an#an
con%lict8 she said1
!ee %ull statement here1
24 A-ril 2009 - '0 con%irms at least 20000 casualties !" re2ects aid en/oy
'nited 0ations documents con%irmed that at least @J00 ci/ilians had died
and ?4000 &ounded o/er the -re/ious three months re-orted The
Guardian1
'0 o%%icials told The Guardian that A-ril had seen at least 2000 ci/ilians
#illed and an increasing rate o% death1
The +nternal Re/ie& 4anel Re-ort on !ri "an#a -u.lished .y the '0 in
20?2 estimated the total ci/ilian death toll to .e around C00001
The 'nited 0ations !ecretary General 5an (i-moon announced the
dis-atch o% a humanitarian team to the con%lict Bone1 The '0
announcement &as immediately re2ected .y !ri "an#an 3e%ence !ecretary
Gota.haya Ra2a-a#sa &ho said
+t is not a sensi.le thing at the moment1 There is a ci/ilian rescue
o-eration going on in the area and allo&ing aid agencies inside the con%lict
Bone is not matching &ith the ground realities1D
24 A-ril 2009 - "TT7 call on international community to -ro/ide aid %or o/er
?@J000 star/ing ci/ilians
The "i.eration Tigers o% Tamil 7elam ("TT7) in a statement to the
international community said that o/er ?@J000 Tamil ci/ilians %aced a
humanitarian disaster due to denial o% %ood and humanitarian su--lies .y
the !ri "an#an go/ernment and urged actors to ensure that immediate and
continuous aid to the Tamil ci/ilians1
!ee %ull statement here1
2< A-ril 2009 M )urther shelling o% churches and +,R, regions
The church in Halaignarmadam &as shelled %or the second consecuti/e day
in2uring and #illing se/eral social &el%are -ersonnel re-orted Tamilnet1
)urther instances o% shelling o% coastlines &here in2ured Tamil ci/ilians &ere
loo#ing to .e e/acuated .y the +,R, shi- &ere re-orted %rom the ground1
2< A-ril 2009 M +ndia calls %or -olitical solution and an end to #illings o%
Tamil ci/ilians
The ongoing carnage came as the +ndian 7:ternal A%%airs Minister 4rana.
Mu#her2ee calling %or the #illings to sto- &arned that only a -olitical
solution &ould ensure true lasting -eace1
!-ea#ing to media a%ter an hour long meeting on the situation in !ri "an#a
he said
We are /ery unha--y at the continued #illing o% innocent Tamil ci/ilians in
!ri "an#a1 These #illings must sto-1 The only lasting solution &ill come %rom
-olitical e%%orts to address the real concerns o% the Tamil -eo-le gi/ing
them a li%e o% dignity &ithin the !ri "an#an mainstream18
22 A-ril 2009 - +,R, intimidated churches shelled and '! reiterates calls
%or international access into 0o )ire =one
The !ri "an#an Military %ired shells in close range o% an +,R, shi- a short
time a%ter e:act co-ordinates o% the e/acuation shi- &ere gi/en to the !ri
"an#an go/ernment sources on the ground told Tamil0et1
)urther re-orts %rom the 0o )ire =one said that -rominent -laces o% re%uge
such as a church in Halaignarmadam had .een shelled .y the !ri "an#an
military1
The '! state de-artment in a -ress .rie% on !ri "an#a re-eated calls on
the go/ernment to allo& international aid agencies and o.ser/ers into the
0o )ire =one1
The '! o%%icial also stressed the need to ascertain the num.er o% -eo-le
remaining in the 0o )ire =one1
Mean&hile an o%%icial %rom the "TT7 -olitical di/ision estimated that o/er
200000 Tamil ci/ilians remained in the 0o )ire =one1
2? A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#an go/ernment delays aid to Hanni
The !ri "an#an go/ernment delayed the de-arture o% a World )ood
4rogramme (W)4) aid shi- to ta#e su--lies to con%lict a%%ected regions in
Hanni1
The go/ernment had sto--ed the shi- %orm lea/ing des-ite ha/ing the
e:act co-ordinates o% the doc#ing -oint in Hanni o%%icials %rom the
Ha/uniyaa 3istrict !ecretariat toldTamilnet1
!ituational re-orts %or the -re/ious month sho&ed that only a 6uarter o%
the re6uired aid had reached Tamil ci/ilians in the con%lict regions1
2? A-ril 2009 - !outh A%rican -olitical -arty mem.ers condemn ethnic
cleansing and stress need to consider -olitical solution
The !olidarity Grou- %or 4eace and 9ustice in !ri "an#a &hich consisted o%
mem.ers o% the A%rican 0ational ,ongress (A0,) ,ongress o% !outh
A%rican Trade 'nions (,*!AT') and !outh A%rican ,ommunist 4arty (!A,4)
grou-s condemned the ;ethnic #illingsA Tamil ci/ilians .y !ri "an#a
go/ernment %orces1
The !outh A%rican organisation in their statement &arned
The -ursuit o% a military solution not in %a/our o% a /ia.le -olitical
%rame&or# addressing the legitimate grie/ances o% the Tamil
-eo-le and their as-irations %or sel%-determination remains the
%undamental .arrier .et&een -ermanent -eace amid an un%olding
humanitarian disaster1D
+% a -olicy o% ethnic cleansing continues to .e -ursued .y the !ri
"an#an administration the !olidarity Grou- and its a%%iliates &ill .e
-oised to ta#e strong measures in -ressuring the state to acce-t
an unconditional cease%ire1D
!ee %ull statement here1
20 A-ril 2009 - !hells cluster .om.s and hos-ital attac#s lea/e thousands
in2ured
The !ri "an#an military in one o% the most deadly o%%ensi/es o% the 2009
con%lict .om.arded the 0o )ire =one &ith shells and cluster .om.s in2uring
o/er ?000 ci/ilians and lea/ing countless dead sources on the ground told
Tamilnet1
)urther re-orts said that the 4uthamathalan ma#eshi%t hos-ital &ithin 0o
)ire =one had .een hit .y se/eral shells causing se/ere in2uries1
The +nternational ,ommittee o% the Red ,ross (+,R,) ,ountry ,hie% also
e:-ressed concern o/er the lac# o% medical aid %or the -eo-le in the 0o )ire
=one1
The situation there is /ery di%%icult1 The ma#eshi%t health %acilities
that are still e:isting are not immune o% the e%%ects o% the
hostilities18 4aul ,astella told the 55,1
The Ministry o% Health sta%% still &or#ing there is really &orn out -
these -eo-le are &or#ing %or months no& &ithout any .rea# they
&or# day and night1 And medical su--lies are lac#ing8 he added1
20 A-ril 2009 - "TT7 &elcomes '! statement say it$s &illing to discuss #ey
issues &ith international community
The "i.eration Tigers o% Tamil 7elam in a statement .y its -olitical
head6uarters &elcoming the '! state de-artmentAs calls %or a cease%ire
urged the !ri "an#an go/ernment to sto- military actions and commit to an
immediate cease%ire1
The "TT7 %urther added that they &ere committed to meaning%ul negations
&ith the international community on issues related to humanitarian access
security and the mo/ement and &el%are o% the Tamil ci/ilian -o-ulation1
!ee %ull statement here1
20 A-ril 2009 - Thousands o% Tamil -rotestors .loc#ade roads in "ondon
A%ter &itnessing a &ee#end o% carnage in the 0o )ire =one thousands o%
Tamildemonstrators s&elled onto roads outside the Houses o% 4arliament in
"ondon1
*/er 2J00 -rotestors tem-orarily .loc#ed the roads leading u- to
Westminster 5ridge in des-erate attem-ts to %orce international action to
sto- the ongoing slaughter o% Tamil ci/ilians1
A-ril ?9 2009 - Tamil ,i/ilian deaths and casualties continue in 0o )ire
=one
,i/ilian casualties and deaths continued to escalate as re-orts suggested
that !ri "an#an military shelling #illed @0 ci/ilians and le%t o/er ?00 in2ured1
Medical authorities %rom ma#eshi%t hos-itals said that death tolls &ere
inaccurate as dead .odies &ere not .eing .rought .ac# to hos-itals
re-orted Tamilnet1
4C0 &ounded -atients &ere sent to +,R, aid shi-s at the end o% the &ee#1
!-ea#ing toThe Guardian a doctor on the shi- Gnana Gunalan said
Most o% the -eo-le ha/e shell .last in2uries and gunshot in2uries1
!ome -eo-le ha/e lost their lim.s other -eo-le ha/e lost other
-arts o% the .ody some -eo-le ha/e &ounds in the a.domen
some in the chest1D
A-ril ?9 2009 - 5ritish )oreign !ecretary calls %or an immediate cease%ire
The 5ritish )oreign !ecretary 3a/id Mili.and in a statement maintained
calls %or an immediate cease%ire in !ri "an#a and %or Tamil ci/ilians to .e
allo&ed to lea/e the con%lict area1
4rotests and demonstrations around the &orld ha/e highlighted the tragic
loss o% li%e o% innocent ci/ilians in !ri "an#a1 )urther loss o% li%e &ill only
com-ound the tragedy1 We ha/e heard their /oice and &ill #ee- listening1
We are committed to do all &e can to .ring this terri.le con%lict to an
end8 said the )oreign !ecretary 3a/id Mili.and1
The Australian ca-ital o% ,an.erra earlier that &ee# sa& o/er FJ00 Tamils
ta#e -art in a rally to demand an immediate cease%ire in !ri "an#a and an
end to atrocities committed against the Tamils1
Tamilnet re-orted that a -eace acti/ist "ara 4ullin &ho came to see the
demonstrations that &ee# said
The rallies .y the Tamils ha/e gathered the same momentum that
+ sa& during the -re 7ast-Timor inde-endence time and Anti-
a-artheid mo/ementN one gets the %eeling &here Tamils ha/e come
to a stage &here they are saying ;7nough is 7noughA
Mean&hile Tamilnet re-orted that @C social &el%are Tamil dias-ora
organisations in )rance in a secret .allot sho&ed unanimous su--ort %or
the +nde-endence struggle o% Tamils in !ri "an#a1
?F A-ril 2009 - Tamil ci/ilians on /erge o% dying o% star/ation in 0o )ire
=one
Thousands o% Tamil ci/ilians &ere on the /erge o% dying .y star/ation in the
0o )ire =one sources on the ground told Tamilnet1
A 'nited 0ations o%%icial in ,olom.o %urther said that the
situational re-ort .y the Mullaithee/u 3istrict !ecretariat had re6uested %or
%ood and rations to %eed at least <0J2?9 -eo-le1 Humanitarian aid %igures
suggested that only 22O o% the aid needed had reached the 0o )ire =one
in the month o% March1
Highlighting the e:tent o% malnutrition in the 0o )ire =one the re-ort said
A nutrition sur/ey conducted .y the 3e-artment o% health Mullaiti/u
3istrict in last &ee# o% March 2009 indicates that @919?O o% children &ere
under &eight and acute under nutrition is /ery much increased1 The re-ort
re6uests %or immediate inter/ention in su--ly %ood18
?F A-ril 2009 - Ra-e torture and /iolence -re/alent in state run +34
cam-s
A human rights acti/ist Thomas !eil.ert returning %rom a tri- to !ri
"an#a e:-ressed e:treme concern regarding the &el%are o% Tamil ci/ilians
run in internally dis-laced -ersons (+34) cam-s run .y the go/ernment1
3escri.ing the &el%are o% Tamil ci/ilians in go/ernment hands he said
IMany are tortured or sim-ly shot1 There are also re-orts o% regular ra-es18
!ee %ull statement hereE
?F A-ril 2009 - )urther calls .y Tamil demonstrators %or '0 to ta#e action
*/er J000 Tamil demonstrators gathered in 0e& >or#As Times !6uare and
outside the 'nited 0ation to urge the '0 to sto- the slaughter o% Tamil
ci/ilians .y the !ri "an#an go/ernment1
4rotestors tra/elled %rom across the 0orth American continent to attend
one o% the largest demonstrations seen in 0e& >or# at the time re-orted
Tamilnet1
?C A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#a intends to e:terminate the Tamil -o-ulation says
T0A
The Tamil 0ational Alliance in a letter to the +ndian 4rime Minister
Manmohan !ingh said that !ri "an#aAs actions -ro/ed that ;the real
intention o% the !ri "an#an !tate is the -rogressi/e e:termination o% the
Tamil -eo-le1A
The letter highlighted concerns o/er the !ri "an#an military usage o%
chemical &ea-ons an imminent mass annihilation o% Tamil ci/ilians and
the ongoing shelling o% the 0o )ire =one1
!ee %ull letter here1
?C A-ril 2009 M Glo.al ,entre %or Res-onsi.ility to 4rotect calls on '0
!ecurity ,ouncil to %ul%il its duty
The Glo.al ,entre %or the Res-onsi.ility to 4rotect in an o-en letter to the
'0 !ecurity ,ouncil urged the international community to demand access
to the con%lict Bone %or humanitarian grou-s and media and %ul%il
res-onsi.ility o% -re/enting -eo-les %rom genocide &ar crimes and crimes
against humanity1
!ee %ull letter here1
?@ A-ril 2009 - @00 shells %all in 0o )ire =one '! calls to halt shelling and
allo& international access
The '! de-artment o% state in a -ress release called on the go/ernment
o% !ri "an#a to halt shelling o% the 0o )ire =one allo& international
monitors to ensure the sa%e -assage o% Tamil ci/ilians and en%orce
international humanitarian standards &ithin +34 cam-s1
!ee %ull statement here1
The statement came as o/er @00 shells %ell in the 0o )ire =one &ithin the
s-ace o% a day1 !ources in the 0o )ire =one registered o/er ?J00 shell
e:-losions &ith roughly @00 occurring &ithin the 0o )ire =one1
Tamilnet re-orted that ?<0 in2ured ci/ilians &ere admitted to the ad-hoc
hos-ital &ithin the 0o )ire =one in 4uthumathalan1
?J A-ril 2009 - Tamil ci/ilians #illed carrying &hite %lag in 0o )ire =one
dias-ora continues -rotests
The !ri "an#an Military in an intense < hour assault on the 0o )ire =ine
#illed at least ?F0 Tamil ci/ilians1
Re-orts %orm the ground highlighted that in2ured ci/ilians trans-orted &ith
&hite %lags &ere .eing #illed1
The seriously &ounded ci/ilians are dying as their trans-ort has
.een .loc#ed .y the !ri "an#an army %iring on medical trans-ort
carrying &hite %lags1 The !ri "an#an army gunners shot a man &ho
&as trying to trans-ort a &ounded /ictim &hile holding &hite %lag8
sources on the ground told Tamilnet1
Thousands o% Tamil dias-ora across the &orld continued -rotests and
hunger stri#e demonstrations demanding immediate humanitarian
assistance %or the -eo-le in the 0o )ire =one and an end to the genocide o%
Tamils1
?4 A-ril 2009 M Me:ico says R24 doctrine a--lica.le in !ri "an#a
Res-onding to 6uestions regarding a meeting .et&een the Me:ican
Am.assador to the 'nited 0ations ,laude Heller and !ri "an#an )oreign
!ecretary 4alitha (ohana the Me:ican am.assador told the +nner ,ity
4ress that the Res-onsi.ility to -rotect doctrine could .e a--lied in !ri
"an#a1
We are /ery concerned that in the case o% !ri "an#a there is a concern o%
the res-onsi.ility to -rotect the -o-ulation18
Heller %urther added that !ri "an#aAs summary o% the /ie&-oint he
e:-ressed in his meeting &ith (ohana &as not accurate1
This re-ort &as not the %irst time the +nner ,ity 4ress -ic#ed u- on !ri
"an#an misre-resentation o% international o%%icials1
The !ri "an#an %oreign secretary at the time misre-resented calls .y the '!
!ecretary o% !tate Hilary ,linton to allo& international aid agencies into
the 0o )ire =one1
?4 A-ril 2009 M !tates -arty to Gene/a con/ention ha/e legal o.ligation to
inter/ene
!-ea#ing to Tamilnet a -ro%essor o% +nternational "a& at the 'ni/ersity o%
+llinois ,ollege o% "a& )rancis 5oyle calling on the 'nited !tates to ta#e
action in !ri "an#a said that all states -arty to the Gene/a ,on/entions
had a legal o.ligation to inter/ene and -rotect Tamil ci/ilians in the 0orth-
7ast o% !ri "an#a1
!ee his statement here1
?4 A-ril 2009 M !ources on the ground &arn o% mass tragedy a%ter %urther
indiscriminate .om.ing o% 0o )ire =one
!ources on the ground told Tamilnet that ?@ .om.s &ere indiscriminately
dro--ed .y the !ri "an#an air-%orce into the 0o )ire =one in the early hours
o% the morning as the !ri "an#an military ad/anced &ith gun%ire into the
0o )ire =one in 4uthu#udiyiru--u1
The source in the 0o )ire =one &arned o% an ine/ita.le mass tragedy1
?< A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#a stri-s 0or&ay o% -eace %acilitating role due to '!
in/ol/ement
!ri "an#a stri--ed 0or&ay o% its role as a -eace %acilitator re-orted the
Agence )rance 4resse (A)4)1
The go/ernment o% !ir "an#a -ercei/es that there is no room %or
0or&ay to act as %acilitator8 a go/ernment o%%icial told the ne&s
agency1
!-ea#ing to Al2aBeera 0or&ayAs s-ecial en/oy to !ri "an#a 9on Hanssen-
5auer res-onding to !ri "an#aAs decision said
We cannot .e %acilitators in a -eace -rocess &hich has in e%%ect .een
sus-ended since 200@8
3i-lomatic sources in ,olom.o told Tamilnet that !ri "an#a has made the
decision due to &orries o/er 'nited !tates in%luence in the 0or&egian led
-eace negotiations1
?< A-ril 2009 M *%%ensi/e !ri "an#an military assaults into 0o )ire =one
continue des-ite cease%ire claims
The !ri "an#an Military ste--ed u- the shelling and gun%ire during an
o%%ensi/e into the 0o )ire =one resulting in the deaths o% at least 2< Tamil
ci/ilians re-orted Tamilnet1
The o%%ensi/e came des-ite announcements %rom the !ri "an#an 4resident
Mahinda Ra2a-a#sa that the military %orces &ould act de%ensi/ely o/er the
2 day ne&-year -eriod1
?< A-ril 2009 M "TT7 calls %or -ermanent cease%ire &ith humanitarian
considerations
The -olitical di/ision o% the "i.eration Tigers o% Tamil 7elam ("TT7) in a
statement em-hasised that the "TT7 &ere calling %or a -olitically and
militarily meaning%ul cease%ire &ith humanitarian considerations1
!ee %ull statement here1
?2 A-ril 2009 - T0AE Tamil -eo-le %ace genocide
The Tamil 0ational Alliance in a statement released .y its )oreign Relations
,ommittee accused the !ri "an#an go/ernment o% deli.erately targeting
Tamil ci/ilians and concluded that ;the Tamil -eo-le in the island are clearly
.eing su.2ected to genocide1A
!ee e:tracts %rom the T0A statement .elo&1
The !ri "an#an !tate .y im-osing an em.argo on %ood medicine
and des-erately needed humanitarian assistance has -reci-itated a
humanitarian catastro-he18
The !ri "an#an !tateAs use o% %ood and medicine as &ea-ons o%
&ar is a &ar crime under international la&18
IThe situation %aced .y the Tamil -eo-le is un-recedented1 Whilst a
considera.le section o% the Tamil -eo-le are .eing e:terminated in
the so called Isa%e Bones8 or are in imminent danger o% .eing
e:terminated the remaining sections are .eing systematically
silenced .y .eing herded into concentration cam-s terroriBed .y
mass round u-s a.ductions and %orced disa--earances18
The use .y the !ri "an#an !tate o% internationally .anned
&ea-ons such as cluster .om.s and chemical &ea-ons has .een
a characteristic %eature o% the current -hase o% the &ar .eing
&aged against the Tamil -eo-le18
IThe Tamil -eo-le in the island o% !ri "an#a are clearly .eing
su.2ected to Genocide18
?2 A-ril 2009 - <? Tamil ci/ilians #illed amidst !ri "an#an military shelling
and gun%ire in 0o )ire =one
Re-orts %rom Tamilnet suggested that at least <? ci/ilians &ere #illed and
<@ Tamil ci/ilians &ere su.mitted to the ma#e shi%t hos-ital in the 0o )ire
=one1
?2 A-ril 2009 - !&iss Tamils -rotest against genocide o% Tamils
!&iss Tamil -rotestors too# -art in a demonstration to raise a&areness
a.out the ongoing genocide o% Tamils to the international community1
The -rotests occurred on the %inal day o% a hunger stri#e underta#en .y
Tamil students in !&itBerland to raise a&areness a.out the atrocities
occurring in !ri "an#a re-ortedTamilnet1
?? A-ril 2009 - Hos-ital records re-ort J99 deaths and <<J0 in2uries in <
days o% attac#s on 0o )ire =one
Tamilnet re-orts %rom hos-ital records outlined at least J99 deaths and
<<<J0 in2uries amongst the Tamil ci/ilian -o-ulation in the 0o )ire =one
a%ter < days o% shelling1
?? A-ril 2009 - 200000 5ritish Tamils march through "ondon demanding a
cease%ire
*/er 200000 5ritish Tamils marched through "ondon demanding a
cease%ire in !ri "an#a re-orted Tamilnet1
The demonstration &hich &as instigated .y 5ritish Tamil students .ro#e
all -re/ious records o% attendance at Tamil -rotests1

?0 A-ril 2009 - Re-orter !ans )rontiers demands that 2ournalists .e
allo&ed into 0o )ire =one e:-resses concern o/er !" &ar crimes
Re-orters sans )rontiers (R!)) &arned that the death o% t&o 2ournalists in
the 0o )ire =one &as yet another &ar crime that the !ri "an#an
go/ernment &ould .e held accounta.le %or and strongly condemned the !ri
"an#an go/ernmentAs .anning o% inde-endent 2ournalists %rom the 0o )ire
=one and !ri "an#an army %ront lines1
7:tracts %rom the statement re-roduced .elo&1
+t is a disgrace that this &ar is .eing &aged &ithout inde-endent
2ournalists -resent1 And .y -re/enting thousands o% innocent
ci/ilians %rom mo/ing %reely the Tamil Tiger re.els .ear a large
share o% the res-onsi.ility %or these crimes1 5y limiting media
co/erage to guided tours &ith the -ur-ose o% con%irming military
/ictories the armed %orces are -re/enting the -ress %rom doing its
2o. and are disregarding the -u.licAs right to .e in%ormed in an
inde-endent manner1D
Re-orters are una.le to tra/el %reely in the northern Hanni district
es-ecially the coastal area &ere nearly ?00000 ci/ilians and re.el
com.atants ha/e .een surrounded .y the army1D
?0 A-ril 2009 - !to- shelling 0o )ire =one HRW tells !ri "an#a
Human Rights Watch in a -ress release demanded that the !ri "an#an
go/ernment sto- %iring hea/y artillery into the ;0o )ire =one &here they
estimated some ?00000 Tamil ci/ilians &ere tra--ed1
The Asian director at Human Rights Watch descri.ed !ri "an#aAs 0o )ire
one as ;the most dangerous -lace in the &orld1A
Reaching out to Human Rights Watch a doctor in the 0o )ire =one said
DWe ha/e .een re-orting e/ery day e/ery day -ro/iding re-orts to
rele/ant authorities and to the international community and still
there are no real ste-s ta#en to sa/e these innocent ci/ilians1D
!ee %ull Human Rights Watch -ress .rie% here1
?0 A-ril 2009 - '! Tamil organisations urge state de-artment to chec#
re-orts o% chemical &ea-ons used in 0o )ire =one
7le/en Tamil organisations in a meeting &ith the '! state de-artment
urged the '! Am.assador to !ri "an#a Ro.ert 5la#e to in/estigate
allegations and e/idence o% chemical &ea-on attac#s against Tamil ci/ilians
and called %or aid to .e deli/ered to the 0o )ire =one1
!ee -ress release %rom the '! state de-artment meeting here1
09 A-ril 2009 - */er <00 in2ured ci/ilians admitted to 4uthumaathalan
ma#e shi%t hos-ital
*/er <00 in2ured Tamil ci/ilians &ere admitted to the ma#eshi%t hos-ital
&ith 4C -eo-le dying a%ter .eing admitted throughout the day1
!ources on the ground told Tamilnet that se/eral ci/ilians that &ere #illed
.y indiscriminate shelling and gun%ire .y the !ri "an#an military had .een
le%t &ere they lay1
The sources %urther added that an estimate o% the total #illed and in2ured
%or the day &as hard to calculate1
09 A-ril 2009 - +,R, team leader #illed in Hanni
A team leader %or the +nternational ,ommittee o% the Red ,ross (+,R,)
!innathurai (ugathasan &as #illed .y !ri "an#an military shelling &ithin
the 0o )ire =one rescue &or#ers told Tamilnet1

0F A-ril 2009 - ,hild nutrition centre shelled .y !ri "an#an military
4?? ci/ilians including ?00 children &ere a%%ected .y the shelling o% a child
care centre and mil# -o&der distri.ution centre at 4o##anai &ithin the 0o
)ire =one1
Re-orts gi/en to Tamilnet alleged that three artillery shells &ere %ired into
the ci/ilian %acilities lea/ing ?29 dead and ?00 children in2ured1
An sur/i/or o% the shelling in an eye&itness account to Human Rights
Watch said
There had .een no distri.ution o% mil# -o&der %or three months and so
&hen they announced that there &ould .e distri.ution today hundreds o%
-eo-le lined in 6ueue1 +t &as early in the morning1 + heard the %irst shell
and hit the ground1 + sur/i/ed .y miracle .ut my 4J-year old uncle died on
the s-ot- he lost .oth legs18
0C A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#an military uses chemical &ea-ons says "TT7
A senior commander o% the "TT7 &ho &itnessed attac#s in the 0o )ire
=one said that the !ri "an#an Military &as e:tensi/ely using chemical
&ea-ons re-orted Tamilnet1
The !ri "an#an go/ernment had already recei/ed criticism %or the -urchase
o% &ea-ons .anned under international la&1
!ee related articleE
Controversial weapon meant for genocide alleges MP (17 August
2001)
0C A-ril 2009 - !helling star/ation and death in the 0o )ire =one
A wounded Tamil civilian speaing from t!e "o #ire $one descri%ed t!e !ellis! conditions t!at
t!e people faced under relentless s!elling from t!e &ri 'anan arm()
*escri%ing a s!ell attac t!at illed !is son+ t!e wounded civilian+ &u%asan+ said+
, was t!rown %( t!e %last and %ot! m( ears were %loced %( t!e e-plosion) .!en , recovered
from m( initial s!oc+ , realised t!at , was in/ured) , tried to save a %adl( in/ured 10 (ear old
%o( l(ing near%( %ut t!e %o( succum%ed to !is in/ur()1
, !ave two c!ildren+ %ut t!e food we !ave is inade2uate to feed t!e famil() T!e food we !ave
!ere is enoug! for onl( one person+ %ut we s!are+3 !e furt!er added speaing to Tamilnet)
@ A-ril 2009 - Thousands o% Tamil -rotestors occu-y -arliament s6uare
demanding international action as slaughter o% Tamil ci/ilians in 0orth-7ast
escalates
@ o% A-ril mar#s the Jth anni/ersary o% the -arliament s6uare -rotests1
)ollo&ing 2 &ee#s o% -rotest outside 5ritish -arliament the num.er o%
demonstrators escalated to thousands in res-onse to the intensi%ied
shelling o% Tamil ci/ilians in the 0orth-7ast1 Thousands o% -rotestors too# to
the streets and staged a sit do&n demonstration in %ront o% the Houses o%
,ommons1
)or an eye-&itness account o% the e/ents see here1
Thousands of protestors take to
the streets
Veteran British politician Tony
Benn joins demonstrations
4hotogra-hsE The Guardian
@th A-ril 2009 - Medical o%%icials in the 0orth-7ast re-ort systematic
shelling o% o/er 2J0000 ci/ilians in 0o )ire =one
The regional o%%icer o% the Mullaithee/u Regional 3irector o% Health !er/ices
(R3H!)outlined an o./ious -attern o% shelling &ithin the 0o )ire =one1
The o%%icer re-orted that conser/ati/e estimates -laced at least 2J0000
-eo-le &ithin the 0o )ire =one1
J A-ril 2009 - !ri "an#an Air%orce intensi%ies attac# on ci/ilian 0o )ire =one
*/er 200 ci/ilians &ere either #illed or &ounded due to !ri "an#an Air-
%orce .om.ardmento% the 0o )ire =one on this day1
Areas o% Maaththalan 4o##anai Halaignarmadam +raddai-/aay##al and
other areas o% sa%ety Bone &ere shelled
14t! #e%ruar( 2005 6 Tamil civilians face intense s!elling as t!e( flee to 7"o #ire $ones7
8ver 190 civilians were feared illed %( &ri 'anan Arm( s!elling roads t!at were %eing used
%( civilians to flee from conflict areas and reac! newl( defined :no fire ;ones)<
&everal casualties and fatalities were reported along roads side from Teavipuram to
Put!uudi(iruppu+ wit! t!e fleeing civilians forced to leave t!eir dead on t!e side of t!e roads
or %ur( t!em under intense s!elling)
A furt!er 50 civilians were reported illed %( similar circumstances two da(s prior)
11 #e%ruar( 2005 6 =ospitals %om%ed+ relentless assault on Tamil civilians and calls for
international protection
#e%ruar( 11t! saw t!e >affna ?overnment Agent (?A) made an urgent appeal to international
non6governmental organisations to provide food and protection to over 2000 internall(
displaced people (,*P) t!at were in !eld across t!ree &ri 'anan Militar( run camps)
T!e 'TT@ *ivisional Political =ead in Aanni+ C ,lamparit!(+ w!ilst re%uffing &ri 'anan
militar( claims t!at t!e 'TT@ were responsi%le for t!e slaug!tering of civilian+ urged t!e
international communit( to protect Tamil civilians)
T!e ,nternational Committee of t!e Bed Cross (,CBC)+ in a statement released t!e previous
da(+ e-pressed :s!oc< at t!e lac of protection and a%sence of international aid reac!ing t!e
Tamil population in Aanni)
&peaing at an ,CBC press release+ t!e !ead of t!e delegation in &ri 'ana+ Paul Castellasaid+
.e are s!oced t!at patients are not afforded t!e protection t!e( are entitled to)1
,n a statement 'TT@ official ,lamparit!( said+
T!e :safet( ;one< unilaterall( announced %( t!e Colom%o government !as %een turned to a
illing field %( t!e &ri 'ana militar() T!e &ri 'anan militar( mac!iner(+ w!ic! !as
relentlessl( illed and maimed t!ousands of civilians during t!e past four wees+ is now
engaged in a propaganda drive to divert mounting pressure on t!e Colom%o government %( t!e
international communit()1
Colom%o is committing t!e worst crimes of !umanit(+ %( illing and maiming !undreds of
civilians ever( da( wit! t!e :safet( ;one< and %( indiscriminatel( %om%ing medical
institutions)1
T!e international communit( must ensure t!e presence of international protection and t!e
monitoring aut!orities to assure t!e safet( of t!e civilians+ including t!e wounded patients and
t!eir guardians w!o accompan( t!em)1
T!e ,CBC press statement also read+
Most of t!e population is now displaced and completel( depended on outside aid+ (et none
!as reac!ed t!e area since 25 >anuar()1
+n a statement made at the start o% the month the +,R, e:-ressed dismay
at the !ri "an#an Air%orceAs re-eated .om.ing o% hos-ital and medical
%acilities in Hanni stating
.e<re s!oced t!at t!e !ospital was !it+ and t!is for t!e second time in recent wees)
.ounded and sic people+ medical personnel and medical facilities are all protected %(
international !umanitarian law) Cnder no circumstance ma( t!e( %e directl( attaced) T!e staff
are under acute stress surrounded as t!e( are %( t!e sound of ongoing fig!ting and t!e influ- of
new patients) Am%ulances are constantl( arriving+ %ut people are also %eing %roug!t in %(
wagon+ pic up trucs+ tractor and even motor scooter)1