Mr. Frank
Walter-Steinmeier
Federal Foreign Minister of Germany
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Werderscher Markt 1
10117 Berlin
Germany.
Dear Federal Minister Steinmeier,
A PLEA TO SAVE OUR FAMILIES, RELATIONS AND FRIENDS
I am deeply shocked by the plight of our fellow Tamil people who are being
held against their wishes, by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
in Puthumathalan area in Northern Sri Lanka. It hurts me deeply when I
see and hear the inhumane treatment to which they have been subjected by the
ruthless LTTE, who are using innocent civilians as a shield to protect
their leaders.
I am also disturbed by the fact that LTTE have placed heavy artillery
amongst the civilian population within the “No-Fire” zone, clearly putting
the lives of these innocent men, women and children in extreme danger.
It is very clear that the present situation in Sri Lanka is nothing but a
hostage situation, since many have to risked life and limb to escape the
clutches of the LTTE, to reach the safety of Sri Lankan security Forces,
where their safety is assured.
I have seen and heard that civilians fleeing the LTTE are very well looked
after by the Sri Lankan Security Forces, by providing them food, shelter,
schooling for children and where necessary, medical attention. Thus it is
clear that it’s not the LTTE that will save our fellow Tamil people but
the Sri Lanka Government.
These trapped civilians are our family, our friends and our own
countrymen…. Therefore, I appeal to you to act against this inhuman and barbaric
treatment, the LTTE has committed on our fellow Tamil people, by keeping them
as hostages, with no other motive but to save their own skin.
I urgently appeal you to ensure that these innocent civilians are afforded
the right to life and freedom of movement, without fear and coercion from
the LTTE. We urgently request you to help them to be free… and find their
refuge of choice.
I sincerely hope that you will act fast ; before the LTTE could cause more
havoc, hardship and bloodshed to the families of our Tamil brethren, in a
naïve attempt to save their own lives
In the name of the innocent Tamil People in the No Fire Zone in the
Northeastern Sri Lanka.
Yours faithfully,
Copy to:
Madam Navi Pillay
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Prof. Walter Kälin
UN Special Representative on the human rights of internally displaced.
Dr. Javier Solana
EU Secretary-General/High Representative
Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
EU Commissioner for External Relations
ICRC - Geneva
German Embassy - Colombo, Sri Lanka
ICRC- Sri Lanka
HRW- USA
Human Right Watch – Germany
Amnesty International –USA
Amnesty International – Germany
Mr. Lalith Weerathunga
Secretary to HE the President of Sri Lanka
A PLEA TO SAVE OUR FAMILIES, RELATIONS AND FRIENDS
'World's largest mission' to rescue Lankan civilians
Sri Lankan troops have launched "the world's largest humanitarian operation" to rescue thousands of civilians trapped in the government-declared no-fire-zone after seizing control of the last rebel bastion in the north, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.
Sri Lankan troops have launched "the world's largest humanitarian operation" to rescue thousands of civilians trapped in the government-declared no-fire-zone after seizing control of the last rebel bastion in the north, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.It said the troops have "almost swept away terrorist strongholds in the northern anterior of the 12-km-long no-fire-zone demarcated for the civilians" and were conducting mop-up operations in the southern anterior of the no-fire-zone (NFZ).
"Troops have identified the best accessible routes for the civilians to come out of the NFZ and established rescue points there. Some of these rescue points are located just 150 metres short of the LTTE built earth bund on the NFZ border," the Ministry said.
"Troops continuously keep the civilians informed about the safe routes to the cleared areas as they open up more escape routes to the civilians by removing terrorist blockades," it said, adding that public address systems have been positioned at several locations to inform the people of these routes.
The rescue operation has been launched at a time when the island's donor chairs expressed their "urgent concern for safety of over 100,000 people" trapped in the fierce fighting between the troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Discussing the situation in the northern war-zone, the members of Sri Lanka's donor co-chairs, the US, Norway, Japan and the EU, have stressed "the importance of a humanitarian pause" to ensure that adequate supplies of food, water and medicine reach the civilians in the zone.
Dealing a major blow to of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sunday, the troops captured Puthukkudiyiruppu, the last bastion, where the rebels maintained several military and naval bases and armoury over the past three decades.
Killing over 500 LTTE in 72 hours in the fight for Puthukkudiyiruppu, the military said Thursday that the troops were "so close to last leg of the war" against t