Transfer: Pax Christi International Press Release on Sri Lanka

Return
Press Release
For Immediate Release
PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT

Appeal for the Situation in Sri Lanka
Pax Christi International expresses deep concern regarding the current tragic situation in Sri Lanka, where tens of thousands of innocent civilians are trapped in the crossfire between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Pax Christi International has sent a letter to H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, urging the Secretary General and the Security Council to use their combined influence to press both, the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, to cease the attacks and offensive actions that violate international humanitarian law.  
Claudette Werleigh, Secretary General of Pax Christi International stresses that “Urgent and foremost attention should be given towards the protection of civilians, thousands of whom have already died and have been injured”.
 
Pax Christi International has appealed to the UN to take swift and determined actions to ensure the following:
(1) The Sri Lankan government should halt its attacks and accept the ceasefire that was reported to be unilaterally declared by the LTTE, to give a chance for the relief supplies to get in and to enable a humanitarian corridor to be established for civilians to get out.
(2) The LTTE should immediately allow civilians to leave the area and end attacks on civilians seeking to flee LTTE-controlled areas. Both parties should be brought back to the negotiating table and into a political process that will move the conflict toward a nonviolent and fair resolution. 

 

The complete letter is available below:

 

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary-General

United Nations Room S-3800

New York NY 10017

U.S.A

                                                                    Brussels, 27 April 2009

Rev. Appeal Sri Lanka

Your Excellency,

We address this letter to you as an international NGO having a Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC. Pax Christi International is a faith- based network working for peace and justice uniting over hundred non-governmental organisations around the world, including a member organisation in Sri Lanka.

We would like to express our deep concern about the current tragic situation in Sri Lanka where tens of thousands of civilians are trapped and caught in the crossfire between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

We appeal to you and the Security Council to use your combined influence to press both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to cease their attacks and offensive actions that violate international humanitarian law.  Urgent and foremost attention should be given towards the protection of civilians, thousands of whom have already died and have been injured. 

The civilians continue to be at grave risk; LTTE forces have prevented the civilians from leaving the conflict area, while government forces have repeatedly and indiscriminately shelled the place.

We appeal to the UN, and through your good office, to other multilateral organizations and individual countries with relations with Sri Lanka, to take swift and determined action to ensure the following:

·       The Sri Lankan government should halt its attacks and accept the ceasefire that was reported to be unilaterally declared by the LTTE, to give a chance for the relief supplies to get in and to enable a humanitarian corridor to be established for civilians to get out; and

·       The LTTE should immediately allow civilians to leave the area and end attacks on civilians seeking to flee LTTE-controlled areas.

In addition to the above urgent action, we urge the UN to use its mandate to bring the parties back to the negotiating table and into a political process that will move the conflict toward a nonviolent and fair resolution. 

Thank you for your anticipated positive action on our appeal.

Secretary General

Claudette Werleigh

2009-0284-en-ap-HS

Transfer: Pax Christi International Press Release on Sri Lanka