Extend truce now in Sri Lanka

Last Sunday, President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka announced a two-day pause in offensive operations against the opposition Tamil Tigers, in observance of the Sinhala/Tamil New Year.  Over 150,000 Tamil civilians are trapped with the Tigers in a government-declared “safe zone” – a small pocket of coastal land in northeastern Sri Lanka which is the only remaining territory controlled by the Tigers.  The Tigers won’t let the civilians leave and have shot and killed those trying to flee the area.  Both the Sri Lankan army and the Tigers have shelled the civilians; hundreds have died since the start of this year.  The two-day truce called by President Rajapaksa is a welcome step but more is needed.  Both sides must agree to a sufficient pause to allow the civilians to leave the area safely and to allow in humanitarian aid for those unable or unwilling to leave.  The Tigers in particular must allow the civilians under their control the ability to choose to stay in the area or to leave without being harmed.

As part of AIUSA’s annual “Get on the Bus” event, AIUSA members and supporters will be gathering outside the Sri Lankan Mission to the U.N. in New York City this coming Friday, April 17.  We will be asking the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers to stop attacking civilians, to allow them to leave the conflict area safely and to allow in aid for those unable or unwilling to leave.  Please consider joining us and raising your voice for the suffering civilians trapped in the crossfire.

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

12 thoughts on “Extend truce now in Sri Lanka

  1. Yes, why not "Get On the Bus" and demand that the LTTE lay down its arms and let the tamil hostages they are using as human shields go? The most brutal terrorist organization in the world has been brought to its knees by the brave forces of a poor country, now it is time for the western INGOS, and AI and all other human rights organizations to see who the real culprits and violators of peace are. A ceasefire is only going to help the brutal terrorist leader Prabhakaran escape.

    The thousands of tamils marching in protest across the west have been providing funding for the facist terrorist organization for years. Did any one of them march in protest of the suicide bombings and child conscription undertaken by the LTTE?

    DID AI GET ON THE BUS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE BRUTAL TERROR TACTICS OF THE LTTE?

    The LTTE has held the entire island of Sri Lanka hostage for the past 30 years. It is time to bring an end to this madness. While you get on the Bus in the peaceful country you reside, we Sri Lankans, have been intimidated and held hostage by this brutal terrorist regime for too long. Why is the western media mostly mum on the suicide massacre that happened over the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday in a remote southern village in Sri Lanka? Has AI issued a statement on that massacre?????

    It is all double standards and international politicking, at the expense of a poor nation weary of war.

    We Sri Lankans stand behind our brave men and women of the armed forces who have shown great valour and compassion in this time of need of the country.

    So AI, get on the bus and join the thousands of tamil diaspora lining the streets of western capitals, that will not stop this proud nation from standing up for its own, be they Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim, and protecting its citizens from the terrorist menace.

  2. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  3. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  4. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  5. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  6. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  7. Sri Lanka Situation
    The conflict in Sri Lanka is between two parties. GOSL, multi ethnic Government, including Tamils and LTTE a racist insane group, with a suisidal cult, that glorify death and violence. Every time there is a ceasefire LTTE use it to make themselves stronger. If the ceasefire is held longer, the terrorists will organise their defence better and there will be more deaths.
    What do you want more deaths or less deaths.
    There would be lkess deaths if you campaign to stop funding getting to LTTE.

  8. Yes, why not “Get On the Bus” and demand that the LTTE lay down its arms and let the tamil hostages they are using as human shields go? The most brutal terrorist organization in the world has been brought to its knees by the brave forces of a poor country, now it is time for the western INGOS, and AI and all other human rights organizations to see who the real culprits and violators of peace are. A ceasefire is only going to help the brutal terrorist leader Prabhakaran escape.

    The thousands of tamils marching in protest across the west have been providing funding for the facist terrorist organization for years. Did any one of them march in protest of the suicide bombings and child conscription undertaken by the LTTE?

    DID AI GET ON THE BUS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE BRUTAL TERROR TACTICS OF THE LTTE?

    The LTTE has held the entire island of Sri Lanka hostage for the past 30 years. It is time to bring an end to this madness. While you get on the Bus in the peaceful country you reside, we Sri Lankans, have been intimidated and held hostage by this brutal terrorist regime for too long. Why is the western media mostly mum on the suicide massacre that happened over the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday in a remote southern village in Sri Lanka? Has AI issued a statement on that massacre?????

    It is all double standards and international politicking, at the expense of a poor nation weary of war.

    We Sri Lankans stand behind our brave men and women of the armed forces who have shown great valour and compassion in this time of need of the country.

    So AI, get on the bus and join the thousands of tamil diaspora lining the streets of western capitals, that will not stop this proud nation from standing up for its own, be they Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim, and protecting its citizens from the terrorist menace.

  9. Amnesty , jut take a look at todays news !! Do you think all those people (over 30,000) just decided to vacate at the same time incidently or did they take the chance when the Government army busted the LTTE defence line ??

  10. Amnesty , jut take a look at todays news !! Do you think all those people (over 30,000) just decided to vacate at the same time incidently or did they take the chance when the Government army busted the LTTE defence line ??

  11. I'd respond to these comments by quoting from my post above: "The Tigers in particular must allow the civilians under their control the ability to choose to stay in the area or to leave without being harmed." Go read the AI briefing paper entitled "Stop the War on Civilians in Sri Lanka" and available on the AIUSA website. You'll clearly see there that AI criticizes both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government for their abuses against civilians during the current war. To respond to one of Visakha Devi's questions, I don't believe that AI has issued a public statement about the recent killing of civilians in the south of Sri Lanka. We don't necessarily issue public statements every time the Sri Lankan government or the LTTE deliberately kills civilians. That doesn't mean that we're biased in favor of the government or the Tigers.

  12. I’d respond to these comments by quoting from my post above: “The Tigers in particular must allow the civilians under their control the ability to choose to stay in the area or to leave without being harmed.” Go read the AI briefing paper entitled “Stop the War on Civilians in Sri Lanka” and available on the AIUSA website. You’ll clearly see there that AI criticizes both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government for their abuses against civilians during the current war. To respond to one of Visakha Devi’s questions, I don’t believe that AI has issued a public statement about the recent killing of civilians in the south of Sri Lanka. We don’t necessarily issue public statements every time the Sri Lankan government or the LTTE deliberately kills civilians. That doesn’t mean that we’re biased in favor of the government or the Tigers.