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UN Should Not Fail in LibyaLike it Failed in Sri Lankaby Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, PRWeb, February 25, 2011
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 25, 2011 Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) today urged the United Nations not to fail in protecting Libyan civilians like it failed to protect Sri Lankan civilians in 2009, when around 60,000 Tamil civilians were killed. The failure of the international community to take concrete actions to protect civilians in Sri Lanka has given the green light to regimes around the world that they can also massacre civilians without any fear of consequences. "What we are witnessing today in Libya is the result of indifference the international community exhibited during the massacre in Sri Lanka and not brining Sri Lankan leaders to face war crimes charges", said Political and Foreign Minister of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Mr. Thanikasalam Thayaparan. "UN should take immediate steps to bring Sri Lanka leaders to Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and War Crimes to show its resolve to hold those committing mass killings." According to Mr. Thayaparan, during the massacre of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, UN Security Council also held meetings, like its holding meetings on Libya. But those meetings did not prevent the killings. He further added that, even the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held an emergency session, like its holding on Libya. But instead of taking strong steps to prevent the massacre, UNHRC congratulated the Sri Lankan Government for its actions, he said. Even the repeated appeals by several world leaders were rejected by the Sri Lankan Government and it went on killing spree of Tamil civilians, said Mr. Thayaparan. Failure to bring Sri Lankan leaders to face Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and War Crimes charges is embolding dictators like Gadhafi and sending a strong message that they can also kill without fear of any consequences, said Mr.Thayaparan. According to Mr. Thayaparan, in Sri Lanka around 60,000 Tamil civilians were massacred in the final stages of the war that ended in May 2009. He further said that hospitals were repeatedly bombed and food was prevented from reaching trapped Tamil civilians. According to the United Nations, several died due to starvation. The International Red Cross (ICRC) was prevented from treating injured civilians, resulting in numerous people having bled to death, he said. When Tamil civilians fled, they were kept in concentration camps. Several of these civilians were taken from these camps and executed. Several women were raped, said Mr. Thayaparan. According to Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, who delivered a statement on May 26, 2009, on behalf of all UN Special Procedures mandate holders: "The Government of Sri Lanka…. after three months continues to detain in temporary camps the more than 300,000 men, women and children who escaped fighting….We deplore that in the camps some have already died from starvation or malnutrition." Government forces repeatedly shelled densely populated areas, including at least 30 attacks on hospitals, in the government declared "no-fire area" where it had urged civilians to take shelter. Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a democratically elected body of the Tamil diaspora from the island of Sri Lanka. TGTE held elections in 12 countries to elect Members of Parliament. The Parliament drafted and ratified its Constitution, elected a Prime Minister, a Speaker, and a 10 member Cabinet. Visit us at http://www.TGTE-US.org or http://www.TGTE.ORG |
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