The US State Department and other foreign governments are calling for the Sri Lankan government to allow humanitarian aid into coastal strip in Vanni, part of northern Sri Lanka. U.S. officials estimate that at least 60,000 civilians are trapped without food and water and are subject to hostile fire.
The situation in Vanni is alarming, International Red Cross Director of Operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl is calling it as "nothing short of catastrophic." The State Department officials said they have credible reports of increasing casualties, and said the massive concentration of people living out in the open or in tents on the northern coastal strip has resulted in a humanitarian disaster. Tamil National Reporter describing the situation in Vanni in the aftermath of the Monday's offensive said "horrendous." He said bodies strewn everywhere, people are panic stricken not knowing what to do, nobody to bury the dead bodies or lift the seriously wounded. They are without food for many days and so weak, they are susceptible even for small injuries.International aid agencies have been refused permission to enter the safe zone for months now, except for ICRC. Urgently needed medical supplies and anesthesia were not allowed in, doctors are using primitive methods to treat the injured and they are worn out.
Tamil Diaspora was desperately trying to attract the International community with hard proof on the civilian sufferings, Human Right Watch, ICRC and International Crisis Group, were sounding the alarm bells from last February and called for urgent attention to cease the situtaion. Videos of dead and seriously injured civilians, interviews with exhausted ICRC doctors, and other remaining government officials were released to attest the situation. Regardless of all hard proof, the UN and the international community have failed to act and allowed a bad situation to a worse. In taking it the Security Council, member intersts prevailed than the humanitarian crisis.
On Tuesday, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Michael Owen said the world's longest running active conflict appears to be at a decisive point.
"We see the potential for major developments within the next 48 hours," said Michael Owen. "We urge both parties to exercise maximum restraint to protect civilians who are trapped by the fighting and allow free movement of civilians out of the conflict zone. We also urge the government of Sri Lanka to permit the international community to monitor the situation and to assist in ensuring humanitarian standards for the refugees."
US State Department appealed to Sri Lankan government for restraint and patience in dealing with LTTE holdouts, and to seek a diplomatic end to the fighting.
State Dept Spokesman Robert Wood opened the daily press briefing with an appeal to the Sri Lankan government to let international aid in, refrain from "indiscriminate fire" and to reach a "diplomatic solution with the Tamil Tigers."
He said "firing into the No-Fire Zone continues to be a major problem, U.S. calls on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to Refrain from Indiscriminate Firing and Shelling, U.S. Urges the Government of Sri Lank to allow the UN and ICRC to access all sites Where internal displaced persons are being processed and provided shelter."
He further added that the U.S. is engaged with Sri Lankan officials at the highest levels in an attempt to resolve the crisis."Ambassador Blake is in daily communication with senior Sri Lankan Military and Government Officials, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating restraint and patience, Secretary Clinton has raised issue with her Counterparts in Various meetings," he said.
International Community is focused on trying to end conflict and protect the civilians. Tamil National reporter reporting from Vanni a day back said the civilians there are appealing for immediate international action to halt the fighting, they believe an urgent action, not listening and showing verbal concern can prevent them from the looming threat of life.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is under great international pressure to allow aid into the zone. A joint statement is expected Wednesday morning from interested governments, such as the U.S., Britain, Japan and Norway.
U.S. diplomats are working to persuade President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government to "protect its own interests" by letting the aid in and to reach a peaceful resolution with the LTTE in order to stabilize the country.
President Rajapakse's strategy to deal with international pressure is yet to be seen, amid relying on the war result for election victory and hoping for early presidential election to harvest the war victory. Sri Lankan politicos for decades were horning the ethnic sentiments and war results for election victories.
A US State Department official said Colombo authorities believe they can defeat the LTTE remnants in the next few days. He said the way the war ends either with bloodshed or a peaceful stand down "will have major implications" for long-term peace and ethnic tranquility in Sri Lanka.
However, Teresita Schaffer, a former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka and head of CSIS South Asia Program, said the government has "no interest" in any kind of diplomatic solution to reach a peace agreement with the rebels, and that although the Tigers are in retreat, their tenacity should not be underestimated.
"When you’re dealing with asymmetric warfare, insurgents are a weaker power by any normal measure, but the Tigers have nothing to lose,” said Schaffer, who was ambassador from 1992 to 1995. She described the Sri Lankan president as "all tactics and no strategy," said Schaffer.
The government gave the Tamil Tigers a 24-hour ultimatum Monday to surrender, or government forces would enter the zone. State Department Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters there were credible reports of continued firing on both sides into the no-fire zone and appealed for both sides to allow civilians to evacuate the conflict area.
Assistant Secretary Owen said the latest estimates are that 35,000 civilians were able to flee the area Monday. No international media is allowed into the zone and the State Department is relying on government figures and third-hand accounts.
News Analyzed by Chief Editor, Tamil National Network, [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
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