David Miliband raised doubts about whether Colombo could be trusted at the moment to use a $1.9 billion loan from the IMF appropriately. Miliband is the first foreign official to condemn the civilian killings.
Miliband raised doubts about whether Colombo could be trusted at the moment to use a $1.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund appropriately. In response to a question from press on IMF loan, he said “sorry, in respect to the IMF, I think you'll find that the issue is not coming up at the IMF today...it's essential that any govt is able to show that it will use any imf money in a responsible and appropriate way, and as I explained in the House of Commons last week, I don't that that's here the case.”
Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will host a meeting on Monday of concerned U.N. delegations and non-governmental organizations active on the ground at which they hope to increase pressure on Colombo to protect civilians and allow journalists and aid workers into the conflict zone.
"Our message is a simple one, which is that the killing must stop," Miliband said. "The civilians trapped in the zone, up to 50,000 in an area of just 3 square kilometers (1.6 square miles) are the victims of what at the moment is a war without witness."
Security Council Inaction
Diplomats on the 15-nation Security Council have said Japan, China, Russia and Vietnam oppose formal council discussion of Sri Lanka, arguing that it is an internal matter for the Sri Lankan government but Miliband disagreed. “As you know, the issue has not yet been allowed onto the formal UN Security Council agenda. That's why we'll be having a range of meetings on the side of the formal meeting on the Middle East... merits the attention of the UN at all levels. The Secretary General has already sent his rep to Sri Lanka, the lack of access for the UN and its agencies remains a major concern.”
"I believe very, very strongly that the civilian situation in the northeast of Sri Lanka merits the attention of the United Nations at all levels," he said, calling it a "civilian catastrophe."
The Security Council has held several informal meetings on Sri Lanka but has taken no action. Council diplomats said after an April 30 meeting that members agreed there was no point in punishing the Sri Lankan government, despite concerns that it has not taken sufficient precautions to protect civilians.
U.S. officials said last month they wanted to delay a $1.9 billion IMF loan Sri Lanka is hoping to get to pressure the government to do more to help the civilians trapped in the conflict zone. Miliband indicated that he supported this view.
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Thanking you Britain, France, Austria and other European countries.
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tamileelam
japan and china have got contracts to maintain the famous colombo harbour, build roads and bridges. Also build generators which was a crap. That is the reason they are supporting sri lanka. Taking this into account the western civilized countries should help the Tamils If theyt are not allowing to discuss this in UN please please change the laws immediately.
Thanking you Britain, France, Austria and other European countries.
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all tamils must boycott jappan and chinese product such as car,tv.etc