[mukto-mona] Media Release-CivilianKillings27/11/07

National Peace Council
of Sri Lanka

12/14 Purana Vihara Road
Colombo 6
Tel:  2818344, 2854127, 2819064
Tel/Fax:2819064
                 E Mail:  npc@sltnet.lk
Internet:  www.peace-srilanka.org

29.11.07
 

Media Release


TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IS PROHIBITED

The chilling spectre of suspected LTTE bombing in Colombo has re-emerged with the two bomb attacks that have claimed at least 19 lives and injured dozens. First was the suicide attack at the office of the Ministry of Social Services in the vicinity of a school apparently targeting Minister Douglas Devananda, which killed two and injured three persons. Second was the bomb attack in a department store in a suburb of Colombo that killed 17 persons and injured upwards of 30 persons, mostly working class people during rush hour on a main road.  The fear of more such attacks has led to the closure of all schools in Colombo and the Western Province for the rest of this week.

The Colombo attacks appear part of a larger pattern in which civilians are being made victims of the escalating conflict.  The killing of 11 school children and 2 adults in the LTTE-controlled Wanni the previous day by a remotely detonated claymore mine that the LTTE has attributed to the Sri Lankan security forces and an air force raid on the Voice of Tiger radio facility that resulted in the killing of 9 persons including civilians living in the vicinity are a part of this tragedy.  A few days earlier 4 civilians were killed by an armed group suspected to be LTTE fired on them near Anuradhapura in an area that borders the north.  The National Peace Council condemns these ruthless actions taken against non-combatants which are forbidden by international humanitarian and human rights law.

These violent incidents highlight a disturbing and re-emerging trend in which civilians are being targeted.  The Sri Lankan constitution states that "No person shall be punished with death or imprisonment except by order of a competent court made in accordance with procedure established by law."  (Article 13).  Sri Lanka is also a signatory to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that "Every human being has the inherent right to life.  This right shall be protected by law.  No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life." (Article 6).

While mourning the tragic loss of life suffered by hapless civilians in Colombo, Anuradhapura and the Wanni, we must also turn our thoughts to the losses suffered by people especially in the north and east in the course of the escalation of fighting over the past two years.  There are reports of civilians dying as a result of air bombing and artillery cross-firing between the government forces and LTTE.  The National Peace Council urges all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilian lives by following the Geneva Conventions and by reining in their war machines, both of which are necessary if we are to achieve a just and peaceful society in the future.

 
Executive Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
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