UN welcomes safe passage

Ban Ki Moon
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The Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon welcomes President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s announcement of safe passage for all civilians trapped in
the area of intense fighting in the North to a secure environment, said
a statement issued by the UN office in Geneva. The Secretary-General
calls upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in particular, to allow
civilians in the conflict zone to move to where they feel most secure,
including areas controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka, it further
said.
The statement added:
“However, he continues to be concerned by the threat to the estimated
250,000 civilians caught in the area, who are in close proximity to the
fighting. He urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to do all in their power to make this safe passage
a reality, and to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with
international humanitarian law.
“The Secretary-General calls upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam, in particular, to allow civilians in the conflict zone to move to
where they feel most secure, including areas controlled by the
Government of Sri Lanka.
He also calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that those
civilians arriving from the Vanni and other conflict areas are treated
in accordance with international standards. Such standards include
guaranteeing their freedom of movement, providing basic services and
allowing full access by humanitarian agencies. For its part, the United
Nations stands ready to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.
“The Secretary-General strongly underlines the need for urgent steps
towards a speedy and orderly end to the fighting.”
Being acutely conscious of the welfare of the civilians forcibly
being held in the conflict zone by the LTTE, we have declared a safe
zone for civilians. I urge the LTTE within the next 48 hours to allow
free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement issued Thursday evening.
“I urge the LTTE, within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of
civilians to ensure their safety and security.
For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure
environment. I also assure all those living in the North and in conflict
areas in particular, that vacating LTTE held areas will ensure the
physical, security and enable peace, freedom and rights for all citizens
of the country.”
“I urge the LTTE, within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of
civilians to ensure their safety and security.
For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure
environment. I also assure all those living in the North and in conflict
areas in particular, that vacating LTTE held areas will ensure the
physical, security and enable peace, freedom and rights for all citizens
of the country,” the President said. |