Sri Lanka Forces Continue Abductions, Killings

In Jaffna, Sri Lanka, at least 21 civilians have been killed and 18 abducted over 15 days of August, according to the Jaffna Human Rights Commission. Over the past 21 months, 5,200 Tamils have been killed, thousands have been abducted and over 500,000 people have been placed in temporary shelters.

Human Rights Watch has called for a UN human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to help to protect civilians, end impunity and promote a resolution to the conflict. The Sri Lankan government denies the claims of human-rights abuses.

Sri Lanka in a civil war since 1983, with the rebels fighting to create an ethnic Tamil homeland in the north and east against the majority Sinhalese government. More than 70,000 people have been killed.

This week, Sri Lankan fighter jets destroyed a separatist camp in the north. The Tamil Tiger sea camp had been identified as an arms and explosives supply center for the insurgents. Also this week, rebels killed four police commandos in an hour-long battle in the eastern Ampara district.

Both sides continue to violate the official cease-fire, but neither side has officially abrogated it.

For more information, please see:

http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/tns_8495.shtml

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/human-rights-group-says-sri-lankan/n20070806174809990002

http://www.hrw.org/wr2k/Asia-08.htm

Author: Impunity Watch Archive