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President meets Eric Solheim as religious leaders condemn violence
Saturday, 16 June 2007 - 8:35 AM SL Time
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The Sri Lankan president met with a Norwegian peace broker in Geneva on Friday to discuss the worsening conflict as religious leaders in Colombo denounced recent human rights violations. Leaders of Sri Lanka - `s four major religions called for the government to accept responsibility for a recent wave of human rights violations as violence between rebel and military forces has worsened.
``The government should not only accept total responsibility but also immediately take all measures to identify and punish the perpetrators according to the laws of our country,`` said a statement signed by the prominent Buddhist monk Wimalarathana and Archbishop Oswald Gomis, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka - .
Hindu and Muslim leaders said they agreed with the statement, which was issued at a joint press conference by the Congress of Religions.
``We are so worried about the slaughter,`` Gomis said at a press conference. ``If this continues Sri Lanka - will become a country renowned for cruelty.``
On Thursday, a Brussels-based think tank issued a dire report about the Sri Lankan political situation, citing a rise in government authoritarianism, officially-sponsored extrajudicial killings and abductions, and a war spiraling out of control.
The International Crisis Group said in the past year, more than 1,500 people were killed, 250,000 displaced and 1,000 disappeared.
``The counterinsurgency campaign is leading to more authoritarianism in the country as a whole,`` the report said.
The group also blamed the international community for failing to work together to resolve the crisis, calling the response ``disjointed and lackluster.``
As violence between Tamil separatists and government forces has increased in the past 19 months on this war-torn island, activists have documented a wave of alleged human rights abuses, including the August 2006 killings of 17 employees of the French aid group Action Against Hunger.
``We are deeply saddened by the displacements, abductions and murder of innocent and helpless civilians. We strongly condemn such irreligious and inhuman actions,`` the statement said.
Gomis said the group had spoken to rebel leaders to argue that a ``military solution or terrorist activities are not going to help.``
``We hope that the two parties will listen to our voice,`` he said.
The religious leaders said they welcomed the government`s apology for last week`s temporary expulsion of hundreds of ethnic Tamils from the capital, but said the issue was not settled.
``We firmly request that those responsible for such shortsighted decisions be dealt with appropriately as such grave actions cannot be swept under the carpet by a mere apology,`` the statement said.
The 3.1 million Tamils in Sri Lanka - are largely Hindu, while the majority Sinhalese population is Buddhist.
Also on Friday, the military said they killed one Tamil Tiger rebel and wounded two in a shootout in the restive north, as troops seized 10 land mines from suspected rebel camps in the east.
Both incidents occurred Thursday night and no soldiers were hurt, said a military official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The separatist rebels did not immediately comment.
Violence has escalated in the Indian Ocean island nation, claiming more than 5,000 lives in the past 19 months despite a 2002 cease-fire that effectively exists only on paper.
European and Japanese envoys have made repeatedly tried to persuade the government and rebels to return to peace talks.
The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland in the north and east for the country`s ethnic minority Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by successive Sinhalese-majority governments.
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AnuD
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16 Jun 2007 01:41:10 GMT Report for Abuse
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What I really want to know is how these other religious Leaders,(I mean should be from one religion)presented the case. So that, Chief monks had to agree to this press release or so.
Preists have presented it so nicely.
Edited By - AnuD - 16 Jun 2007 01:42:31 GMT |
Pera
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16 Jun 2007 01:46:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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The 3.1 million Tamils in Sri Lanka
now only 1.5 million.
VP killed the rest
PERA |
jacktheliger
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16 Jun 2007 01:46:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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Hey AnuD, come on man it says:
said a statement signed by the prominent Buddhist monk Wimalarathana and Archbishop Oswald Gomis
and
Hindu and Muslim leaders said they agreed with the statement, which was issued at a joint press conference by the Congress of Religions.
Edited By - jacktheliger - 16 Jun 2007 01:46:59 G |
chinthanaya
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16 Jun 2007 01:53:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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''We are so worried about the slaughter,'' Gomis said at a press conference. ''If this continues Sri Lanka - will become a country renowned for cruelty.''
Already became a country for cruelty! Great achievement of MR and Bros 18 months rule! |
Pera
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16 Jun 2007 01:54:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gomissa,
His Excelency repiles to you from Genva:
No room for terrorism
President tells 96th ILO Sessions:
SWITZERLAND: The Government is not prepared, at any cost, to bow down to terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared yesterday.
Terrorism has no place in the contemporary world, President Rajapaksa told the International Labour Organisation?s 96th session in Geneva.
He said The LTTE, a known ruthless terrorist organisation continues to challenge the Government, determined to force it to compromise on the standards that have been developed over the years.
?Would any of your Governments submit to terrorism had they been in our position?,? the President questioned adding, ?There can be no room for extremism, and even less for violence.?
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punchipraba
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16 Jun 2007 01:55:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Well now this is a smart thing to talk. but don't listen to that bastard. I don't know whats with Norwegians because they enjoy screwing us big time.
Build up the image by making high profile visits.
Spend more money on covert operations targeted to kill VP and the top peace opposer's. Then we could talk real peace. In the meantime we should give Eastern province more and more aid to show the good faith. |
tamilcanuck
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16 Jun 2007 01:57:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Small steps in trying to stop the banana republic hitting rock bottom. one can only print money to a certain extent.
the Rs keeps sliding along with the economy. once it hits a sweet spot the war will come to a grinding halt. lets hope the sweet spot is near! if canada also cuts aid like mentioned in parliament today things would be just moving along nicely! |
MaKaSo
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16 Jun 2007 01:57:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gomis said the group had spoken to rebel leaders to argue that a ''military solution or terrorist activities are not going to help.''
LTTE knows it better than anyone. Terrorism is the only thing they know to make a living. |
Pillayan
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16 Jun 2007 01:58:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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It is good to see MR in BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/06/070615_amnesty.shtml
It is enough to see MR is fabricating some story. I read one of his interview he is the stupid Dutukemunu as far as I know. I cannot imagine how peoples stupid who elect him |
Pera
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16 Jun 2007 02:00:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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the Rs keeps sliding along with the economy. once it hits a sweet spot the war will come to a grinding halt. lets hope the sweet spot is near! if canada also cuts aid like mentioned in parliament today things would be just moving along nicely!
same OLD song sung by stupid canucks since Ellalan's time :)
PERA |
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