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US Representatives Press the State Department to do more in Sri Lanka to Protect Civilians March 12th, 2009
Thirty-eight members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton calling for active leadership to protect civilians in the conflict and to press the GOSL to allow aid workers and journalists into the conflict area to minister to their needs. A similar letter was sent to Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations.
Read the letter to Secretary Clinton (Download PDF)
Read the letter to Ambassador Rice (Download PDF)
Senator Casey Expresses Alarm Over Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka March 11th, 2009
In a letter organized by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), seven U.S. Senators wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on March 11 with their acute concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka. As many as 330,000 civilians remain trapped in an area of intense combat between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“The situation in Sri Lanka is unacceptable and must be remedied as quickly as possible,” the Senators wrote.
The Senators went on to write, “An enduring peace can be achieved only through a political solution that treats the Tamil minority as equal citizens under the law. Without such an agreement, the violence will only continue.”
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Support Humanitarian Relief and a Political Settlement in Sri Lanka March 5th, 2009
Please ask your Representative to join this action to support humanitarian relief and a political settlement in Sri Lanka. Sign-ons are being accepted until noon on Monday, March 9th. See details below.
Congressman Jim Moran is asking his congressional colleagues to join him in sending the following letters to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice urging them to continue steps to address the grave humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and to work for a sustainable political settlement after the decades-long fighting ends.
Up to 200,000 civilians are trapped in northern Sri Lanka, amid fighting between Sri Lankan Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Most have been cut off from outside food and medical supplies for weeks. Many have died from heavy artillery and air attacks and people are beginning to die of starvation. Human Rights Watch reports that 2,000 Tamil civilians have been killed since January, and 7,000 civilians have been wounded.
U.S. engagement thus far has achieved some important results. The Congressional action encourages further action to press for full protection of all civilians, greater engagement by United Nations agencies and others in humanitarian relief, and progress toward a lasting political settlement that includes ethnic Tamils in national governance. U.S. engagement both bilaterally with the Sri Lankan Government and at the United Nations is critical to saving lives and contributing to a better future for Sri Lanka, whose citizens have suffered greatly during a 25-year war.
Download PDF of Congressional letter to Secretary Clinton
Download PDF of Congressional letter to Ambassador Rice
Please tell your representative that to sign on, contact Tasha Manoranjan of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office at 225-2015 or Tasha.Manoranjan@mail.house.gov, or David Young of Rep. Jim Moran’s office at 225-3979 or david.young@mail.house.gov. The deadline to sign these letters is Monday March 9, at noon.
Senate Foreign Relations South Asia Subcommittee holds Hearing on Sri Lanka February 25th, 2009
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee room was standing room only on Tuesday afternoon for a Hearing called by the South Asia Subcommittee on “The Present Situation in Sri Lanka.” Senator Bob Casey (Dem-PA) chaired the Hearing.
The Honorable Jeffrey J. Lunstead, former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch, and Mr. Bob Dietz, Asia Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists presented testimony. Highlighted were the humanitarian crisis in the north (Vanni), problems associated with government camps established to intern civilians fleeing the fighting, and the increasingly brutal attacks against journalists. The need for a durable political solution to address the legitimate grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka was also emphasized.
Testimony:
The Honorable Jeffrey J. Lunstead
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Dr. Anna Neistat
Senior Researcher
Human Rights Watch
Mr. Bob Dietz
Asia Program Coordinator
Committee to Protect Journalists
Senator Leahy Calls for Both Sides in the Sri Lanka Conflict to Respect the Rights of Civilians February 12th, 2009
Senator Leahy has issued an important statement to the government and the LTTE in the on-going civil war in Sri Lanka. Detailing the actions of both sides that are causing untold suffering to the people, Senator Leahy calls for an immediate cease-fire, and the need for the government to address, “in negotiations which include all the main Tamil and Muslim parties, the core issues that have fueled the conflict including laws and policies that unfairly discriminate against Sri Lanka’s minorities.”
