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Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 10.00 GMT |
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Britain condemns LTTE brutality in Buttala |
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Britain has strongly condemned the LTTE
massacre of civilians in a remote village in
Buttala, killing 8 villagers, including 3
women and 2 children.
The condemnation came in a telephone
conversation the British Foreign Secretary
David Miliband had with Foreign Minister
Rohitha Bogollagama on Monday (13), when he
requested his condolences to be conveyed to
the bereaved families.
The British Minister welcomed the Government
of Sri Lanka’s announcement of a pause in
hostilities for the period of the Sinhala
and Tamil New Year, states a Media Release
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Colombo.
Minister Bogollagama, while appreciating
British Minister’s remarks, emphasized the
purpose of the pause was to enable civilians
to free themselves from the clutches of the
LTTE, which has entrapped over 60,000
civilians as hostages in the No-Fire Zone.
He also stated that over 65,000 civilians
have already crossed over to the cleared
areas. Despite this goodwill humanitarian
gesture by the Government, the LTTE is yet
to respond positively.
The British Foreign Secretary, while
condemning the brutality of the LTTE,
requested the Government of Sri Lanka to
consider a longer period of the pause to
enable the civilians to move out of the LTTE
held areas.
Minister Bogollagama emphasized that a
longer pause was not possible because the
LTTE has so far failed to demonstrate any
genuine goodwill on its part in allowing the
civilians to have free movement and there
was concern that the LTTE would continue to
consolidate its fortification of the No-Fire
Zone.
In this context, he urged the United Kingdom
and the international community to bring
adequate pressure on the LTTE to free the
civilians.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that the
way forward lies for the LTTE to heed the
call by the international community to
immediately lay down its weapons and
surrender, and renounce violence and
terrorism permanently, which would
facilitate it to enter the democratic
political process.
Foreign Secretary Miliband emphasized the
British Government’s intention to remain
engaged with Sri Lanka through the services
of a special envoy at an appropriate time.
Minister Bogollagama informed him that the
current stand of the Government of Sri Lanka
remains unchanged in not recognizing the
appointment of a special envoy by Britain.
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