High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns Sri Lanka bomb attack
April 10th, 2008
The High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has strongly condemned the suicide bombing which killed a Government minister and at least 14 other people at the start of a marathon in Sri Lanka, on 6 April. She also extended her condolences to the bereaved families of the victims, as the funerals of the victims continued to take place on Thursday.
The bomb, which killed Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, along with a former top marathon runner and the national athletics coach, as they were about to see off the runners in Weliweriya, also injured dozens of other athletes and onlookers.
“Such violence shows a complete disregard for the right to life and security of Sri Lankans, and breaches the most fundamental principles of international law,” Arbour said.
The attack is alleged to have been committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been accused of other recent attacks, including bombings of public transport and in other public places.
“I remind the LTTE and other armed groups that attacks which directly or indiscriminately target civilians are crimes under international law,” the High Commissioner said. “Violent attacks on people taking no active part in hostilities are strictly prohibited.” Such acts of violence also undermine efforts for a meaningful dialogue on improving the situation of the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka, she said.
[UNHCHR Press Release]
Entry Filed under: transCurrents News Service
8 Comments Add your own
1. Dominic | April 10th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Did She condemn TNA MP Sivenesan’s assassination by
Sri Lankan DPU ?
I wonder whether Sinhalas will still call her a Terrorist!
2. Jack Ranasinghe | April 11th, 2008 at 12:22 am
LOL
Since when is the ‘right to life’ a ‘human right?’
Methinks, Louise Arbour is trying too hard to be liked.
3. Sam Thambipillai | April 11th, 2008 at 4:52 am
The death of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is sad.
Every citizen should aspire to have justice, fairness, human rights, harmony, equitable treatment and peace.
When policies are forged by any state, based on injustice, unfairness, violation of human rights and unequal treatment of citizens, what could one expect? One “reaps what he sows”.
When war talk and fighting talk against Tamils continue to exist and inflamatory inciting statements and actions come from a government, attitudes will harden. Then what should one expect?
When churches are destroyed by the soldiers from the government What could one expect?
I agree with Louise Arbour that non combatants and civilians should be left unharmed.
Why is the government still defiant, arrogant and stubborn about not allowing the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission to be in Sri Lanka?
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is a Tamil. The government always uses and puts Tamils in danger. This is not at all giving dignity to Tamils. It is abusing Tamils to get support for the defiant and arrogant attitude of the government against the Tamil nation. Such action causes anger in Tamil nation which is facing repression from the state. This abuse should stop immediately.
4. Crazyoldmansl | April 11th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Dominic, it is clear that in the eyes of the world Tamils are not humans and hence have no human rights. That is whay the world is not just standing by but actively aiding their genocide.
5. Ranjith | April 13th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Yes, it is a crime against international law.
It is not a crime to bomb 80 tamil girls in th ophanage or rape and kill tamil girls in Jaffna. This is simply because Tamils are not human. Therefore killing tamils or raping is not even a petty crime,
But to kill a minister of sinhala racist regime is a terrriblr terrible crime!
When will the Tamils learn these truths
6. V Siva | April 13th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Why UN High Commissioner delays in sending a War Crimes Investgators team to Sri Lanka?
These types of statements will help no one.
Hundreds of thousands of Tamils were bombed, raped, tortured and killed, what the UN has done to date?
7. Karupiah | April 14th, 2008 at 8:36 am
She must have been living in the clouds all these years, how long have these animals been killing innocent politicians, thirty years now. They will kill 30 civilians without blinking to have one chance at silencing a strong wise pathetic, bring them to justice or let them explain their actions to the maker, karma will avenge Jeyaraj and the Sri lankan people.
8. Naga UK | April 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Talk of human rights only in the war-front or with respect to suicidal attacks? What about the break-down of law and order in other arenas of day-to-day life? Human rights, in my opinion, should be tackled from the grass-root level in order to think of the bigger picture. The administrative set-up of Sri Lanka blatantly violates all norms in this respect - mainly because inefficient, corrupt and incompetent administrators and executives are appointed to responsible positions. Most of them resort to discrimination only to hide their deficiencies. This leads to a heavy polarization and disenchantment and revulsion. This should be corrected in the first place. A fat hope indeed!
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