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Sri Lanka: "A bloodbath on the beaches, a real possibility" (John Holmes)

904 views · Published 8 April 2009 · 1:24 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: United Nations · 2009 · News & Politics

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United Nations, New York, 8 April 2009 - Daily Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General. A bloodbath on the beaches of northern Sri Lanka seems an increasingly real possibility. That's according to an op-ed by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, which was published today in The Guardian.
Holmes says that a full-scale, long-term ceasefire is unlikely to be agreed now. Therefore, the only way to get civilians out of harm's way is a temporary humanitarian lull, during which aid workers and relief supplies are allowed into the conflict zone, and those who want to leave are given the chance to do so. Both sides have a duty to bring this about, he stresses.
Holmes says that, if the Tamil Tigers truly have the best interests of the Tamil people at heart, they should contribute to ending the unnecessary civilian suffering. 
For its part, he adds, the Government of Sri Lanka must stick to its promise of not using heavy weapons while the fighting lasts, and hold off from any final attack in the conflict zone while the pause is negotiated.
With thousands of lives in the balance and the clock ticking, the time for decisive action by the Government, the Tamil Tigers and the international community is now, before it is too late, Holmes concludes.

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