In Sri Lanka, Broken Truce Called a 'Crisis'

The Associated Press

August 28, 2006

COLOMBO At least 200 civilians have been killed in two months of fighting between Sri Lankan soldiers and separatist Tamil rebels, and both sides are to blame, European cease-fire monitors said Thursday.

Since large-scale hostilities broke out in late July, "over 200 civilians have been killed and several thousand are internally displaced, creating a serious humanitarian crisis," the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in a report sent to the government and to leaders of the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The monitors accused both sides of serious violations of the cease-fire, including denying people access to food, and preventing monitors and aid workers from accessing areas of conflict.

"The gravity of the violations have led to a dangerous escalation in hostilities," the monitors said in the report.

"It is important that the parties realize the seriousness of the current situation and do whatever there is in their power to move forward instead of engaging in military confrontation," they said.

The fighting started with a government offensive in eastern Sri Lanka that sought to open an irrigation reservoir closed by the Tamil Tiger rebels. As the conflict spread to other areas, the government captured some strategic territories held by the rebels in the north and east.

More than 1,000 people have died in the fighting, including at least 200 civilians, the report said. Some 220,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.