SRI LANKAN REGIME USES FOOD AS A WEAPON OF WAR AGAINST TAMILS
The Sri Lankan Government’s closure of the A9 Highway in August this year is part of an appalling attempt to use food as a weapon of war. It is indeed a war crime and calls for immediate condemnation. The A9 is the only route through which food and other essential items can be transported to the North of the island. According to The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) “The closure of A9 road, the only trunk road to Jaffna from rest of Sri Lanka, halted the flow of essential food provisions and medical supplies to Jaffna Peninsula…. the Sri Lankan government has imposed an undeclared embargo on humanitarian assistances”
The closing of this highway is an obviously deliberate measure to inflict suffering and beat the Tamils into submission. The highway was closed in August this year. Tamil Parliamentarians and the LTTE have called on the Government to re-open the highway. Just last week, the LTTE repeated this call in Geneva in the presence of the Norwegian facilitators when it met the Sri Lankan delegation face to face.
According to the Norwegian facilitator, Eric Solheiem “The LTTE requested the A9 to be opened. The Government refused to do so”
In addition, Government forces have physically attacked aid agencies and Non Governmental Agencies working in the Tamil Homeland forcing several agencies, including Oxfam, Care and Caritas, to temporarily suspend their relief operations. In the worst case of attacks on aid workers, 17 employees of Action Contre La Faim or Action Against Hunger were killed on 5 August 2006 at Muttur town in Trincomalee district.
The Sri Lankan Government’s objective is to compel the NGO and aid agencies to leave the Tamil Homeland. This is designed to render the Tamil people destitute and force them to submit to the Government’s will. We are appalled that food is being used as a weapon of war by the Sri Lankan regime.
According to the International Educational Development (IED) a Non Governmental Organisation “The level of the armed conflict has created a humanitarian nightmare, not only because of the massive numbers of displaced civilians but also because to the serious restrictions to the movement of food, water and basic provisions to all affected by the war – which in itself may result in serious war crimes chargeable to the government of Sri Lanka”
Almost five years ago, following the signing of the Cease-Fire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), this highway was re-opened. As such this closure is an ominous indication that the Sri Lankan regime is about to embark on a full scale war. We call upon the Australian Government to persuade the Sri Lankan regime to re-open the highway and begin negotiations with the LTTE to reach an enduring political solution.
