International Crisis Group asks LTTE to give up separatism | Irish Sun

International Crisis Group asks LTTE to give up separatism

Irish Sun (IANS) Thursday 21st February, 2008

An international peace advocacy group has asked the Tamil Tiger rebels to eschew terrorism, formally abandon separatism, and announce an intention to negotiate a political settlement within a united Sri Lanka.

The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) in its latest report on Sri Lanka, called upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to 'cease all attacks on civilians, suicide bombings, forced recruitment, and repression of media freedom and political dissent, and respect fully, international human rights and humanitarian law.'

It went on to urge the LTTE to 'abandon publicly, the demand for an independent Tamil state (Eelam), and announce willingness to negotiate within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.'

The ICG asked the Sri Lankan government to conduct its military operations in strict accordance with international law, guarantee full and prompt access for UN agencies and humanitarian organizations with adequate supplies, to LTTE-controlled areas.

It urged the government to defend UN agencies and international humanitarian organizations against 'unfounded' allegations by hard line politicians and accept the call for setting up a country office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR).

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