GSP Plus: Contribution to the investigation :"Crimes against humanity" - AN APPEAL TO EU:

Sri Lanka : GSP Plus: Contribution to the investigation :
"Crimes against humanity"

To: catherine.ashton@ec.europa.eu

Cc: Benita.FERRERO-WALDNER@ec.europa.eu, Joao-Luis.Aguiar-
Machado@ec.europa.eu, europaausschuss@bundestag.de,
Peter.Hill@ec.europa.eu, Andra.KOKE@ec.europa.eu,
Pierre.Philippe@ec.europa.eu, Rosamaria.Gili@ec.europa.eu,
robertevansmep@yahoo.co.uk, jean.lambert@europarl.europa.eu,
robert.goebbels@europarl.europa.eu, Catriona.Carmody@ec.europa.eu,
Peter.Power@ec.europa.eu, Michael.Jennings@ec.europa.eu,
Richard.Atraktzi@fco.gov.uk

Hon. Ms. Catherine Ashton
The Commissioner for Trade, EU.
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi-Wetstraat
B-1049 Brussels , Belgium

Dear Madam,
re:Sri Lanka : GSP Plus: Contribution to the investigation : "Crimes
against humanity"

a) A video, seemingly taken using a mobile phone, shows Sri Lankan
troops on the battlefield making fun of the body of a dead female
Tamil Tiger cadre while explosions and gunshots can be heard in the
background.

The Asian Human Rights Commission in a statement on its website about
the video said "as described in the videos, the naked body of this
person is so gruesomely and disrespectfully treated in a manner that
is too difficult to describe".

The AHRC further said judging by the language used, the physical
features and the names by which the persons addressed each other and
their dress it was not difficult to identify the perpetrators. (http://
www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=36719)

b) In the year of 2008, 1009 have been abducted in the Jaffna
peninsula, home to 450000 Tamils, according to cases filed at the
Jaffna human rights council. It is feared another 2000 were also
abducted that was not reported in Jaffna in 2008.

c) Indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombing, even using cluster
bombs, taking huge toll of civilians:

On Wednesday, 17 December 2008 a 5-month-old child and a 25-year-old
male were killed and 13 other refugees including three children were
wounded when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets bombed refugee
settlements in Vaddakkachchi four times.
On Friday, 19 December 2008, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers
attacked civilian settlements in Mullivaikaal village in the morning
and at noon causing injuries to 11 civilians, including 6 children. On
the same day the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had also fired artillery shells
on the Mullaitivu General Hospital injuring two members of the medical
staff and causing extensive damage to the hospital complex.
On Saturday, 20 December 2008 the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling killed
2 civilians in Vaddakkachchi in Kilinochchi. From morning the SLA
artillery fire had targeted civilian settlements in Vaddakkachchi and
Kilinochchi destroying several houses. On the same day the Sri Lanka
Air Force (SLAF) bombers had also attacked a coastal area in
Mullaitivu where thousands of recently displaced civilians had
established temporary shelters. The bombers dropped eight bombs on
fishing huts and boats.
On Thursday, 25 December 2008, Christmas Day, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)
fired artillery shells targeting the Kilinochchi General Hospital
causing damage to the hospital buildings and narrowly missing several
hospital staff, including the Medical Superintendent of Kilinochchi.
On Saturday, 27 December 2008 the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets
bombed the Iyakkachchi, Iranamadu and Vaddakkachchi areas targeting
three civilian settlements killing a 24-year-old woman and seriously
injuring ten persons, including an 18-year-old girl who lost both her
legs.
On Tuesday, 30 December 2008, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery
shells hitting the Kilinochchi hospital causing damage to the
building.
On Wednesday, 31 December 2008 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers
attacked a civilian settlement in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan -
Mullaitivu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the
spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his
injuries at the hospital. 16 civilians, including a couple, were
wounded. The Sri Lanka Armed Forces also targeted fleeing civilians,
Internally Displaced Person's huts in Karaichchi, a school, temple and
agricultural lands on the same day.
On Thursday, 01 January 2009, New Years Day, the Sri Lanka Air Force
(SLAF) bombers again attacked Murasumoaddai on Paranthan-Mullaitivu
Road thrice and bombed the next junction at Kandaavalai, while
hundreds of civilians were fleeing due to the previous day attacks at
Murasumoaddai. Two civilians, a 60-year-old mother and a 20-year-old
male were injured in the attack on the densely populated junction.
Three shops were fully destroyed and six shops damaged.
On Friday, 02 January 2009 two persons who accompanied a convoy of
ambulances from Puthukkudiruppu to Vavuniya were wounded when Sri
Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells at Mannaakandal. The two
ambulances with 13 civilians with serious injuries, being transferred
from Tharmapuram and Puthukkudiyiruppu hospitals to Vavuniya hospital,
were targeted after clearance had been obtained through the ICRC. On
the same day Artillery shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) killed a
civilian and wounded at least 10 civilians at 3rd Mile Post in
Murasumoaddai. Another civilian was wounded at Pannangkandi due to SLA
shelling. The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers also attacked a
petrol station and a bus depot killing four civilians and causing
injuries to 8 close to Mullaitivu hospital. 8 buses were destroyed and
the depot building was damaged and the petrol station completely
destroyed.
On Saturday, 03 January 2009 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling continued
to target densely populated civilian area in Puliaympokkanai in Vanni
where a 61-year-old civilian was wounded when at least 6 shells hit
the settlement.
All these violate not just 27 conventions set by EU, but other
international conventions:

Sri Lanka is targeting of Tamil civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Sri Lankan State has also imposed stringent economic, food and medical
embargos
These are not only War Crimes in contravention of the Geneva
Conventions but are also a part of a policy of Genocide that the Sri
Lankan State has been carrying out against the Tamil people.

Sri Lanka should be isolated and economic embargo must be imposed.


Thanks
Ganes Selva
Canada

Reference:

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27900
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27884
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27874