The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced today that it had been asked by the Sri Lankan government to scale down its operations in the country. The ICRC has worked in Sri Lanka for the past 20 years; their activities have included visiting political detainees as well as former fighters with the opposition Tamil Tigers in order to monitor their conditions of detention. The Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said today that the order was not only directed at the ICRC but at all international agencies; given that the fighting with the Tigers was over, all of the agencies were to now scale down their work.
In its statement today, the ICRC reaffirmed its commitment to address the humanitarian needs of the people affected by the recent conflict in Sri Lanka, which presumably includes the former fighters as well as the thousands of displaced civilians who are still held in government-run internment camps which they’re not permitted to leave. But as the ICRC cuts back on its operations, will it still be permitted to fulfill its commitment? Will there still be an independent third party to monitor the conditions in which both the displaced civilians as well as the former combatants are kept?
I wonder if this is a consequence of the Red Cross' closeness to the USA. I find it difficult to ask Tehran, Iran not to engage in behaviours that the USA became very well known for (and much worse) during the Iraq and Afghanistan "wars."
I feel paralized.
Peace
"the Commonwealth, the United Nations and even world cricketing organisations — should boycott Colombo until reconciliation begins. A nation cannot run concentration camps and expect the world to look away." – The Times, UK Editorial, July 10th 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_…
"the Commonwealth, the United Nations and even world cricketing organisations — should boycott Colombo until reconciliation begins. A nation cannot run concentration camps and expect the world to look away." – The Times, UK Editorial, July 10th 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_…
"the Commonwealth, the United Nations and even world cricketing organisations — should boycott Colombo until reconciliation begins. A nation cannot run concentration camps and expect the world to look away." – The Times, UK Editorial, July 10th 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_…
I wonder if this is a consequence of the Red Cross’ closeness to the USA. I find it difficult to ask Tehran, Iran not to engage in behaviours that the USA became very well known for (and much worse) during the Iraq and Afghanistan “wars.”
I feel paralized.
Peace
“the Commonwealth, the United Nations and even world cricketing organisations — should boycott Colombo until reconciliation begins. A nation cannot run concentration camps and expect the world to look away.” – The Times, UK Editorial, July 10th 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6676993.ece
I don't quite agree with this decision either….. There is no need for the government to tell a recognized organization as the ICRC to curtail operations in these areas. At least they can demarcate whom to curtail and whom not to, as we saw some INGO's helped the Terrorists some time back… But I strongly believe that ICRC, UN etc. should be allowed to operate in these areas. Specially East !
I don’t quite agree with this decision either….. There is no need for the government to tell a recognized organization as the ICRC to curtail operations in these areas. At least they can demarcate whom to curtail and whom not to, as we saw some INGO’s helped the Terrorists some time back… But I strongly believe that ICRC, UN etc. should be allowed to operate in these areas. Specially East !
Deborah, please don't feel uncomfortable. As an Iranian-American and human being, I believe my duty to protest the unlawful, inhuman or wrong behaviors of Iran (the list is so long!), the US (the list is now getting much shorter) and any other government that's brutal towards some or all of its people, whether in Burma, Sri Lanka, Egypt or Israel.
Deborah, please don’t feel uncomfortable. As an Iranian-American and human being, I believe my duty to protest the unlawful, inhuman or wrong behaviors of Iran (the list is so long!), the US (the list is now getting much shorter) and any other government that’s brutal towards some or all of its people, whether in Burma, Sri Lanka, Egypt or Israel.
One of the things I can say for certain about the ICRC is that they will continue to be a leader in promoting respect for life and human dignity. With the war over it is not surprising that the government of Sri Lanka would wish to quickly move forward with its development agenda. I am confident that ICRC continue to have an active involvement to promote community services development through its protection and promotion of humanitarian attitudes.
However, clearly in the immediate aftermath of the ending of the war, there is still much to be done to reduce human suffering and rebuilding wll go on for years from the destruction caused by the long war.
ICRC has an incredible exploring humanitarian law education program that can help people, especially young people begin to focus on positive changes. For more info – see the Teacher's guide http://pearsonfoundation-rc.org/redcross-ehl/
One of the things I can say for certain about the ICRC is that they will continue to be a leader in promoting respect for life and human dignity. With the war over it is not surprising that the government of Sri Lanka would wish to quickly move forward with its development agenda. I am confident that ICRC continue to have an active involvement to promote community services development through its protection and promotion of humanitarian attitudes.
However, clearly in the immediate aftermath of the ending of the war, there is still much to be done to reduce human suffering and rebuilding wll go on for years from the destruction caused by the long war.
ICRC has an incredible exploring humanitarian law education program that can help people, especially young people begin to focus on positive changes. For more info – see the Teacher's guide http://pearsonfoundation-rc.org/redcross-ehl/
One of the things I can say for certain about the ICRC is that they will continue to be a leader in promoting respect for life and human dignity. With the war over it is not surprising that the government of Sri Lanka would wish to quickly move forward with its development agenda. I am confident that ICRC continue to have an active involvement to promote community services development through its protection and promotion of humanitarian attitudes.
However, clearly in the immediate aftermath of the ending of the war, there is still much to be done to reduce human suffering and rebuilding wll go on for years from the destruction caused by the long war.
ICRC has an incredible exploring humanitarian law education program that can help people, especially young people begin to focus on positive changes. For more info – see the Teacher's guide http://pearsonfoundation-rc.org/redcross-ehl/
One of the things I can say for certain about the ICRC is that they will continue to be a leader in promoting respect for life and human dignity. With the war over it is not surprising that the government of Sri Lanka would wish to quickly move forward with its development agenda. I am confident that ICRC continue to have an active involvement to promote community services development through its protection and promotion of humanitarian attitudes.
However, clearly in the immediate aftermath of the ending of the war, there is still much to be done to reduce human suffering and rebuilding wll go on for years from the destruction caused by the long war.
ICRC has an incredible exploring humanitarian law education program that can help people, especially young people begin to focus on positive changes. For more info – see the Teacher’s guide http://pearsonfoundation-rc.org/redcross-ehl/