Sri Lanka: Let the People Go

categories: Refugees and IDPs, War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity

Published August 10, 2009 @ 04:34PM PT

Apparently even after winning its 26 year civil war, persecuting thousands of innocent civilians, driving hundreds of thousands from their homes and into middle of its offensive with the less-than-angelic LTTE rebels, and killing scores in the process, the Sri Lankan government has decided that ethnic Tamil civilians have not yet suffered quite enough.

The Sri Lankan government continues to hold 280,000 displaced Tamils in detention camps guarded by the national military. Some are allowed to leave for short periods of time, according to Human Rights Watch, but face stiff penalties if they fail to register with the military on time. Humanitarian aid workers are only given restricted access to the over-crowded and poorly-served camps, and according to Human Rights Watch, are barred from discussing the war or possible human rights abuses with the residents.

After visiting the camps in May, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commented:

"I have traveled around the world and visited similar places, but this is by far the most appalling scene I have seen."

With that ringing endorsement in mind, and with the government's refusal to budge even months after the end of the conflict, Amnesty International is calling on activists to join its "Unlock the Camps" campaign. A quick visit to Amnesty's action center will allow you to send a ready-made letter to the senior advisor to the president of Sri Lanka --- activism made so easy, you have no excuse not to sign on.

For more regular updates on the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, check out Change.org's Humanitarian Relief blog.

[Photo from AFP: Civilians at the Manik Farm refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya in May 2009.]

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Author

Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.