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Sri Lanka’s Woes

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Sri Lanka’s Woes

Posted by John Norris on April 20, 2009

A stark warning out from the International Crisis Group board on the situation in Sri Lanka. A release today emphasizes that more than 150,000 civilians are trapped in an area the size of Central Park as they are simultaneously shelled by the Sri Lankan military and used as human shields by the Tamil Tigers. Crisis Group notes that available reports suggest that 5,000 civilians, including at least 500 children, have died since mid-January, and 10,000 have been injured. This situation has the potential to dissolve into a bloodbath if the Sri Lankan military pushes forward with its offensive. It is quite telling that this was the current conflict the Crisis Group board came away from its meetings most concerned about. The U.S., UK, and France have all issued tough language in recent days, and the Sri Lankan government should understand that if it employs excessively brutal methods in an effort to end the threat of the Tigers once and for all, it may only be sowing seeds for future conflicts and reprisals. Read more here.