April 12, 2008

New, horrible Tamil crisis

  • Colombo attempts to create 'health disaster' in Vanni - LTTE
    [ TamilNet ] - [ Apr 10, 2008 11:50:36 GMT ]

    Health services in Vanni are facing a man made disaster created by the Sri Lanka Defense Ministry, said N. Selvy, LTTE's spokesperson on Human Rights. Sri Lankan forces have blocked supplies to Ki'linochchi Deputy Provincial Director of Health Service (DPDHS) division. The DPDHS office recently said that medicine quota for the district hospital for the first quarter of 2008 is yet to arrive. Meanwhile, Mullaiththeevu DPDHS has told media that only 20% of the fuel supplies needed to operate the district hospital, two sub-hospitals and six pharmacies in the district, has been allowed across the entry point at Oamanthai by the Sri Lankan forces. [ full story ]



  • Comments [ 3 ]:

    Sayon from Canada on Apr 10, 2008 12:54:29 GMT

    Unfortunately the world would continue to look at other way. When and if a Sri Lankan Sinhala citizen killed, they would waste no time to accuse LTTE. We can write to the world, we can meet with these leaders, we can wine/dine with them, but what will really make a difference is strengthening our leadership.

    punitham from United Kingdom on Apr 10, 2008 16:56:45 GMT

    Ten years ago Jordan J. Paust wrote an article, The Human Rights to Food, Medicine and Medical Supplies, and Freedom from Arbitrary and Inhumane Detention and Controls in Sri Lanka in Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Volume31, Number3, May1998:
    ''Serious violations of basic human rights and humanitarian law occur in Sri Lanka when food, medicine, and medical supplies are used as political weapons. Those least able to cope, especially children, are the primary victims of such criminal tactics.Such denials must be exposed, and the Country Reports should address the misuse of food and medicine and medical supplies in Sri Lanka and wherever else such illegal weapons are employed''


    punitham from United Kingdom on Apr 10, 2008 17:07:57 GMT

    cont.... Read the article on: http://www.sangam.org/BOOKS/Paust.htm. What can the diaspora do? Expose the misuse of food and medicine and medical supplies in Sri Lanka. How can they do it? Most effectively through Attorneys like Bruce Fein. And Attorneys do work for money, just like the others. So, Tamil diaspora, don't delay contributing to Bruce Fein Project by Tamils For Justice: http://www.tamilsforjustice.org/

    The Human Rights to Food, Medicine and Medical Supplies, and Freedom from Arbitrary and Inhumane Detention and Controls in Sri Lanka

    Jordan J. Paust

    ABSTRACT: This Essay identifies the denial of adequate and available food and the denials of adequate medicine and medical supplies in Sri Lanka as serious human rights violations. Additionally, the Author cites customary international law and international agreements to support his conclusion that the government's denial of these necessities in Sri Lanka constitute war crimes. The Author discusses the human rights violations with respect to: (1) the right to adequate food; (2) the right to adequate medicine and medical supplies; and (3) the right to freedom from arbitrary and inhumane detention and controls. The Author concludes by urging that the U.S. State Department Country Reports, and the international community generally, expose the denials of food, medicine, and medical supplies as serious violations of humanitarian law, and that countries treat food as neutral property during armed conflicts.


    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    INTRODUCTION

    THE DENIAL OF ADEQUATE FOOD
    A. The Problem
    B. Legal Requirements

    THE DENIAL OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES
    A. The Problem
    B. Legal Requirements

    THE DENIAL OF FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY AND INHUMANE DETENTION AND CONTROLS
    A. The Problem
    B. Legal Requirements

    CONCLUSION


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