Obama Asks Tamil Tigers To Surrender, Sri Lanka To Mind Civilians

President Obama, speaking this afternoon, made a direct statement to both the Tamil Tigers as well as the Sri Lankan government regarding the enduring civil war and widespread civilian devastation in that country. Obama asked that the Tigers lay down their arms and surrender to the Sri Lankan government, and he asked that the Sri Lankans cease "the indiscriminate shelling" with heavy artillery that has been decimating civilians. The growing humanitarian crisis has captured international attention for weeks now.

Obama's statements Wednesday came shortly after Amnesty International (AI) -- one of many humanitarian groups who has been vocal about the growing humanitarian crisis -- issued an official plea, saying: "While U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice have voiced concern, President Obama himself must speak out publicly and forcefully over the wanton disregard for human rights in Sri Lanka."

Amnesty International also reached out the the United Nations Security Council, writing in their statement: "The Council must convene without any further delay to discuss the latest disturbing developments and immediately require that attacks on civilians by the Sri Lankan army or the LTTE be stopped; that the LTTE allow all civilians to leave the conflict area; and that the Sri Lankan government provide immediate access to international monitors and humanitarian agencies."

Earlier today, Sri Lankan shells rained down on the last remaining hospital in the northern region, killing at least 50. According to the Associated Press:

The military has denied firing any heavy weapons in recent weeks, but Human Rights Watch says both sides are using the estimated 50,000 civilians packed into the last rebel-held territory as "cannon fodder." The Red Cross said one of its workers was killed in shelling Wednesday.

In calling for the violence to end, Obama this week joins the ranks of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who said he is "appalled at the killing"; and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who described civilians in Sri Lanka as, "victims of what at the moment is a war without witness,"according to Bloomberg. Additionally, the US State Department has issued its own statement, describing the death toll in Sri Lanka as "unacceptably high."

It is estimated that 50,000 civilians remain trapped in the Tamil Tiger-controlled, besieged northern area.

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Comments

[Rick Darius]

Getting back to what is going on in Toronto if our present Harper Government gives in to these people not only will they be supporting terrorism but will have to address many other issues with this diverse community in Canada. By this we mean Palestinians, Iranians, Indian’s, Pakistanis, Sikhs, Afghans, and all other countries where millions are being killed all in the cause of freedom!!!!

If every one has feelings of distraught towards their communities getting killed and thereby letting this affect their daily activities here, they should give up their Canadian citizens ships and go back to their countries and fight along side their fellow men. Which they will never do !! Mr. Harper should insist that any one willing to do that should be free to go because Canada is a Multinational Peace loving and Free country.

We hope this has shed some light to the other half of this on going story. We also hope this will encourage the government, news reporter and all other media officials to look more in depth towards this issue and not just take the Tamil communities word on what is truly happening in Sri Lanka.

[Rick Darius]

These Tamil Tigers are COWARDS because they and their leader V. Prabakhran have stated anytime they are caught or about to be caught instead of fighting for their people they simply end their lives by taking a Cyanide capsule which is around all of their necks. IS THIS NOT A SIMPLE WAY OUT AND DON’T YOU THINK IT’S COWARDISM?? The leader him self is in hiding in the North where the fighting is taking place at its ultimate end. Why is this man in hiding and not fighting with his people up front like a true leader ?!?!? Does he think he is better than they are or some sort of king? His Children are studying abroad but right now his son too is caught with his father and unable to escape the country because they are on the wanted list!!!

OUR QUESTION IS WHY ARE THE TAMIL CANADIAN’S TALKING ABOUT STOPPING THE GENOCIDE AND MAKING LIFE HARDER FOR ALL TAX PAYING CANADIAN’S? INSTEAD WHY DON’T THEY START BY TELLING THEIR LEADER TO COME FORTH, RELEASE THE INNOCENT CIVILIANS WHO HE HAS CAPTURED AND KEPT AS A BARRICADE FOR PROTECTION FROM THE ARMY GETTING TO HIM. THIS SHOWS THAT HE IS A SELFISH COWARD WHO HAS BRAIN WASHED THE UNEDUCATED TAMIL COMMUNITY FOR A SEPERATE LAND !! THIS WILL NOT OR IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COUNTRY’S MAJORITY IS SINGALESE.

[Rick Darius]

The present Government in Sri Lanka is doing their very best to eradicate this problem that has been affecting the Sri Lankan economy for 26 long years. Just like they did in the 1970’s where they eradicated a similar problem of terrorism that took place in the Southern part of the country called the J.V.P movement – this was a group of Singalese Guerilla warfare NOT TAMILS!! The Ultimate Finale of this was the head of this group Rohana Wijeweera was caught and killed. Up to now this group has not sprung up AS YET against the government.

Let us give you a few highlights of what Tamil terrorism or Eelam means. These are a group of un educated poor individuals who are claiming a separate north and east for themselves, saying they are being suppressed at all times. This is absolutely NOT TRUE, How come the other communities of Sri Lanka comprising Muslims, Burghers Singalese and Indians (people who work on the tea estates) have not ever stated that the Governments has treated them any different than the Tamils? In fact in reality the government consists of people from all five communities. So where does the Suppression exist?

[Rick Darius]

We are writing on behalf of the Sri Lankan community. We would just like to bring into light the reality of this on going 26 years war which the Tamil community claims as “Genocide”.

In the North and East no Muslims or Singalese were, and are not allowed to live. By saying ,were, we mean: All Muslims and Singalese who were doing farming were abused and finally kicked out of their homes and communities with nothing but the clothes on their back by the Tamils who were dominating that area! They were displaced in camps all over Sri Lanka – No body says anything about these atrocities that took place. On the other hand the Tamils only say they have been displaced blah blah blah .

[parrotista]

Maybe a good time to remember the rules of how to handle getting involved in someone else's civil war:
Rule 1) Don't
Rule 2) If you do, pick a side
Rule 3) Make sure your side wins

In substance, we're following rule # 1. What we're hearing from all the quibblers (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN, etc) really makes a mess of rules 2 and 3: dithering around, not really picking a side until suddenly you seem to pick a side, but only picking them when there is no chance of (3) . In fact picking them at the very moment when if you picked the other side you could follow rule 3.

What a mess that emotionalism of the moment (impulsive humanitarianism?) will lead you into.
- Craig

[MD NY111]

Why aren't World leaders and orangizations putting pressure on the LTTE "Terrorists" to release the innocent people held hostage in the crossfire. LTTE's known to use civilians as human shields and child soldiers.
Take the demonstrations in the Canadian streets. The demonstrators took to the street without permits to voice their cause some held "LTTE Flags". To prevent being arrested they surrounded themselves with women & children. This organized group manipulates situations to their advantage. LTTE is a banned terrorist organization ...if so why aren't the people holding LTTE flags arrested? People are free to express their "views" on Sri Lanka publicly, but not while holding terrorist group flags.
Terrorism should not be taken litely. Terrorists should be immobilized. World leaders should request the LTTE to release the innocent victims. Focus should fall on rebuilding victims lives. Governments should not enable terrorist groups. Early LTTE Suicide bombers emerged in Sri Lanka! Think about 911. The focus should be on eliminating terrorism & protecting the innocent. Pressure should be placed on the terrorists groups and sympathizers.
The government should be allowed to end this war. Innocent people have died on both sides. The focus of Sri Lankan government should be to save as many innocent lives and on rebuilding/re-establishing the lives of these victims post war. Being a supporter of President Obama, I believe that he is doing a good job so far. However; I think his stance should be different regarding this situation.

[LetReasonHoldTheReins]

Stop changing the subject. Everyone is pressuring the LTTE to surrender. But it is the SRI LANKAN government and military who are shooting and bombing the civilians. They are the KILLERS.

[truenews]

Isn't this statement quite contrary to something with the title of "LetReasonHoldTheReins?" This is the kind of hatred that gets us in trouble.

If reasoning were to be used....

the LTTE should stop killing tamils.

the Sri Lankan government should do its utmost to take care of the displaced civilians.

The Sri Lankan government should embrace the civilians and develop the North so that the civilians themselves will oppose any hardship caused by the ltte.

[parrotista]

The tiny area in which the Tigers are trapped is, what, 5% or less of the entire No-Fire Zone one or two months ago? 2%? 1%? How can the safety of civilians be protected in a situation like that, especially when it seems clear that the Tigers are not allowing them to leave freely.

It's empty words to say the LTTE should surrender if you're going to blame the other side for the suffering and loss of life when they won't lay down their arms.

When the Union Army had General Lee's army trapped near Appomattox, General Ulysses S Grant sent to Lee a message in which he wrote,

"I... regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia."

The time for surrender is long past and the responsibility for further loss of life rests with the LTTE.
- Craig

[LetReasonHoldTheReins]

Hey Obama! Constructive Engagement didn't work on South Africa under Regan, or on Rwanda under Clinton, what makes you think it is going to work on Sri Lanka's racist and genocidal government today? The time is NOW for Total Economic Sanctions against Sri Lanka.

[LetReasonHoldTheReins]

Can someone tell me why Obama is taking a page from Bill Clinton's playbook by sitting by and watching a slow motion genocide take place in Sri Lanka they way Bill Clilnton watched the Rwandan genocide take place? (See recent Time Magazine article, "...Obama Failing"). All Obama does is what Clinton did, issue "boo hoo" statements. DO SOMETHING for god's sake!!!!

[SpoonieLuv]

Association fallacy, amigo. Obama's non-interventionist stance in a foreign civil war Sri Lanka cannot be equated to Clinton's non-interventionism in a campaign of genocide. Besides, this war has been waged since 1983, so why didn't Reagan or either of the Bush's take steps to curb the violence in Sri Lanka? I think that you're trying to couch your political bias in logic...

[LetReasonHoldTheReins]

Go read the UN definition of genocide... genocide is genocide and the SL goverment has got one under way... there is a valid association. Reagan and Bush weren't faced with what is going on now. I voted for Obama, you should stop apologizing for his mistake in looking away from genocide.
You ever see a 2 year old die in front of your eyes from shrapnel injuries from a shell that deliberatly targeted a hospital (while the mother screams and cries in the background)? Let me know if you have the balls to watch and I'll send you the link. THEN you can debate me about how this isn't a genocide.

[parrotista]

A) the United States is not the world's policeman
B) I don't see Sri Lanka systematically slaughtering all the civilian refugees who have managed to flee the war zone.
- Craig

[bilmardre]

Does Miss California get to keep her crown?

[confidance government]

Decry the killing and violence, sure, why not? The man has a consciousness, but he should remember that the electorate thoroughly rejected intervening in foreign conflicts with his election. Getting our hands dirty in Sri Lanka would not reflect the will of citizens nor would it be beneficial to our country's security.
I hope that Obama realises this and is not looking to interfer in the situation.

[LetReasonHoldTheReins]

Sorry, that is a "black or white" falacy... why not impose economic sanctions? ANYTHING would be better than issuing "Boo Hoo" statements the way Clinton did during the Rwandan genocide. Nobody is saying we should invade...

[Dredd]

This illustrates the hypocrisy of American foreign policy and why it is at a low ebb and why it is weakening.

We spend more on weapons of mass destruction than all the rest of the nations added all together. Lots more.

And we kill, maim, and destroy more than any other nation at them moment.

How can we be taken serious when we continue the same brain dead policies?

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/glitter-of-peace-in-dirty-business.html

[parrotista]

This illustrates nothing of the sort. The United States is not the world's policeman.

[RobertHenryEller]

President Obama did what he had to do.

No one understands better than he does that his words, while necessary, will likely have little practical effect.

But one is never wrong to speak for what is right. And what is right is not about sides. It is about the defense of the innocent.

[parrotista]

You may be right that he's doing what he has to do while knowing it will have no practical effect.

But I prefer to not make noises for the sake of making noises. I prefer that our words not be empty of meaning. I prefer that when we, the United States, speak, other people around the world take notice because we don't chatter idly but speak with seriousness and gravity. Idealistic, I know, in my own way.
- Craig

[JerryLevy]

What a great idea. Obama just asks the terrorists to surrender and tells the Sri Lankan government to watch out for civilians. Maybe he could try this with Hamas and Al Queda

[Knowledgeseeker]

I think Obama took too long to speak out, hopefully they stop the fighting.

[JZ735]

Yes...he has too much on his plate is the cry from the Obama Fan Club...

Well, that's his job, shillers...he better be able to juggle it all...and then some...without whining about what happened before he took office and without complaining about how difficult the task at hand is...

[lrij]

The Tamil Tigers are one of the most fanatical and violent terrorist groups in the world .

The media should not be afraid to call them by their proper definition without trying to sugarcoat them with words like “ Rebel “ .

How would we feel if Al Quida Terrorists Who killed thousands of Americans were downgraded to “ Rebels “ or “ Freedom fighters “