UN urged to release details of Sri Lanka deaths
The human rights group has called on the UN to publicise estimates of civilians killed in fighting in the country's north-east
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Saturday, 30, May 2009 06:11
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged the United Nations to release information about the number of civilian deaths during the Sri Lankan government's offensive against the Tamil Tigers.
The south Asian country's army destroyed the separatist rebel force in military operations over the last few months with the Tamil Tigers losing control of all territory in north-east Sri Lanka and renouncing the use of arms.
On Friday, the Times published special reports claiming that 20,000 civilians had died in fighting during the last stages of the campaign.
Amnesty International said an investigation was needed into killings and demanded the UN publish estimates of the number of civilians killed in fighting.
In a statement, the human rights organisation's Asia Pacific director Sam Zarifi said: "The UN must address the war crimes and grave human rights violations that have occurred - and could still be occurring - in Sri Lanka.
"The Human Rights Council's decision not to call for specific measures to protect Sri Lankans made a mockery of the council, but it doesn't mean the end of the international community's responsibility to respond to this ongoing crisis."