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May 29, 2009

Report: 20,000 Civilians Killed in Sri Lanka Conflict’s Final Weeks
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The Times of London is reporting more than 20,000 civilians were killed
in the final days of Sri Lanka’s attack on Tamil Tiger rebels—three
times the official figure. Citing what it says are secret UN documents,
the Times says around 1,000 people were killed every day from late April
until the conflict ended ten days ago. The Sri Lankan military was
accused of indiscriminately shelling no-fire zones, including two
attacks on a major hospital. Tamil Tiger rebels were accused of using
civilians as human shields. The Times says the evidence strongly
supports allegations most of the civilians were killed by Sri Lankan
military attacks. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi
Pillay, has called for an independent probe of war crimes during the
conflict.



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