The Sri Lankan Conflict - Change Japanese foreign policy to protect internally displaced people
(NGO Joint Letter May 25, 2009)
Joint Letter to Japanese Foreign Minister on the
Sri Lankan conflict
Change Japanese foreign policy to protect internally displaced people
May 25, 2009
Dear Foreign Minister Hirofumi
Nakasone,
The undersigned
nongovernmental organizations are writing to you to call upon Japan to make foreign policy changes to
protect internally displaced people (IDPs) suffering in the aftermath of the conflict
in Sri Lanka.
The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka
Even after the end of the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), it has been reported that many injured civilians remain trapped in the conflict zone. According to the UN, more than 7,000 civilians have been killed and more than 13,000 have been injured in fighting since late January 2009.
Many
more people are feared killed or injured in the recent final fighting.
The UN describes the situation as a "bloodbath" and the Red Cross calls the situation "nothing short of catastrophic."
Four UN Human Rights Council experts dealing with summary executions, the right to health, the right to food and water and sanitation, noted in a joint statement on May 8 that there is an urgent need to establish an international commission of inquiry to document the events of recent months and to monitor ongoing developments.
Both the LTTE and Sri Lankan
government forces have repeatedly violated the laws of war in the recent
fighting.
The LTTE used civilians as human shields and forcibly prevented them from escaping the conflict zone.
The Sri Lankan government has carried
out indiscriminate attacks on hospitals and other densely populated areas.
Japan's marked passive posture at the UN
However, international community, especially the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council which should take immediate action to protect civilians in emergencies, has continued not to take actions despite repeated requests from civil society.
The Japanese government has begun to build up a regrettable reputation with its passive stance on the UN's decision not to take immediate action.
We welcome the Japanese government's dispatch of Yasushi Akashi, Japan's government representative, to Sri Lanka and its assertion of the emergency financial and supply aid to support internally displaced people.
However, we regret that the Japanese government continues to take a passive stance in urging the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council to formally take up the Sri Lankan issue and protect civilians under the humanitarian crisis.
As a result of the objections of few states including Japan, the UN Security Council has not had a formal discussion on the Sri Lankan situation and has failed to take concrete actions to protect civilians.
A Special Session of the Human Rights Council to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held on May 26, 2009 by a call of 17 member states. However, the Japanese government made a really disappointing decision not to join the special session despite numerous requests from governments and civil society members.
The UN Security Council presented its position for the first time in the form of a press statement on May 13. It expressed "grave concern" on the recent humanitarian crisis and demanded the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE "respect their obligations under international humanitarian law." It is positive progress. However, the press statement didn't include a request for a humanitarian cease-fire which should be realized immediately. The statement also neglected to call for accountability of war crimes against the parties in dispute.
The UN Security Council would
not take concrete actions with the press statement.
The Japanese government caused a regression of the content of the press statement in its drafting process.
Japan's passive stance on the UN's actions to protect civilians has become drag on those UN's actions concerned with protecting civilians under the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.
Many civilians including children and women have become victims of the conflict while the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council continue not to take concrete actions, including the dispatch of an international commission.
Now is the time to shift
Japanese foreign policy
The UN Security Council received extensive criticism because it did not take action in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
After that historical failure, the UN Security Council has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the protection of civilians.
Resolution 1674 reaffirms the provisions of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN Security Council needs to take up the Sri Lankan humanitarian crisis formally and take action against the crisis which has repeatedly involved brutal war crimes by both parties in the conflict.
Japanese foreign policy claims to uphold the principle of human security, and the preamble to the Japanese Constitution declares that Japan desires to "occupy an honored place in an international society" reflecting its past. In order to avoid Japan being remembered as a nation which has a responsibility not to stop "the bloodbath" of civilians in Sri Lanka, and bring people who committed war crimes in "'bloodbath" to justice, the Japanese government should immediately urge the UN to take action on the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka including the dispatch of a fact-finding mission.
We, the nongovernmental organizations below, urge the Japanese government to support the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council's action on humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.
Sincerely yours,
Women's
Active Museum on War and Peace (wam)
Amnesty
International Japan
Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARCIC)
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism
(IMADR)
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Now
Human Rights Now (25 May 2009)
