Lanka rejects UNHCR report on civilian casualties
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 14, IRNA -- Sri Lanka on Saturday rejected UNHCR allegations that 2,800 Tamil civilians may have been killed in the no-fire zones, saying the claims were 'unsubstantiated' and also ruled out any ceasefire in its final offensive against the Tigers.
Taking strong exception to the UNHCR report suggesting that the Tamil civilians may have died in the no-fire zones due to clashes between government troops and LTTE, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarsinghe accused the UN rights chief Navi Pillay of relying on pro-Tigers elements to arrive at the figure, PTI reported.
"It is unprofessional to rely on such figures which are unsubstantiated. What is dismaying to us is the figures correspond to the figures put forward by (the pro-Tiger Website) Tamilnet and LTTE front groups," Samarsinghe said.
UNHCR in its report had said, "2,800 people may have been killed and 7,000 others injured many in the no-fire zones since January 20.
"Many children are believed to be among the casualties, with hundred having lost their lives and over 1,000 hurt," it said in a statement.
Pillay yesterday said that certain actions undertaken by the Sri Lankan military and by the separatist LTTE could constitute violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 399376
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