Posts Tagged ‘John Holmes’
Back from Sri Lanka, UN’s Holmes Admits NGO Killings and Restrictions Not Raised
[ Inner City Press ] Just back to the United Nations from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s surreal tour of Sri Lanka, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador John Sawers if the UN paying for interment camps for Tamils rounded up from throughout northern Sri Lanka compiles with international humanitarian law. Ambassador Sawers, rather than answer,…
Read MoreU.N. official: Sri Lanka ceasefire ‘inadequate’
[ CNN ] The United Nations humanitarian chief Wednesday criticized a two-day pause in the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels as “inadequate.” John Holmes, the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, told reporters that the 48-hour break in hostilities was not sufficient, even as fighting resumed…
Read MoreOn Sri Lanka, UN Speak of Siege, Calls Cease-Fire Unrealistic, Only Private Diplomacy
[ Inner City Press ] As military action recommences in northern Sri Lanka, the UN’s top humanitarian John Holmes on Wednesday repeated government assurances that it would be in “siege mode.” Inner City Press asked Holmes, given his estimate of 100,000 civilians trapped in 17 square kilometers, if the UN is asking for a cease-fire.…
Read MoreUN Says Longer Pause in Fighting Needed in Sri Lanka
[ VOA ] The United Nations top humanitarian official welcomed a 48-hour pause in fighting in Sri Lanka’s conflict zone, but cautioned that it was insufficient to get in enough aid or to evacuate many of the more than 100,000 civilians trapped by the fighting between the government and Tamil rebels. U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator John…
Read MoreSri Lanka in new truce rejection
[BBC] The Sri Lankan government has rejected fresh calls for a temporary ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told the BBC that if the rebels laid down their arms there would be no need for a halt in the fighting. Reports of growing civilian casualties have prompted the UN, European Union and…
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