Stop indiscriminate shelling: Obama tells Sri Lanka

Warning that the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka's could turn into a "catastrophe," US president Barack Obama on Thursday asked Colombo to put an end to "indiscriminate" shelling in the northern war zone and the LTTE to lay down arms and stop using civilians as "human shields."

At a hurriedly convened media availability at the White House lawns, Obama voiced his serious concern over the developments in Sri Lanka saying it has not received much attention it deserves.

"We have a humanitarian crisis that's taking place in Sri Lanka. And I've been increasingly saddened by the desperate news in recent days," Obama said, minutes before he left for Arizona.

"Without urgent action, this humanitarian crisis could turn into a catastrophe," he said adding that "Sri Lanka must seek a peace that is secure and lasting, and grounded in respect for all of its citizens."

"More civilian casualties and inadequate care for those caught in resettlement camps will only make it more difficult to achieve the peace that the people of Sri Lanka deserve," he said. 

The US president asked Sri Lanka to immediately take three steps so as to alleviate the humanitarian crisis now unfolding in the northern conflict zones of the country.

"The government should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including several hospitals. The government should live up to its commitment to not use heavy weapons in the conflict zone," Obama said.

This is one of the rare occasions that the White House has taken note of the crisis in Sri Lanka with the president himself addressing the press in this issue. Last week, the White House had issued a statement expressing concern over the situation in the country.

Obama said the Sri Lankan government should give United Nations humanitarian teams access to the civilians who are trapped between the warring parties so that they can receive the immediate assistance necessary to save lives.

Obama also said Colombo should also allow the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross access to nearly 190,000 displaced people within Sri Lanka so that they can receive additional support that they need.

However, Obama did not take any question in his brief read out in which he said with all the with all the big issues going on, Sri Lanka hasn't received much attention, it deserves.

Tens of thousands of innocent civilians are trapped between the warring government forces and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, with no means of escape, little access to food, water, shelter and medicine, Obama noted.

"This has led to widespread suffering and the loss of hundreds if not thousands of lives," he said.

Obama asked the LTTE to lay down their arms and free the civilians. "Their forced recruitment of civilians and their use of civilians as human shields is deplorable. These tactics will only serve to alienate all those who carry them out," he said.

The Obama Administration in past few months has been calling for devolution of power in Sri Lanka and urging Colombo to come out with a political settlement.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton herself made a telephone call to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa last month expressing her concern over the current humanitarian situation in the country.

While the US and other western powers like Britain and France have been supportive of the military action against LTTE, which has been branded as a terrorist organisation, Washington is not completely disappointed with the unfolding humanitarian crisis. 

As the reports of grave humanitarian crisis started coming in from the conflict zones of Sri Lanka revealing the gravity of the situation on the ground, the US along with France and Britain have come out openly against Colombo, accusing it of violating the commitment it made on April 27 that it would stop shelling and use of heavy weapons.

The statement coming from Obama himself, only indicates that the US is now seriously taking the humanitarian crisis and would not keep quite if the crisis further aggravates.

"Now is the time, I believe, to put aside some of the political issues that are involved and to put the lives of the men and women and children, who are innocently caught in the crossfire -- to put them first," Obama said.