Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un3may7srilanka051909.html
UNITED NATIONS, May 19, updated – Sri Lanka's conflict zone, off limits to aid workers and journalists as civilians were being killed, will be visited by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the accompanying Press on May 23, it was announced on Tuesday. Speaking in Geneva, Mr. Ban told reporters that “I expect that I will be able to visit the conflict zone, which the Sri Lankan Government officials told me had been liberated. I would like to have my first hand, on the spot, assessment of the situation myself. I am going to discuss this matter with President Rajapaksa.”
His schedule, released later, confirmed “SG meeting with Sri Lankan President, visit to IDP camps in Vavuniya, visit to conflict zone.” Some wonder, what is happening to the bodies, and the wounded, there?
The issue of the doctors from the conflict zone, whom the government now acknowledges detaining, has been raised by the UN's outgoing spokesman in Colombo, Gordon Weiss (whose visa will not be renewed, the government has said), but apparently not by anyone higher in the UN, and has not been resolved.
Local sources first told Inner City Press that Doctor Thangamuttu Sathiyamoorthy, who we quoted on May 15, may be detained in an Army camp in Vavuniya, on information and belief known as “Joseph.” Later, they say, he was transferred to Colombo, and may face criminal charges.
Also detained are Doctors Thurairajah Varatharajah and V Shanmugarajah. It was said that the International Committee of the Red Cross may be able to visit them on Wednesday -- until declared a national holiday -- and their families on Friday. There is worry that even if they are released, they might be abducted by para-militaries. There is a desire that the UN or ICRC guarantee or at least work for their safety.
Footnote / full disclosure: this reporter has been granted a visa, albeit for only two days, gratis by the Sri Lankan mission. A request for more than two days resulted in instructions to write a letter, which will be considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “after a background check.” Watch this site.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3may7srilanka051909.html
