Norway condemns enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 June 2007, 00:16 GMT]
Norway condemned the Sri Lankan government’s enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo and said the move was a "clear violation of international humanitarian law," in a press communiqué issued by the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Friday. Norway urged Colombo to "cease any further enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo, and to consider granting immediate permission to return for those already removed from the city."

The full text of the press communiqué follows.

Norway condemns enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo

Norway condemns yesterday’s sudden and enforced removal of civilian Tamils from their dwellings in Colombo.

The move by the Colombo police is a clear violation of international human rights law. The Government of Sri Lanka has legitimate security concerns. Moreover, it has the right and obligation to take measures to guarantee the safety of its population. However, such measures should not indiscriminately target Tamils, or any other ethnic group, and should always be in accordance with international human rights law.

We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to cease any further enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo, and to consider granting immediate permission to return for those already removed from the city.

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