Return to War - Human Rights Watch

While describing the loss of civilian lives as “a tragedy,” the Sri Lankan government
sought to justify its attack as lawful under the laws of armed conflict. In a statement
on November 9, the Ministry of Defence said that army units had responded to two
early morning artillery attacks from LTTE forces only after confirming the location of
the LTTE weapons through the “mortar locating radar” and “observation points.” 70
Government defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the government
regretted the incident but the “[a]ctions by the defense authorities were
inevitable.” 71
Rambukwella said the government would open an investigation. Human Rights
Watch asked the government who is conducting the investigation and when will
findings be announced, but the government said it could not answer these questions
because the answers contained “security sensitive information.” 72
More pointedly, the government claimed that the LTTE had used camp residents as
“human shields” to deter government forces from responding to LTTE attacks. “The
Tigers had been planning this situation since the beginning of this month by
detaining the innocent civilians in those areas by force to be used as a human shield
when the time arises,” a Defence Ministry statement right after the incident said. 73
Human Rights Watch asked the Sri Lankan government how it had determined that
the LTTE used human shields. The government replied,
Thousands of innocent civilians who came into government controlled
areas complained that they were treated inhumanely by the LTTE and
used as a human shield. Various international and local independent
organizations too confirmed this fact. This information was supported
by government sources. 74
70 “Civilians at the Mercy of the Tigers,” Government of Sri Lanka press release.
71 “Sri Lankan Government ‘Regrets’ Civilian Massacre,” Agence France-Presse, November 9, 2006.
72 Sri Lankan government response to Human Rights Watch, July 12, 2007.
73 “Refugee Camp Bombing Kills 65 in Sri Lanka,” Agence France-Presse, November 8, 2006.
74 Sri Lankan government response to Human Rights Watch, July 12, 2007.
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