In a letter to US Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. dated March 23, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has stated that the United States continues to urge the Sri Lankan government to devise a “post-conflict” political solution that will demonstrate to the Tamil population that the government is serious about a political inclusion.
The US has also called on the LTTE to allow civilians freedom of movement and to discuss modalities for ending hostilities while also drawing reference to the problems faced by the media.
Commenting on issues faced by the media, Secretary Clinton told Senator Casey Jr. that the US Embassy in Colombo was raising the matter with the government both publicly and privately.
“I share your concerns about the need to protect Sri Lankan journalists and freedom of speech and the State Department has taken steps to assist those who have been threatened. Our latest Country Report on Human Rights documents a broad decline in fundamental human rights and the failure of the government to prosecute abusers.
However, because it is based on the 2008 calendar year, the report does not document the increase in the targeting of journalists since January 2009. Our embassy in Colombo continues to raise publicly and privately – with the Sri Lankan government – the need for media freedom and an end to the culture of impunity for those who commit human rights abuses,” she said in her letter to the US Senator. |
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