Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 -- With the situation for civilians trapped between the Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil Tigers growing more dire by the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on April 7 was asked if he is calling for a ceasefire. Mr. Ban's 127-word answer, while describing two phone calls to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, did not use the word ceasefire, or even Ban's previous phrases, a suspension of fighting or humanitarian pause.

Inner City Press noted, both in Monday's UN noon briefing and later to Mr. Ban himself, that "it is unclear whether you are asking actually for a ceasefire." In response, Ban expressed "hope that the Sri Lankan Government takes all necessary measures so that these civilians can move freely, without any danger, without threat, to the safety zone." Video here, from Minute 13.

By the UN's repeated admission, dozens are being killed each day. (Click here for the UN casualty estimate leaked to Inner City Press, and here for video of the UN's response.) Senior UN officials have told Inner City Press on background that in Ban's office on the UN's 38th floor, there is talk that many more civilians may be killed in further fighting in and bombing of the so-called No Fire Zone. Why then has Ban Ki-moon backtracked even on calling for a temporary cessation of the fighting, as he did when Inner City Press asked him on February 23?

President Rajapaksa has said he will not be pressured by the international community, and that the military offensive will continue until the end. After that, Ban backed away from his call for a suspension of bombing, fighting and killing. As his spokesperson clarified at Tuesday's noon briefing, the New York Times' report on April 6 that Ban had the previous day called for "an immediate cease-fire" was and is not true. Ban may ultimately wish that he had, but he has and is not.

Earlier on April 7, Ban had attended a memorial for the victims in Rwanda in 1994, where the UN is widely acknowledged as having done far too little as civilians were being killed. In fact, Ban was asked "the UN has been accused of cowardice for standing aside in Rwanda fifteen years ago... What is your reaction?"

Ban replied, "I attended a very solemn meeting this afternoon, and I again expressed my resolve, as Secretary-General, that I will do all in my power not to repeat this kind of human tragedy."

http://www.innercitypress.com/unscsri5lanka040709.html

இதற்கு இரண்டு காரணங்கள் உண்டு.ஒன்று இனிமேல் சிங்களமக்களை ஏமாற்ற முடியாது.இறந்த ராணுவங்களை எப்படி கணக்கு காட்டுவது?இலங்கையின் ராணுவ கட்டமைப்பே சிதைந்துவிட்டது

இரண்டாவது தற்போது போரிடுவது சிங்கள ராணுவமல்ல இந்திய ராணுவம் தான் அவர்களை எப்படி நிறுத்த சொல்லுவது

ஆகவே இவரே விரைவில் தனக்கு தானே தூக்கு போடுவார் போடவும் வைப்போம்

எல்லாவற்றையும் தீர்மானிப்பது எமது போராட்டம் தான் உறவுகளே!