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UN to press for Sri Lankan access UN to press for Sri Lankan access
(about 2 hours later)
The UN secretary general is to press Sri Lanka for unrestricted access by aid agencies to civilians caught up in fighting against Tamil Tiger rebels.The UN secretary general is to press Sri Lanka for unrestricted access by aid agencies to civilians caught up in fighting against Tamil Tiger rebels.
Ban Ki-moon is the first senior world figure to arrive in Sri Lanka since the government said it had defeated the 26-year rebel insurgency this week.Ban Ki-moon is the first senior world figure to arrive in Sri Lanka since the government said it had defeated the 26-year rebel insurgency this week.
About 275,000 Tamils are sheltering in camps in need of aid, but the army is still restricting access to the area.About 275,000 Tamils are sheltering in camps in need of aid, but the army is still restricting access to the area.
Mr Ban will visit an area in Vavuniya, where most of the displaced are held.Mr Ban will visit an area in Vavuniya, where most of the displaced are held.
Aid groups have complained that their access to the displaced camps has been greatly restricted.Aid groups have complained that their access to the displaced camps has been greatly restricted.
INTERNALLY DISPLACED Vavuniya: 25 camps, 255,000 peopleJaffna: 12 camps, 11,064 peopleMannar: Three camps, 845 peopleTrincomalee: Two camps, 6,642 people Source: Sri Lankan human rights ministry as of 22 May How Sri Lanka's military won Humanitarian challenge Winning the peace Eyewitness: Treating the TigersINTERNALLY DISPLACED Vavuniya: 25 camps, 255,000 peopleJaffna: 12 camps, 11,064 peopleMannar: Three camps, 845 peopleTrincomalee: Two camps, 6,642 people Source: Sri Lankan human rights ministry as of 22 May How Sri Lanka's military won Humanitarian challenge Winning the peace Eyewitness: Treating the Tigers
"There should be promotion and protection of human rights and there should be unimpeded access to the sites of the displaced by international, humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations," Mr Ban said when he arrived in the capital, Colombo."There should be promotion and protection of human rights and there should be unimpeded access to the sites of the displaced by international, humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations," Mr Ban said when he arrived in the capital, Colombo.
Mr Ban said he would also appeal to the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to resolve the long-standing grievances of the Tamil minority.Mr Ban said he would also appeal to the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to resolve the long-standing grievances of the Tamil minority.
"It's time for Sri Lankans to heal the wounds and unite without regards for religious and ethnic identity," he said."It's time for Sri Lankans to heal the wounds and unite without regards for religious and ethnic identity," he said.
Without a political settlement that gives Tamils real rights, UN officials believe the fighting will begin anew, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan in Colombo.Without a political settlement that gives Tamils real rights, UN officials believe the fighting will begin anew, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan in Colombo.
Senior UN officials acknowledge there is a risk that Mr Ban's visit could be used by the Sri Lankan govt to give international approval to its victory, our correspondent says.
Mr Ban told the BBC this would not happen, and that he was here to convey the concern of the international community.
Sri Lanka officially announced an end to the war this week, after its troops took the last segment of land held by the rebels, and said it had killed the top Tamil Tiger leadership, including its chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.Sri Lanka officially announced an end to the war this week, after its troops took the last segment of land held by the rebels, and said it had killed the top Tamil Tiger leadership, including its chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
War tollWar toll
It is thought at least 80,000 people have been killed in the war.It is thought at least 80,000 people have been killed in the war.
The UN says 7,000 civilians have died since January alone, although the government disputes this figure.The UN says 7,000 civilians have died since January alone, although the government disputes this figure.
At a rally before Mr Ban arrived, Mr Rajapaksa dismissed any attempt to take him to an international war crimes court.At a rally before Mr Ban arrived, Mr Rajapaksa dismissed any attempt to take him to an international war crimes court.
"There are some who tried to stop our military campaign by threatening to haul us before war crimes tribunals."There are some who tried to stop our military campaign by threatening to haul us before war crimes tribunals.
"I am not afraid. The strength I have is your support. I am even ready to go to the gallows on your behalf.""I am not afraid. The strength I have is your support. I am even ready to go to the gallows on your behalf."
In the first official statement on casualties among the government forces, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said more than 6,200 security personnel were killed and almost 30,000 wounded in the final three years of the war.In the first official statement on casualties among the government forces, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said more than 6,200 security personnel were killed and almost 30,000 wounded in the final three years of the war.
There are no official figures for the number of Tamil Tiger rebels killed in the civil war, although estimates vary from between 15,000 and more than 22,000.There are no official figures for the number of Tamil Tiger rebels killed in the civil war, although estimates vary from between 15,000 and more than 22,000.