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Donors warn on Sri Lanka violence | Donors warn on Sri Lanka violence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
International donors have urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to halt worsening violence. | International donors have urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to halt worsening violence. |
At an aid meeting in the city of Galle, World Bank vice president Praful Patel said the bloodshed was "at the centre of any discussion" about the country. | At an aid meeting in the city of Galle, World Bank vice president Praful Patel said the bloodshed was "at the centre of any discussion" about the country. |
US ambassador Robert Blake told delegates there was no military solution to the conflict, which has claimed 65,000 lives since the 1970s. | US ambassador Robert Blake told delegates there was no military solution to the conflict, which has claimed 65,000 lives since the 1970s. |
Most of about $4.5bn in foreign aid pledges is contingent on peace moves. | Most of about $4.5bn in foreign aid pledges is contingent on peace moves. |
'Obstacle' | 'Obstacle' |
Mr Patel said there was no way "to politely skirt" the issue of renewed and deepening conflict in the island. | Mr Patel said there was no way "to politely skirt" the issue of renewed and deepening conflict in the island. |
A development vision cannot exist independently of the conflict World Bank vice president Praful Patel | A development vision cannot exist independently of the conflict World Bank vice president Praful Patel |
"The past year has not been good at all for the families of the more than 3,500 Sri Lankans killed as a result of the increased hostilities," he said. | "The past year has not been good at all for the families of the more than 3,500 Sri Lankans killed as a result of the increased hostilities," he said. |
"Nor has it been a good year for the additional over 200,000 persons displaced by the conflict. It has not been a good year for the whole population of the north and east. | "Nor has it been a good year for the additional over 200,000 persons displaced by the conflict. It has not been a good year for the whole population of the north and east. |
"We cannot spend two days discussing development plans if we do not place the conflict squarely in our sights as the largest obstacle." | "We cannot spend two days discussing development plans if we do not place the conflict squarely in our sights as the largest obstacle." |
Mr Patel said the challenges in rebuilding Sri Lanka were "enormous". | Mr Patel said the challenges in rebuilding Sri Lanka were "enormous". |
He said "some fairly good progress" had been made since 2001 but that had now been stopped in its tracks. | He said "some fairly good progress" had been made since 2001 but that had now been stopped in its tracks. |
"The government needs to enable us to do our job better by creating a more conducive environment," he said. | "The government needs to enable us to do our job better by creating a more conducive environment," he said. |
Aid agencies have complained in recent months that the authorities have hindered them from reaching conflict areas. They have also criticised the rebels for using civilians as human shields. | |
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse told delegates he believed that development of the north and east was important for sustainable peace. | |
But he said it was "equally important to defeat futile terrorist attacks" mounted by the Tamil Tigers. | |
'Power-sharing' | 'Power-sharing' |
US Ambassador Robert Blake said the only way forward was through peace talks. | US Ambassador Robert Blake said the only way forward was through peace talks. |
"We remain unwavering in our conviction that there can be no military solution to this terrible conflict," he told the meeting. | "We remain unwavering in our conviction that there can be no military solution to this terrible conflict," he told the meeting. |
"We hope Sri Lanka will seize the opportunity to forge a power-sharing proposal that can form the basis for talks with the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] that could finally bring an end to conflict in Sri Lanka." | "We hope Sri Lanka will seize the opportunity to forge a power-sharing proposal that can form the basis for talks with the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] that could finally bring an end to conflict in Sri Lanka." |
The Tamil Tigers are listed by the US, the EU, India and others as a banned terrorist organisation. | The Tamil Tigers are listed by the US, the EU, India and others as a banned terrorist organisation. |
They have been fighting since the 1970s for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east for minority Tamils, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese. | They have been fighting since the 1970s for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east for minority Tamils, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese. |
A 2002 cease-fire between the rebels and the government is still technically in place, although fighting has steadily worsened over the past year. | A 2002 cease-fire between the rebels and the government is still technically in place, although fighting has steadily worsened over the past year. |
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