US accused Sri Lanka of going back on promises to protect human rights and said the situation in the island had "deteriorated" in the past year.
COLOMBO: The United States on Thursday accused Sri Lanka of going back on promises to protect human rights and said the situation in the embattled island had "deteriorated" in the past year.
Visiting US diplomat Richard Boucher said there was more bloodshed and that the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse had failed to honour pledges to reduce violence since he took office in November 2005.
"People are more fearful and face more difficulties. Overall there has been a deterioration in Sri Lanka's human rights record," Boucher said when asked how he assessed the situation to Colombo since his last visit in October.
Boucher, the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian affairs, told reporters here that he wanted to see Colombo deliver on the promises made to the international community to reduce violence stemming from a bitter ethnic conflict with Tamil rebels.
"We are very concerned," he said after his closed-door meeting with Rajapakse at his tightly-guarded Temple Trees residence.
Boucher said he raised concerns with Rajapakse about the collapse of a ceasefire agreement with the rebels, attacks on media and the escalation of extra-judicial killings that have left more than 4,000 dead since December 2005.
Rajapakse's office in a statement said Boucher was told that Colombo was "doing its best" to ensure there were no rights violations.
Boucher on Wednesday travelled to the embattled northern peninsula of Jaffna where 350,000 civilians and 40,000 government troops have lived under virtual siege conditions since the only land access was closed in August.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched an abortive assault on the peninsula on August 11, prompting the military to shut the main highway to the region.
Jaffna is now supplied through risky air and sea transport routes vulnerable to Tamil Tiger attack.
Despite government assurances of food and permitting a limited amount of fishing in the area, Boucher said residents in Jaffna continued to live in fear.
"Lots of people are worried about their security, afraid of the abductions and killings that are going on. Going forward, more needs to be done to create a climate where people can be safe," he said.
In March, Boucher's deputy, Steven Mann, urged Sri Lanka to address human rights issues amid reports that more than 700 people had "disappeared" in the past year.
More than 60,000 people have died in the 35-year ethnic conflict.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}