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UN blocking release of Sri Lanka satellite images?
Written by: Andrew Stroehlein
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Fresh satellite images of the war zone in northeast Sri Lanka are available, but the UN agency charged with analysing them is not making them public. The images contain evidence of severe damage from heavy artillery and possibly air strikes, suggesting indiscriminate attacks in areas of high civilian concentration, which could be classed as war crimes carried out by the government of Sri Lanka.
The photos were taken on 19 April, and UNOSAT produced its analysis in a ten-page PDF file on 26 April.
Initially that file -- including both images and analysis -- was publicly available. Human Rights Watch even linked to it in their 27 April press release on Sri Lanka, which called for an international commission of inquiry into violations of the laws of war by government forces and the rebel LTTE (Tamil Tigers).
Then something seems to have changed at UNOSAT, and the online link to the PDF file is now password protected.
I am not the first to note this problem. Inner City Press wrote about it yesterday. The UNOSAT spokesperson told them the file was initially leaked, then they put it briefly online. But it is now unavailable. Journalist Matthew Russell Lee asks the right question: "But why weren't the photos released in the first place?"
In a press conference yesterday, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said they were not sitting on the images, and the decision to release them was UNOSAT's.
In this conflict, both the government forces and the Tamil Tigers have been abdicating their responsibility to protect civilians from mass atrocity crimes. To me it is bordering on scandalous that possible evidence of such crimes has been locked up out of public view. The UN should release them.
In the meantime, if you cannot wait, someone managed to get the file before it was password protected, so you can download it and make your own judgements...
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27 responses to “UN blocking release of Sri Lanka satellite images?”
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Journalist Andrew Stroehlein is Communications Director for the International Crisis Group, the conflict resolution organisation, where he promotes responsible coverage of current and potential conflicts and helps draw attention to forgotten wars around the world.
30 Apr 2009 13:20:18 GMT
What is scandalous is the sensationalising of Pro terrorist propaganda.
The Zone which was later marked a 'No Fire Zone' was a combat zone before the Tigers decided to 'tactically withdraw' in to this area. The craters could have been present prior to civilian arrival. Or if it's due to shelling, there are enough reports to indicate the Tigers were shelling their own to get this kind of response from conspiracy theorist.30 Apr 2009 13:21:12 GMT
Beside the satellite images available, there are other first hand information from IRC personnel visiting the no-fire zone in a ferry,once in every three days to remove badly injured civilians 5,00 back to government hospitals for treatments. Out of the badly injured 4,00 to 5,00 ferried at least three people die in the transit, to the bad injuries they have received, on the way to hospitals. In the last three months out of the transferred 15,000 injured still receiving medical care from security camps run by srilankan Army, there are thousands of children separated from theirs parents.
Apart from the photo images,the living memory of these injured civilians and IRC officials who visit to ferry these unfortunate victims once in three days are good enough to give true evidence about the type of hardware weapons used in the so called no fire zones. Many government medical personnel working in the hospitals from the start of this conflict in the no-fire zone are another true witnesses,about the weapons used and the medicine availability in the no-fire zones for emergency treatment of badly wounded civilians. MSF and other international medical personnel also will be able to give evidence about the type of wounds they were treating for these civilians first hand. Even satellite imaging photos are under challenge by the government of Srilanka as they say the areal photographs by their unmanned planes are only showing 15,000 present in the no-fire zones. But the satellite imaging by UN showing only crowded tents,estimating over 70,000 civilians in the areas. All these accusations of LTTE killing and holding up of the civilians by force can only be verified by an impartial international inquiry. Srilanka government has released a recent video of a surrendered LTTE's former media person proving their allegations, while civilians in the Srilanka army security camps are reported escaping in blocks out because of the bad treatments they are forced to go through. Only an impartial inquiry by recordings from all these injured and other civilians will be able tell the world about the inhuman human rights violations happening in Srilanka.30 Apr 2009 13:21:35 GMT
How does UN know for sure that these damages are done due Sri Lankan Army Fire?
01 May 2009 12:48:56 GMT
Let the freemedia into this area, and allow the international organizations to talk with the people, who are displaced, without any interruption. Then only one kan make sure of fact. Why is the Sri Lanken Government not allowing any independent media or other international organizations into the area, if there is nothing to hide?
01 May 2009 12:53:14 GMT
All information comming out of UN and continuous prevention of free media presence in save zone indicate the sri lanka and its backers are playing very dirty war. there must be investigation in to the crimes being commit-ed. I believe UN and ICRC have more information on whats going on if some one is bother find out the truth.
Truth can't b hidden for long, but we know it early we can stop another ruwanda or bosnia.01 May 2009 12:54:05 GMT
Srilankan gavernment shelling and airstriking is normal in tamil areas. Government has been using these heavy weapons and airstrike more than 15 years, eversince government lost control of these areas. I am the witness. I spent most of the time in bunkers when I was living in Jaffna. We were scared to go anywhere. We did not have proper sleep. There was no electricity. We used kerosine lamps. When we hear the plane or helicopter, we put off the lamp. Otherwise when they see the lights, they attack those houses. We cannot describe with one or two sentences, the horrible life we had. The government got the lands/ control again only with the help of these heavy weapons and airstike. Their intention was only defeating the rebels and getting the land back. They did n't even care about the innocent people who were living there. Any time any day they bombed. I am not surprised to see these images. This is happening more than 1! 5 years and now only it is leaking. I was a student that time. My gradmother was bed ridden. We couldn't take her inside the bunker. We left her inside the house, while we were in the bunkers, but praying for her from inside. We were so scared to stay with her inside the house.
01 May 2009 12:56:12 GMT
Satellite technology is being tremendous improvements nowadays. It can be used for many useful things and some inhuman activities. UNOSAT is doing a very good job, well done; it will save the people from War Crimes and Genocide.
01 May 2009 12:56:53 GMT
thousands of injured people are being evacuated by the ICRC in the recent past,that tells you the true account of what the srilankan army is doing to those innocent tamil people.Anyone can tell from the type of injuries that the army is using indiscriminate shelling and ariel bombardment on this so called safe zone.Majority of these injuries are either very severe or lost their limbs
01 May 2009 13:02:05 GMT
Does this mean to say that UN is spying on its own member countries and it has become public? Isn't that a violation especially when the UN Security Council has announced that the situation in Sri Lanka is NOT a global threat or a "genocide" and the pro-LTTE propaganda claims?
Besides, these images are provided by a third party to the UN, and the interpretation is subject to the level of understanding of the individual. Any military expert knows that these photos cannot prove who fired what, and in a conflict zone it is almost impossible to come to any conclusion. Please refer to Mr Robert Karniol's expert interpretation on Al Jazeera. The best so far the world has is the eye witness evidence. According to many civilians, Al Jazeera and Daya Master a former LTTE leader, the world knows that the LTTE was shelling and firing at Tamils inside the Zone, using small arms, heavy artillery as well as their last remaining battle tank. We mustn't forget that this is a battle between a democratically elected government (which has rescued hundreds of thousands of civilians from the terror grip) and LTTE a banned terrorist organisation. We musn't forget that the Estern province of Sri Lanka now has a democratically elected government run by a former LTTE child-soldier, and the ultimate aim in Sri Lanka is to defeat terrorism and bring about a democratic rule. We must also forget that the propaganda work is very different from reality on the ground.01 May 2009 13:04:24 GMT
Hei. How does the UN allow this.UN Must press to stop the war. Why didn't UN open the eye??????????????????????++. Are UN help the Sri Lankan government?????????????
01 May 2009 13:07:56 GMT
Hei. How does the UN allow this.UN Must press to stop the war. Why didn't UN open the eye?????????????????????? Are UN help the Sri Lankan government?????????????
01 May 2009 13:11:54 GMT
Udara Ranasinghe says: How does UN know for sure that these damages are done due Sri Lankan Army Fire?
Because LTTE has no MBRL or War planes.01 May 2009 13:14:37 GMT
Is that means some interested party trying to hide the truth? Can they also be part of this suspected war crime? If such an obvious info. can be hidden how many things can be covered in the Sri Lankan war? Who can bring real JUSTISE?
01 May 2009 13:21:40 GMT
wtf
UN is suppose to be just and fair or every human being. i thought un is unprofitable organization that is working for the public. but i guse it is not!01 May 2009 13:36:25 GMT
I heard the nut job journalist put this question to Holmes at the UN press briefing. Holmes responded with a hint of sarcasm saying the UN has no reason to hold any images back, nor does UNOSAT.
01 May 2009 13:37:13 GMT
What more evidence is needed?The US government must have even more sophiticated satellite photos.The Obama administration must come clean or in turn they would be accused in future of being silent when a humanitarian catastrophe was unfolding.
01 May 2009 13:42:44 GMT
Here is the link for the Sri Lanka satellite images re heavy artillery & air strikes. http://www.innercitypress.com/UNOSAT19April09.pdf
01 May 2009 13:44:26 GMT
SL government has announced that the Army have stopped using heavy weapons and shelling in order to save civilians. This statement clearly shows that the army were using heavy weapons and shelling towards civilians. Further Civilians who are now at the camps will tell the truth of this bloodshed but will Civilians at the camp with security forces surrounded to them open their mouth?
01 May 2009 13:47:34 GMT
I have been listening to some of the comments that are being repeated by the mouth pieces of the Sri Lankan government officials but found real contradictions between the ground realities and their statements.
The controversial statement regularly made by the Sri Lankan government in the Western media. Are they really telling us the truth? 1. Sri Lankan forces are not firing into the safe zone Answer now clear to every body,who is helping srilankan government!!!!01 May 2009 13:47:57 GMT
Thanks for bringing out this News and valueable evidences. Atleast now the international community should take the responsiblity to stop further war crimes. Stop this brutal and ruthless war. No one will be hurt by stoping this war. Please save the tamils in sri lanka. They are not in a position to raise their voice but we have. Lets stop this war. Thanks again Andrew
01 May 2009 13:48:32 GMT
One thing I'm known to say around my family, friends and colleagues at work is "slow down, take a deep breath, and what are we actually talking about".
In the sense of this story, and the Satellite imagery spoken about - we are looking at Satelite imagery taken on APril 19th. There has been satelite imagery taken prior, on what dates we don't know based on the contents of this article. Logic dictates that you can take imagery from Day A, and Day B and make conclusions based on the images. Secondly, no one cares who is doing the firing, humantiarians care whether or not the allegations that civilians are harmed in the middle of the conflict. That is what these images can answer. Finally, who is right, who is wrong, who started what is irrelevant in this particular war (and I believe is true of all wars). What is relevant is that Peace is maintained, and to maintain peace, the past is buried. Without forgiveness, there is no peace in any conflict. This holds true of both sides of the conflict.11 May 2009 12:42:55 GMT
Thanks Andrew, for yet another thrilling example of half truths. Fact is that both sides are guilty of telling half thruths, and no independent body to verify. Fact is that people who have been lucky enough to escape this so called safe zone are extremely traumatised, both physically as well as mentally. Shell wounds are abundant as well as bullet wounds. And with the latest pictures by UnoSat there is additional proof that underwrites the statements of the civilians. It is time that the UN takes a firm stand and confronts the GoSL and the LTTE with it. Was it not after Rwanda and Srebrenica that UN said: "Never again"? By remaining eerily silent they are again complicit to thousands of deaths and a continued violation of International Humanitarian Law, both in the no fire zone as well as in the IDP camps in the government controlled areas!
12 May 2009 17:26:56 GMT
I'm sri lankan. This is our country. There is no genocide caused by sl army. Ltte killed tiger own people. Usa and international community said AL QUAIDA is terrorists. But they say ltte is not. Although they are illegel in that countries. Do a research about india. What they do for these kind of terror. What about ltte's bomb attacks for civilians. What about that huh! Please don't comment on what you heard. Come to sl. I can guarantee that these fire is done by ltte. And go to www.defence.lk. Sl govt. Filmed ltte is firing civilians by UAV aircraft. Those video's are viewed by forgin ministers and un persons. See it your self. I think its on www.defence.lk. Note that ltte hiding truth.
13 May 2009 03:19:11 GMT
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/asia/satellite-imagery-offers-glimpse-on-sri-lankan-war-zone/
16 May 2009 23:45:19 GMT
Tell me one reason why the LTTE would be killing Tamil people? If you're answer is "they want to separate the country and run the northern part", then why would they kill their own people? If there is no one to rule over, why rule in the first place?
But there are many reasons why the SL government would want to kill Tamils. First, by killing Tamils and getting rid of the LTTE, the government does not have to worry about separating the country. Second, Tamils are a minority and were always treated as outsiders within their own country (hence the reason for the way). Third, the SL government is just pissed that someone had the guts to stand up and wants anyone who goes against them dead. Let me ask you one thing. Why is it that Sinhalese journalists, who are exposing the brutal truths about the SL government, are being abducted and murdered? Are you going to tell me that the LTTE, who are still in northern SL went all the way to Colombo to kill these reporters, who are writing against the governemnt? Just think about it for a second before making such so-called patriotic comments. It's not about whose right and whose wrong. It's about humanitarianism and the end of a genocide. The world came in too later for the Jewish genocide, the Rewanda genocide and so on. Let's not make another mistake. Let's try to do something good for the world and make history of that. Let's not try to add another country to the list of countries with genocides.16 May 2009 23:46:16 GMT
The BBC estimates that more than 70,000 people were killed. There is clearly a human blood bath Occuring in Srilanka.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/16 May 2009 23:48:11 GMT
For comment #23 by Only truth:
You say that you are sri lankan and that is your country. I think that statment alone proves the attitude of the SL government. YOu don't want anyone there and your aim is to destroy the Tamils completely. You don't see other countries saying anything like that. America is not pushing out the coloured folks there. Canada is not stopping immigrants from coming in. If such counties allow for people from Sri Lanka to come in and live there, then why would you say such a comment. Stop being selfish and live life peacefully. Everyone lives only once, so just calm down and think postively. There world will go nowhere with people like you. We will just witness World War 3 with people like you around. And if you are so patriotic, get off the blog and go fight with the army. If you don't have guts for that, then stop pretending and get a life.