COLOMBO, Jul 27, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX)
-- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres,
Thursday called for confidence building measures to be placed in Sri Lanka's
conflict areas in order to prevent large displacement of people.
Antonio Guterres who ended his 3-day
visit to the island here Thursday was assessing himself the security and
housing needs of the growing number of internal displacement of people
caused by the conflict in the north and east regions.
Guterres said he was happy with his talks with the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels as both sides showed commitment to the need to prevent the displacement.
"We shared guidelines with both parties and the parties agreed to work in principle to implement the guidelines," Guterres said.
"For people to feel comfortable there have to be confidence building measures to prevent conflict," the UN refugee agency chief said, adding that it was important for the sake of the Norwegian backed peace process that all the displaced should be allowed to return and resettle.
An estimated 50,000 Tamils from the north and east had fled their homes since the violence escalated in the regions since end of December -- around 3,000 of them had gone to the neighboring south Indian state of Tamil Nadu risking a dangerous sea journey.
Nearly 900 people have been killed in the new wave of violence which had seriously jeopardized the process of negotiations to end the armed separatist conflict.
Guterres said during his talks both the government and the rebels had shown interest to view the problem of refugees based on a pure humanitarian approach.
The UN refugee chief, during his three-day visit, held talks with Head of the LTTE political wing SP Thamilselvan and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.