Nearly seven years after a previous government lifted a ban on the LTTE to facilitate political engagement and a peace process, the present government, has again proscribed the LTTE. The government has justified its decision on the grounds that the LTTE is preventing civilians trapped in territory under its control.  The ban comes in the aftermath of major military battles in which the government has regained strategic and symbolically important territory once held by the LTTE.

 
The plight of trapped civilians in the territory under LTTE control is increasing. With the Sri Lankan military closing in on the LTTE, there have been increasing reports of civilian fatalities. However, the government's decision to ban the LTTE is unlikely to induce the LTTE to seek the establishment of a humanitarian corridor that would enable the civilian population to move to places of greater safety. We do not believe that isolating the LTTE is helpful. The National Peace Council believes that the government would better serve the trapped civilians by politically engaging the LTTE rather than cutting them off entirely with a ban.

We note that on several occasions, religious leaders within the country have offered to intervene to negotiate a humanitarian corridor for the trapped civilians.  NPC calls on the government to explore this option to safeguard the lives of civilians.  We also call on the government to seek international assistance in negotiating a humanitarian corridor for the civilians who wish to leave the war zones. We also request that NGOs and civil society groups be permitted to support civilians trapped in shrinking areas still under LTTE control.