EU says it has 'very serious concerns' over alleged Sri Lanka human rights abuses

The European Union said Tuesday it has "very serious concerns" about reported human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

Abductions, enforced disappearances and unexplained killings have increased in the country since December 2005, when hostilities reignited between Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels after a cease-fire brought relative calm for more than three years.

"The EU continues to harbor very serious concerns about continuing reports of human rights abuses," said a statement issued at the end of a three-day visit by a six-member group representing the present EU presidency. The group also condemned alleged rights breaches by the Tamil Tigers.

The U.S. State Department's 2007 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Sri Lanka was released last week and cited alleged government abuses including unlawful killings, abductions, arbitrary arrests and the denial of fair public trials.

"The government's respect for human rights continued to decline due in part to the escalation of the armed conflict," the report said.

There was no immediate comment from the government or rebels on Tuesday's statement.

The government and rebels have in the past denied involvement in rights abuses. The government said last week's U.S. statement presented a distorted and exaggerated view of the situation.

The rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for the island's minority ethnic Tamils after decades of marginalization by governments controlled by the majority Sinhalese. The violence has killed more than 70,000 people.

Source: IHT