HRW urges Pope to raise rights abuses when he meets President Rajapaksa

New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has requested the pontiff to urge Rajapaksa to accept a UN rights monitoring mission "to monitor abuses by both the LTTE and state security forces".

In a letter sent to Pope Benedict XVI, the HRW has highlighted five major issues to discuss with Rajapaksa, who is scheduled to have an audience with him on 20 April.

Catholic LTTE supporters

Highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai told BBC Sinhala that the President is to seek pontiff's help to approach Sri Lanka's Catholic community.

The government should make public a list of all persons detained by the military and police under emergency regulations and other laws, and provide these people proper access to their families and legal representation HRW letter to Pope Benedict

A considerable Tamil community in and out Sri Lanka who support Tamil Tigers respect Pope as their religious leader, Fernandopullai said.

In his Easter Message, the pontiff urged Sri Lanka's warrying parties to find a negoatiated solution to end bloodshed.

"In Sri Lanka, only a negotiated solution can put an end to the conflict that causes so much bloodshed," he said.

UN monitoring mission

HRW urges Pope Benedict to raise the issue of child abductions by the Karuna group in the east and "disappearances" by the state and state-sponsored armed groups, including the Karuna group, EPDP and PLOTE.

In Sri Lanka, only a negotiated solution can put an end to the conflict that causes so much bloodshed Pope on Sri Lanka's conflict

"The government should make public a list of all persons detained by the military and police under emergency regulations and other laws, and provide these people proper access to their families and legal representation," the HRW letter said.

Forcibly returning the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) by the government is another serious issue, according to HRW.

"We hope our proposals will help protect civilians, promote human rights, and assist the development of a lasting political solution (in Sri Lanka)," the HRW letter signed by Asia Director Brad Adams stated.