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| Thousands leave Sri Lankan camp | Thousands leave Sri Lankan camp |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nearly 6,000 Tamil refugees have been released from Sri Lanka's main camp for war-displaced people, officials say. | Nearly 6,000 Tamil refugees have been released from Sri Lanka's main camp for war-displaced people, officials say. |
| The 5,700 refugees who left Menik Farm on Thursday are among almost 40,000 people due to be resettled over the next few weeks, the government says. | The 5,700 refugees who left Menik Farm on Thursday are among almost 40,000 people due to be resettled over the next few weeks, the government says. |
| That would be the largest single batch freed since the Tamil Tigers were defeated in May. Some 250,000 civilians are housed in military-run camps. | That would be the largest single batch freed since the Tamil Tigers were defeated in May. Some 250,000 civilians are housed in military-run camps. |
| The authorities have been criticised for the slow pace of resettlement. | The authorities have been criticised for the slow pace of resettlement. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Rehabilitation Minister Rishat Badurdheen told the BBC that another 36,000 refugees would be resettled "over the coming weeks". | Rehabilitation Minister Rishat Badurdheen told the BBC that another 36,000 refugees would be resettled "over the coming weeks". |
| Inside Menik Farm href="/2/hi/south_asia/8273575.stm">War refugee | |
| Those who left Menik Farm on Thursday included Tamils from areas previously controlled by the rebels. | Those who left Menik Farm on Thursday included Tamils from areas previously controlled by the rebels. |
| It is the first time people have been allowed to return home to areas once held by the Tigers. About 15,000 refugees have been freed up to now. | It is the first time people have been allowed to return home to areas once held by the Tigers. About 15,000 refugees have been freed up to now. |
| The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan says the government's announcement comes at a time when it is under increasing international pressure to resettle the tens of thousands of people displaced in the final stages of the conflict. | The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan says the government's announcement comes at a time when it is under increasing international pressure to resettle the tens of thousands of people displaced in the final stages of the conflict. |
| A US state department report on the final months of the conflict released on Thursday cited incidents committed by both sides which it said may have constituted crimes against humanity. | A US state department report on the final months of the conflict released on Thursday cited incidents committed by both sides which it said may have constituted crimes against humanity. |
| The report - based on first-hand accounts from both sides of the conflict - said the majority of incidents occurred in official no-fire zones. | The report - based on first-hand accounts from both sides of the conflict - said the majority of incidents occurred in official no-fire zones. |
| The Sri Lankan government said the report appeared to be unsubstantiated and that the armed forces were scrupulous in protecting civilians. | The Sri Lankan government said the report appeared to be unsubstantiated and that the armed forces were scrupulous in protecting civilians. |
| The UN has previously raised concerns about human rights violations in the war, but the US is the first country to publish an independent third party report. | The UN has previously raised concerns about human rights violations in the war, but the US is the first country to publish an independent third party report. |
| De-mined | De-mined |
| Sri Lanka's government earlier said it intended to release 80% of the refugees held in camps by the end of the year. | Sri Lanka's government earlier said it intended to release 80% of the refugees held in camps by the end of the year. |
| Most of those are in Menik Farm, which the BBC's Charles Haviland recently visited. He says the camp has now swollen to cover some 10 zones with a population of a quarter of a million. | Most of those are in Menik Farm, which the BBC's Charles Haviland recently visited. He says the camp has now swollen to cover some 10 zones with a population of a quarter of a million. |
| Many refugees in the camp complained about poor food and sanitary conditions. | Many refugees in the camp complained about poor food and sanitary conditions. |
| One said that after being displaced 15 times by the civil war in three years, and being rescued by the army, she was now sharing a tent with 24 people. | One said that after being displaced 15 times by the civil war in three years, and being rescued by the army, she was now sharing a tent with 24 people. |
| "I don't know how to live like this," she said, simply. "Please send us to a good place, or to our homes." | "I don't know how to live like this," she said, simply. "Please send us to a good place, or to our homes." |
| Another woman lamented that inhabitants were falling sick while children remained uneducated. | Another woman lamented that inhabitants were falling sick while children remained uneducated. |
| The government has previously defended itself from human rights groups, many of whom have criticised the slow pace of the releases. | The government has previously defended itself from human rights groups, many of whom have criticised the slow pace of the releases. |
| It argues that it needs to weed out rebels from the camps and ensure that areas in the north are de-mined before refugees return home. | It argues that it needs to weed out rebels from the camps and ensure that areas in the north are de-mined before refugees return home. |
| Aid agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over conditions in Menik Farm - near the north-central town of Vavuniya - and have warned that flooding and poor sanitation will become worse when monsoon rains, which are due at any time, eventually arrive. | Aid agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over conditions in Menik Farm - near the north-central town of Vavuniya - and have warned that flooding and poor sanitation will become worse when monsoon rains, which are due at any time, eventually arrive. |