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LTTE hindering safe passage to civilians: Colombo

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s military on Sunday claimed at least 30 LTTE cadre were killed and scores others injured in continued battles in the north in the past 48 hours.

The claim came amid growing concern over the fate of civilians trapped in the war zone. For some days now, the Air Force has been dropping leaflets in the LTTE-controlled areas pledging government support for the safety and shelter of civilians.

There are no accurate estimates of number of civilians in LTTE-held areas. UN agencies estimated that over 1 lakh people could have been displaced in Wanni due to the recent fighting. Government agents of Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu have been asked to provide temporary accommodation in schools to internally displaced persons (IDPs), said a government statement. “Plans are under way to settle them in shelters located in safe areas prior to the commencement of the new school term. There is absolutely no truth in the reports of IDPs living under trees,” it added.

Further, the government alleged that while it encouraged civilians to move from the conflict zone to safe areas, the LTTE has hindered thousands from moving to safer places by imposing a pass system and in some instances, forcing some family members to stay behind to ensure the return of the rest of the family.

“These measures seem designed to use civilians as a buffer against the government forces, which is a serious violation of international humanitarian norms. In these circumstances, it is incumbent on the international community to exert pressure on the LTTE to allow civilians to leave areas controlled by them. The safety and well-being of civilians can be effectively ensured in government-controlled facilities,” said the statement.

According to military, the LTTE cadre may have been given specific orders to infiltrate into the “liberated areas and cause destruction to both civilian and military targets triggering a slowdown of the military’s advances into the last LTTE bastions at Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu.”

Pro-LTTE TamilNet website, quoting LTTE sources, claimed the LTTE confronted soldiers, who were attempting to advance towards Aalangku’lam in Thu’nukkaay in Mullaththivu on Saturday.

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