Virakesari’s appeal on behalf of the non-combatants of Vanni!

– Virakesari Editorial

(September 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Rev.Fr.Saudarnayakam, in his interview, with Virakesari said that he is perturbed over the fate of the Vanni people and the sufferings which the people are going to face in the future.

Prior to his interview being published, there had been an incident in which 5 people including 2 children were killed. Reports say that 97, 644 families have been displaced - 29,934 families from Mualaitheevu, 39,274 families from killinochchi, 17, 030 families from Vavuniya North and 11, 406 families from Mannar.

News and photos from Vanni confirm that most of these displaced people are living under trees and along roadsides. Rev.Fr.Duleep D. Sikaro has requested that peace zone should be established.

Both the Government and the LTTE say that they fight for the freedom of the people. If that were so both sides should let the UNHCR and the UNICEF to create a peace zone and open a peace path. TRO in his report says that 50 % of the people have left their homes.

Non combatants should be protected at any cost. It is regrettable that the International Community observes a calculated silence even after knowing the agony in the Vanni. It is painful not only to Vanni people but to the entire Tamil community that IC is silent.

IC should cease to be silent. It should show concern towards the Vanni people. We make this appeal on behalf of the innocent civilians, the non-combatants of the Vanni.

(An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.) - Sri Lanka Guardian