Anandasangaree pleads for immediate relief supplies

(March 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Depending on reliable sources that are constantly in touch with Mr Anandasangaree from Wanni and other parts of the north, the man who is most familiar with this region and the people there has made an impassioned plea for essential drugs and much needed food items to be air-dropped without any delay. These, Mr Anandasangaree have stated must be followed with shipments of adequate food supplies and other needs.

“The lives of more than three hundred thousand people in the hostage-trapped situation as well as outside areas in Wanni are at great risk,” said Mr Anandasangaree when he was interviewed by Nilantha Ilangamuwa following a press report he issued from the headquarters of the Tamil United Liberation Front.

He said further: “The time has now come for the Government to stop and look back. Before proceeding further, taking of a full stock of the situation is absolutely necessary. The latest developments in Wanni do not appear to be encouraging but in fact is distressing. I am reliably informed that people are not merely on the verge of starvation but some people had in fact died of starvation.

“A family of six, narrowly escaped death after eating some food prepared with some local herbs, presumably poisonous. To make things worse the LTTE had setup check points around to prevent anyone from escaping from the areas under their control and entering the safety zone. Attempts by several people to escape were foiled by death threats and cordon and search operations. Some had even lost their lives in their attempts to escape.”

Let there be no doubt Mr Anandasangaree sad that the war had been won against the LTTE and that is the stark truth. If the LTTE thinks that they can stage a come back they are living in a fool’s paradise.

“They are now holding the people to ransom partly as human shield and partly to strengthen their bargaining power. The factors that should be taken into serious consideration in a situation like this are many.

“The Government forces suffered heavy losses and had to sacrifice hundreds of soldiers in this war against terrorism. One of the factors that contributed for their victory is certainly the co-operation of the civilians given to the forces who during the entire war period treated the civilians as friends and not as enemies and vice-versa. This is something the pro-Tamil Diaspora do not want to believe.

“The parents who were deprived of their children due to the LTTE’s conscription, worked with a vengeance. The LTTE cadres who lost their lives at the battle front were children of poor parents, compulsorily recruited to the LTTE cadre. Conscription is still going on.

“Over 8000 students who sat for the G.C.E. Examination are being mercilessly and forcibly recruited. Even the elders trapped in Wanni are given brief but intensive training to fight. Deprived of all the facilities they had in the past, the LTTE can never raise their head. Hence no one need take the LTTE seriously.”

However Mr Anandasangaree stressed that the country has a responsibility to liberate the trapped people. Even the LTTE cadre recruited by force, he said should be rehabilitated. Hence it is the duty of the Government to save every soul now caught up in Wanni. Food should be provided to meet the needs of all. It is no secret that the entire LTTE cadre had been fed by the Government all these days, lasting over quarter of a century.

He said that the LTTE has a habit and now it has become a tradition for them, to meet their requirements first, before that of the civilians. Only if sufficient food ships are sent, the civilians will be in a position to receive their requirements in full.

“This war,” Mr Anandasangaree said, “cannot be brought to an end in a hurry as demanded by some. One should have lost something very dear to him or to her due to the war, to realize the agony the war causes to the people. The entire good name the forces earned at great sacrifice including the loss of a large number of their comrades, should not go waste.

“During a recent briefing to the forces at the Vavuniya Head Quarters Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka had said ‘our progress from now onwards should be made meticulously, taking maximum precautions, keeping the civilian factor in mind at all times.”

He concluded: “The increase in civilian causalities including death is indeed disturbing and deplorable. The Air Force that did a good job must now use all their aircraft for humanitarian activities. Artillery attack and shelling also must stop forthwith and all the people trapped in Wanni should be tactfully and carefully brought to safety. Then only the good name earned by the forces could be retained.” -Sri Lanka Guardian