By Thanjai Nalankilli
(March 24, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) War continues to rage in Mullaitivu between the Sri Lankan military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), fighting for an independent country or self-determination for the Tamil minority of Sri Lanka. Reports issued by unbiased international humanitarian agencies say that LTTE is not allowing Tamil civilians to move out of their areas of control to Sri Lankan army controlled areas. As I said last month, "This is unacceptable and inexcusable. We urge in the strongest terms that those civilians wanting to leave must be allowed to do so".
In spite of the large number of Tamil civilian deaths and injuries, Sri Lankan military continues to bomb and shell LTTE held areas indiscriminately with no concern for Tamil civilian lives. Sri Lankan government's statement of "zero civilian casualty policy" is laughable but for the tragic situation Tamil civilians face and that our eyes are swelling with tears. Reports from unbiased human rights and relief agencies describe a horrifying situation in Mullaitivu. A letter dated January 13, 2009 sent to United Nations Secretary General by a group of religious leaders said, “in indiscriminate attacks babies in their mother’s wombs, infants, children, women and men, young and old, are being killed and wounded every day. Schools, hospitals, places of worship, civilian homes, whose security and safety are guaranteed by the constitution, are not spared in this aggressive war.” Humanitarian agencies have reported several hundred deaths and more injuries [All one has to do is read reports from unbiased news agencies such as the Associated Press or Reuter.] Near the end of January 2009, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that “hundreds” of civilians have been killed during the month and “scores” wounded.
Sri Lankan Government had repeatedly said that LTTE was not allowing civilians to leave areas under their control. Yet government spokesman Lakshman Hulugalle said, "The government cannot be responsible for the safety and security of civilians still living among LTTE terrorists" (Associated Press; February 2, 2009). This is outrageous. If LTTE is not allowing civilians to leave, how can the government bomb and shell those civilians and then wash their hands of any responsibility for their blood?
According to Sri Lankan government, there are in Mullaitivu about 100,000 civilians and 600 LTTE cadres (from "foot soldiers" to senior leaders). [Others put the number of civilians to more than twice as much.] Even taking government figures, Sri Lankan military is willing to kill 166 Tamil civilians for every LTTE cadre. Is it reasonable? Is it acceptable? Should responsible parties be tried for war crimes?
Let us look at government spokesman Lakshman Hulugalle's statement, "The government cannot be responsible for the safety and security of civilians still living among LTTE terrorists", from another perspective. Let us say a gunman is holding 166 innocent people in a building against their wish at gunpoint. Police surrounds the building and yells at the innocent people, "We cannot be responsible for your safety and security if you continue to stay with the gunman". Gives them 48 hours to get out the building, then shoots at the building indiscriminately killing many of the innocent people in order to "finish off" the gunman. Police officers in charge would surely be prosecuted in any civilized society.
Never in recent history has any government been willing to kill 166 innocent civilians for every combatant it wants to kill. Yet this is what is happening in Sri Lanka, and the world watches impotently.
Is there relief for the innocent Tamil civilians? Who will help them? God, please...
[NOTE: Mullaitivu is also spelled as Mullaitheevu, Mullaithivu and Mullaiteevu.] -Sri Lanka Guardian
Home Unlabelled Tamil civilians between the Jaws of Death
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Mullaitivu is also spelled as Mullaitheevu, Mullaithivu and Mullaiteevu.
It was known in ancient times as Mooladoova, මූලදූව as it was the "principle islet" used as a storage depot for ships going to the east from the Anuradhapura-Pollonnaruwa kingdoms, 2nd century CE- 12th century CE.
"The government cannot be responsible for the safety and security of civilians still living among LTTE terrorists" (Associated Press; February 2, 2009). This is the truth and that is the very reason why the government is trying to rescue these people from the LTTE. Government could provide safety for the people who are under their control not under the LTTE control. I hope the writer could understand the difference. Distorting facts will not help the people. If LTTE lay down the arms and surrender there will be no safety issue for these innocent people.
While many trapped in the LTTE hide out may be innocent civilians,who need to be rescued,just as many are there by their own volition,be them die hard LTTE supporters or families of fighters still alive and fighting. As George Bush said "either you are with us or against us". That very act of being with LTTE (even without bearing arms) tantamounts to "aiding and abetting the act of Terrorism".Therefore such persons cannot be considered "civilians".
As we understand many who are held by the LTTE,whether by choice or otherwise, are being forced to take up arms by the LTTE. A weapon in the hands of a forced civilian is no less lethal than that of a terrorist.In this instance,as unfortunate as it may be, the army has no choice but shoot to kill.
Human cost of any war is unimaginable. Remeber how many innocent Japanese perished in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?.And this IS war.
Therefore the right action the "Sun God" should take is to let those innocent civilians go,IF he is, as he claims, the guardian of the Tamils,before the sun goes down on him.
Lets understand the core issue here.. It is the LTTE Terrorist keeping Innocent Civilians as Human shields or Hostages. Any Government Sri Lanka or otherwise will eradicate terrorism and there is no stopping to that. That is the responsibility of a democratically elected government, and Sri Lanka is doing a great job. It is the responsibility of the Tamils like you and I to presurise the LTTE Terrorist to release the Innocent civilians. Plan and simple.
Sinnia Raman
ha...its laughable what this article says about the plight of the Tamil civilians in the mullathivu, well those so called aid agencies ,whom they called ''Civilians' when they got shot by carrying arms and commit terrorist activities and once take the guns off..they all become civilians ,how laughable is that?..so dear writer do you have any methodology to identify the terrorist and civilians?
This man who ever he is should go and have a little heart to heart chat with POLPOT VELU and tell him to bite that cyanide which he carries in his AMUDE. As far as I am concerned if a few thousand dies so what.Already 100000 have died(tamil net) so a few more will have no effect on the total dead or living. Just a part of life when people use the money earned to buy weapons instead of food. Since all the cry babies have spent so much money on weapons and have less to spend on food the less people to feed the better for the living.LOL
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