UN urges Sri Lanka rebels to let civilians leave

Posted by Lasantha Janaka on Saturday, February 28, 2009 Comments: (0)

UNITED NATIONS The chief of U.N. humanitarian efforts urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Friday to let tens of thousands of civilians leave the war zone, saying there are "credible reports" that some people trying to flee have been shot.

John Holmes also called on the Sri Lankan government to allow civilians to leave safely, either by agreeing to a temporary halt in hostilities or the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for safe passage through the front lines in the South Asian island's northeast.

Steps are also needed "to ensure a peaceful, orderly and humane end to the fighting," he said. "The risk of a very bloody end to this long running conflict is otherwise unacceptably high."

Holmes briefed the U.N. Security Council on his visit to Sri Lanka on a day when government troops drove deeper into the Tamil Tigers' dwindling stronghold, confining the rebels to an area smaller than Manhattan. The government has said it is on the verge of destroying the rebels and ending the Indian Ocean nation's quarter-century civil war.

"Estimates vary of the number of civilians trapped, from 70,000 according to the government, through around 200,000 according to U.N. estimates, up to 300,000 or more according to Tamil groups," Holmes said.

"The number of casualties from the fighting, among whom we believe are many civilians, cannot be verified in the absence of independent sources, since humanitarian agencies and the media have no access to the area, but we believe dozens of people per day at least are being killed and many more wounded," he added.

Holmes said the physical condition of civilians caught in the fighting is also "of increasing concern" because the only supplies that have gotten into the area are limited amounts brought in by sea by the International Red Cross and government agents.

"Food, medical supplies, clean water, sanitation facilities and shelter are now extremely short," he said. "The risks from hunger and diseases are growing rapidly, in addition to those from the fighting."

Senior rebel leader dies in Sri Lanka fighting

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A senior Tamil Tiger rebels' leader died in fighting between government troops and the rebels in the northeastern area of Sri Lanka on Thursday, military officials said Friday.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ground commander named Shankar was killed in the heavy fighting commenced around 7:30 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and lasted till 5:30 p.m. (1200 GMT),the military said.

Shankar had led the rebel defense of Purthukudyiruppu, the last LTTE hold of less than 60 sq km.

At least 12 more rebels were killed while 30 more were injured in the fighting, the military said.

But the military did not mention the casualties of the troops.

Meanwhile, a pro-rebel website said a Sri Lanka Air Force bomber was shot down in Mullaittivu on Friday at 11:25 a.m. local time (0555 GMT), but the military denied the claim.

Sri Lankan troops are on the look out for Velupillai Prabakaran, the reclusive Tamil Tiger leader who had led the over three decade old fight in the north and east.

Prabakaran, 54, is still believed to be in Purthukudyiruppu waiting to flee the area in the face of a rapid military advance.

The rebels have lost one stronghold after another to the advancing military who are on throes of completely crushing the LTTE's fighting capability.

The LTTE sought to set up a separate homeland for the minority Tamil community in the north and east claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhalese majority ruling community.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in Asia's longest civil war since the LTTE launched their armed campaign in the mid-1980s.

SL forces on the verge of capturing remaining LTTE-held areas

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Sri Lankan forces on Friday drove deeper into the remaining areas held by the beleaguered LTTE in the island's north and killed at least 19 Tamil Tigers, including its senior commander, even as the rebels put up a stiff resistance.

Intense fighting was reported in Ampalavanpokkanai and Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaittivu, as troops of 58 Division further gained control over more LTTE-held areas in the Wanni region, the defence ministry said.

Infantrymen of 10 Sri Lanka Light Infantry inflicted heavy damages to the Tamil Tigers in general area Ampalavanpokkani, it said. The LTTE is now confined to a small area in the Wanni jungles.

Intercepted LTTE communication channels confirmed that rebels suffered heavy losses, the ministry said.

In subsequent search operations conducted in the area, troops found two bodies of LTTE cadres, it said, adding that a huge cache of arms were also recovered from the area.

LTTE cadres, who put up stiff resistance on advancing troops for defending their last stronghold, suffered damages, it said.

An LTTE ground commander, known as Shankar, who led the battle against security forces in Puthukudiyiruppu area, was killed during the fighting, ground troops said.