More than 2,100 Tamil civilians flee rebel territory in northern Sri Lanka
source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/06/content_11138914.htm
-
-
- ClipsFC
- added this
COLOMBO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The military in Sri Lanka said on Monday that 2,127 Tamil civilians fled Tamil Tiger rebels' territory to the government troops controlled area in the north on Sunday.
Officials from the Defense of Ministry said the 2,127 civilians including 919 children have fled from LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm) hostage and sought protection with the troops at Ampalavanpokkanai in the Mullaittivu district.
The civilian exodus triggered on Sunday hours after the troops crushed the last LTTE resistance at Puthukkudiyiruppu, the military said.
The military said the LTTE have been driven out of their last 1-sq-km stronghold in Puthukkudiyiruppu east and blamed them of mixing up with civilians in the 20-sq-km no fire zone at Puttumatalan area.
Meanwhile, a pro-rebel website said 63 civilians including scores of children were killed and 143 more were injured by shells in the new safe zones declared by the government in Puthumathalan, Mulivaaikal, Irraddaivaikal and Valaingaramadam in Mullaittivu on Saturday.
The verification of claims by both sides is impossible as no independent journalist or organization is allowed to enter the conflict zone for safety reason.
Actual number of civilians trapped in the area is being debated. The government argued that only 120,000 people lived there. But international agencies said some 230,000 people had been originally trapped.
Officials from the Defense of Ministry said the 2,127 civilians including 919 children have fled from LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm) hostage and sought protection with the troops at Ampalavanpokkanai in the Mullaittivu district.
The civilian exodus triggered on Sunday hours after the troops crushed the last LTTE resistance at Puthukkudiyiruppu, the military said.
The military said the LTTE have been driven out of their last 1-sq-km stronghold in Puthukkudiyiruppu east and blamed them of mixing up with civilians in the 20-sq-km no fire zone at Puttumatalan area.
Meanwhile, a pro-rebel website said 63 civilians including scores of children were killed and 143 more were injured by shells in the new safe zones declared by the government in Puthumathalan, Mulivaaikal, Irraddaivaikal and Valaingaramadam in Mullaittivu on Saturday.
The verification of claims by both sides is impossible as no independent journalist or organization is allowed to enter the conflict zone for safety reason.
Actual number of civilians trapped in the area is being debated. The government argued that only 120,000 people lived there. But international agencies said some 230,000 people had been originally trapped.
-
- groups:
- Community, World News, News_Featured, Rebels
-
- tags:
- News, World News, Military, News_Featured, 3 more
-
-
LisaVlad
-
What I be intersted in knowing is who is supplying these guys with weapons?
- 3 years ago
-
LisaVlad
-
-
ClipsFC
-
It's always the case. They are the only countries where things like this can happen.
- 3 years ago
-
ClipsFC
-
-
GDannsk
-
Why is it that it's always these poor countries that have militia's and weapons and terrorize their own people.
- 3 years ago
-
GDannsk
