62 civilians killed, SLA, SLAF step up attacks on safety zone

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stepped up shelling on all areas within the so-called safety zone from 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, killing 62 civilians and causing injuires to many. Artillery and mortar shells hit the safety zone killing 27 civilians during the night. Artillery-fitted cluster munitions exploded between Valaignarmadam and Ampalavanpokka'nai causing heavy casualties. The SLA deployed RPG shells, short range mortars and long distance gunfire on the safety zone during the daytime on Tuesday in addition to 12 air strikes in the settlements surrounding the Pachchaip-pulmoaddai junction within the safety zone. More than 70 bombs were dropped by the SLAF bombers that flew at low altitude killing at least 17 civilians.
The shelling targeted Pokka'nai, Ampalavanpokka'nai, Mu'l'livaaykkaal, Maaththa'lan and Valaignarmadam.

More than 250 wounded civilians have been admitted to the makeshift hospital at Puthumaaththa'lan within the last 3 days, according to medical sources. 21 of the patients died at the hospital.

The ICRC ship to transport patients would not be coming before Thursday, according to the medical staff at the hospital. At least 200 patients were in need of immediate transfer to Trincomalee.

Drugs brought to the hospital in ICRC ship on Sunday would only last for 7 to 10 days, the medical staff said. The hospital authorities have urged more medicines to be sent to the hospital.

SLA gunfire and RPG shells hit the area near the hospital. Shells also exploded in the area. An RPG shell that hit a mother of five children didn't explode, but caused serious injuries to her.

Two children died due to diaarhoea on Monday and another child on Tuesday.

Some vaccines have been brought to the hospital and immunisation programme was going on, according to the officials of the Regional Director of Health Services of the two districts.

Transport of goods through A9 route to Jaffna risky

Commissioner General of Essential Services, S. B. Divaratne, informed Jaffna Government Agent (GA) and the representatives of the Traders’ Union in Jaffna that goods will not be transported through A9 route and that the ship services involved in this task would continue uninterrupted, sources in Jaffna said. This ruling comes as the government is working hard on plans to bring goods in 19 lorries by private traders next week, the sources added.

Goods were brought to Jaffna peninsula in 22 lorries along A9 land route with much difficulty on 11 March and local agricultural and fish products were taken to Colombo after a few days in 9 lorries.

The government had made much publicity of this as an accomplishment but transport through A9 route had not continued as it was insecure and risky.

Defence Ministry sources in Jaffna and representatives of the Traders’ Union say that transport of goods through A9 route is not immediately possible.

Efforts are being made by the government to transport goods through A9 route to Jaffna by traders registered with the Commissioner of Essential Services to bring relief food and building materials including cement in 19 lorries.

But the Commissioner of Essential Services has informed that the above mentioned goods will only be taken in ships to Jaffna.

Artillery pounds wounded Tamils trapped on beach

A THOUSAND amputees were among the wounded and dying waiting to be rescued from a beach in northeast Sri Lanka yesterday, according to aid agencies.

Frightened Tamil families, the latest victims of the country’s 26-year civil war, were hiding in makeshift trenches as they came under artillery fire while waiting to be evacuated from Puthumathalan beach.

Last week the International Committee of the Red Cross removed 460 injured and their families from the area, using local fishermen to carry the wounded on wooden dinghies to the Green Ocean ferry leased for the operation. The ferry was due to return last night to rescue more of the injured.

Sophie Romanens, a Red Cross representative in Sri Lanka, said the scene was desperate. “The capacity for evacuation is far below the need,” she said. “We have to decide to take the casualties who are more badly injured and leave behind the ones who are less badly injured.” They are among 150,000 civilians trapped in an area of 13 square miles after fleeing a government offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, known as the Tamil Tigers.

More than 300 civilians were being killed every week in artillery or air attacks, or were dying for lack of medical care, food or water, aid agencies said. The Tamils are desperate because the last hospital in the area was forced to close after twice being bombed by the Sri Lankan army.

The only medical treatment available is in a makeshift clinic at Puthumathalan, where the injured lie under tarpaulins with drips suspended from tree branches. The numbers trying to escape via the beach had “increased dramatically over the past week”, the Red Cross said.

The United Nations said 2,800 Tamils, mostly civilians, had been killed since the offensive began in January in the predominantly Tamil region of the island off the coast of India.

In an interview yesterday with The Sunday Times Balasingham Nadesan, the political leader of the Tamil Tigers, pleaded for an urgent ceasefire. He said the Tigers, classified as a terrorist organisation in Britain because of their use of suicide attacks, would enter negotiations with the government “without pre-conditions”.

The daily bombing and shelling was described by Nadesan as “geno-cidal warfare”. “We call for a ceasefire, loudly and clearly,” he said. “Continuous denial of humanitarian access to the civilian population, and non-stop artillery and aerial attacks, are creating an unbearable situation.”

He called for international monitors to see the situation, adding that the Tigers would respect the outcome of any referendum on an independent Tamil state as long as it was held “once people were allowed to return to their homes”.

Some civilians have managed to cross government lines to find safety at a hospital in the northern town of Vavuniya. The only foreign surgeon there, Hugues Roberts of Médecins Sans Frontières, said 960 casualties had been treated, most of them wounded by shells, landmines or gunshots. The victims ranged from a child of three to men and women in their seventies. “The ones dead, or gravely injured, we don’t see them,” said Roberts.

Joan Ryan, a Labour MP, said: “If the Sri Lankan government does not respond to this call for a ceasefire within 24 hours, Gordon Brown should call for the suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth.”

A Commons debate on Sri Lanka is scheduled for Tuesday.

9,924 casualties including 2,683 deaths and 7,241 injuries in Mullaitivu since 20 January 2009 – UN’s leaked document

Security tightened at airport after LTTE attack warningKochi

The security personnel at Kochi International Airport here swung into action tightening the security in and around the airport when they were alerted of possible LTTE attack. According to Airport Director A C K Nair yesterday, a message warning of LTTE attack at one of the airports in the South was received at office of the Air India, functioning in Mumbai Airport. The CISF, police and other security forces' personnel were immediately alerted. The patrolling on all roads reaching the airport was intensified. The CISF personnel launched thorough checking of vehicles and people approaching the airport. Frisking of the passengers and staff has been held at different points at the airport. A similar threat was received at the Kolkota Airport on Thursday night. A special security meeting was convened by Airport Director to evaluate the security arrangements.

EU offers more aid to battle-scarred Sri Lanka

The European Commission on Thursday announced an additional three million euros funding for the Red Cross to help tackle the growing humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka's strife-torn north.
"I am appalled by the humanitarian catastrophe in the north of Sri Lanka. Thousands of civilians trapped in the conflict zone have died and more are dying every day, not only from repeated shelling but also from lack of food, water and medical care," said EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel.
"Only minimal humanitarian assistance is being allowed into the area. There is an immediate and urgent need to act, to save lives and prevent further human tragedy," he added in a statement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the only international humanitarian organisation allowed into the conflict zone and is working "in desperate conditions" to bring life-saving assistance to the people who are trapped and to evacuate the sick and wounded, the Commission said.
United Nations' human rights chief Navi Pillay has said she fears both sides could be guilty of war crimes in the Sri Lanka conflict and that more than 2,800 civilians could have been killed since late January.
"The government must face its obligations to protect all its citizens by stopping the indiscriminate shelling of civilians and by agreeing to a humanitarian lull so that adequate food and medicines can be brought into the area and sick and wounded people can leave," said Michel.
The announcement of fresh EU aid came as Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, or MSF) warned that civilians pouring out of the war zone in Sri Lanka's north are in dire need of emergency medical and psychological help.
The MSF also voiced "extreme" concern for 150,000 Tamil civilians still trapped by fierce fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels.
Over the past five years the Commission, the EU's executive arm, has given a total of 95 million euros (130 million dollars) in aid for victims of humanitarian crises in Sri Lanka, including 42 million euros for victims of the 2004 tsunami.

SLA shelling kills 102 civilians within 3 days inside 'safety zone'

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery shelling killed 46 civilians Friday inside the safety zone in the besieged pocket in Mullaiththeevu. SLA-fired shells hit 6 tarpaulin shelters of the IDPs in Maaththa'lan Friday, killing 16 civilians. Meanwhile 4 civilians were killed around 11:00 a.m., 300 meters near the coastal spot, where the ICRC was transporting wounded civilians. On Thursday, 39 civilians including 11 children were killed and at least 17 civilians were reported killed inside the safety zone on Wednesday. 6 civilians were killed in Pokk'anai when a single shell hit an IDP hut around 1:00 p.m. on Friday.The remaining casualties were reported in Mu'l'livaaykkaal, Iraddaivaaykkaal, and Valaignarmadam.Heavy shelling was reported in Pokka'nai and Maaththa'lan areas within the safety zone since 11:00 p.m. Thursday.

Australia seeks end to Sri Lanka's war

Australia is calling on Sri Lanka to present "credible political reforms" to end ethnic bloodshed and has expressed grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the island's north.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is also asking Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to lift all restrictions on civilians living in rebel-held areas amid allegations that the guerrillas are holding them as human shields.
"There can be no justification for preventing free movement of civilians from the conflict zone," Smith said in a statement.
"We encourage the Sri Lankan diaspora to add weight to this call to prevent further loss of life."
Australia, which designates the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organisation, has a large Sri Lankan community, including ethnic Tamils.
"Australia again calls on the Sri Lankan government to put forward credible political reforms to engage Tamils and other minorities without delay," Smith said.
"A political solution that meets the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans is essential for the long-term security and prosperity of Sri Lanka."
The minister said arrangements must be put in place urgently to allow the safe passage of civilians from the shrinking war zone, where government forces are leading their biggest ever offensive against the Tigers.
"As long as civilians remain in the conflict zone, both sides have an obligation to ensure that hostilities are not conducted in a way which endangers civilian life," he said.
The United Nations rights chief said last week that over 2,800 civilians have been killed since late January and both sides of the conflict may be guilty of war crimes.
Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for an independent state in the island's northeast. Their mini state was dismantled by security forces earlier this year with the capture of their political and military headquarters.
Sri Lanka's government pulled out of a Norwegian-arranged truce in January 2008.

Another part of tamil genocide

While four pregnant mothers were killed in SLA shelling on Friday inside the safe zone, another mother who was admitted to the makeshift-hospital after injuries in her lower abdomen gave birth Saturday to a baby girl, but the hospital staff noticed the child having shrapnel on her left thigh. The newborn child went through a small surgery even before her first feeding, according to the medical staff at the hospital in Maaththa'lan.

The mother who gave birth to the baby girl is 24-year-old Prasad Sivatharsany from Thearaavil, Visuvamadu. She was injured in a shell attack on 02 March.
Another pregnant mother aged 28, with shell blast injuries admitted to the hospital on Wednesday went through abdominal surgery. The 6 months old foetus was found truncated of both feet. The following day, the mother also died. A pregnant mother delivering dead twins was already reported on ThursdayMedical sources in the makeshift-hospital said pregnant mothers who lack nutritious food and face continuous trauma in addition to the physical stress are having a difficult time, especially after mini-cyclone hitting the safe zone last week.

Menon wants civilians issue and war ending in Colombo’s favour

The Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, has said in Washington that “civilians caught in the war should be safely moved to government-controlled areas”, PTI reported Thursday. Wrapping up his four days US visit and briefing that both India and the US have similar approaches to address the issue in Sri Lanka, he envisaged rehabilitation, reconstruction and building up normal economic life of people “once these areas are cleared or under the government control.” He also said on the need “to bring in the kind of the political steps including devolution”, according to the PTI report. Whatever Menon said in Washington doesn’t significantly differ from the verbal stance adopted by Mahinda Rajapaksa government, aiming for victory and subjugation of Tamils, said political observers in Colombo. Already around 36,000 Tamil civilians are languishing in Vavuniyaa under subhuman conditions in the internment camps of the government. India, which showed no concern of it, or took no attempt to redress their plight, advocating the handing over of the remaining civilians also to Colombo government, and entering into the venture of a medical establishment in a remote and far away place at Pulmoaddai, is a matter for perusal, the observers said.
Menon’s casual reference to ‘political steps’ after the Tamil areas are ‘cleared or under government control’ and the use of the shallow and blanket term ‘devolution’, that too not in an obligatory way, are revelations of the spiteful attitude of the Indian Establishment towards Tamil aspirations, according to the observers."Even though Menon claims India and US share a common line of thinking, to what extent the US would align or engage in partnership on this issue, with an outgoing Establishment that has thoroughly discredited itself and antagonized Tamils all over the world, is anybody’s guess.""High profile discussions and decisions coming from India, centering personalities like Shiv Shankar Menon and M.K. Narayanan, orchestrated from behind, and the line of thinking going in the opposite direction to the overwhelming demands of the people of Tamil Nadu, have already undermined the credibility of the greatest democracy in the world, reducing the status of the present government of India into an 'Establishment' run by extra parliamentary elements," remarked an academic in Colombo.

Tigers blast 6 Sri Lankan artillery positions in Vanni

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Black Tiger commandos and Col. Kiddu Artillery formation launched a joint attack destroying six artillery positions of the Sri Lanka Army in the early hours of Tuesday, confirmed an LTTE official in Vanni to TamilNet on Wednesday. Six artillery weapons platforms in Thearaavil, located around 18 km from Puthukkudiyiruppu junction, were completely destroyed in a "precise mission" carried out by the Black Tiger commandos and the Tiger artillery formation, the official said. The LTTE official refused to comment on whether Tigers used the seized artillery pieces to mount shelling towards SLA positions in the north, but said the weapons were destroyed in the mission. More than 50 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in the attack, he said. 3 Black Tiger commandos died in the mission.

Hillary, Menon discuss Sri Lanka

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon met for 45 minutes in Washington, Monday. “A discussion of one regional issue, in particular, was Sri Lanka -- the importance of trying to find a way to make sure that whatever happens in the armed conflict, that there is a political settlement in the future that both the US and India can help create, and participate in", reports Rediff News Tuesday, citing Administrative sources in Washington. Explaining why the Sri Lanka crisis took center-stage during the discussion on regional issues, the source according to Rediff News said, "The Secretary is very concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and there is a sense that maybe there are things we (the US and India) can do together." Menon, according to the sources, 'was quite positive', in terms of concurrence with the concerns expressed by Clinton, although there was 'nothing specified' in terms on how this situation could be alleviated, but broadly "the idea that this is an area where we both have capabilities and interests and we'd like to be helpful."The US government will sound India Monday, seeking support to evacuate nearly 200,000 Tamil civilians from LTTE controlled territory, read a news story appeared in Kolkata-based The Telegraph on Sunday.The plan is to send a marine expeditionary brigade attached to the US Pacific Command (PACOM) to go into Sri Lanka with the support of the US navy and air force, the news reported by K.P. Nayar in The Telegraph said.Meanwhile, an Indian medical team arrived on Monday in Sri Lanka to open an emergency medical unit for treating IDPs at Pulmoaddai, a coastal place known for ilmanite deposits at the border of Northern and Eastern Provinces.Colombo was negative on the possibilities of permitting any foreign country in the evacuation of civilians.Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the Government has not permitted any international forces to evacuate civilians from the Vanni, and Government has not made any request to the US Army to support the evacuation process in Sri Lanka, according to Daily News citing the minister on Tuesday."Certain reports published regarding the arrival of US marines in Sri Lanka to transport civilians on the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government are baseless and incorrect." "We have also not received any proposal from any country in this regard," "We welcome proposals from any country or foreign agency if they are not concerned in safeguarding the terrorists”, the Sri Lankan minister was quoted saying. "Since the Armed Forces are engaged in fulfilling their duties in eliminating terrorism in the North, the Government has committed to streamline the evacuation process of civilians without harming them," the Daily News said.

Artillery attacks on Pa’lai, Mukamaalai, Ki’laali areas

Large number of artillery shells said to be launched by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since Monday midnight fell and exploded near A9 road in Pa’lai and Mukamaalai, until Tuesday afternoon, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Around 22 lorries loaded with goods which started to Jaffna along A9 road around 11:00 a.m Monday are yet to reach Naavatku’li but 25 buses carrying Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have reached Thenmaraadchi along A9 route around Tuesday afternoon, the sources added. Shells fell and exploded in Pa’lai, Mukamaalai, Ki’laali areas earlier held by LTTE.Many of them fell and exploded near SLA bases in the area.Though there have been no casualties or injury to the public, fear and tension prevail among the residents of areas close to Ki’laali, Vidaththalpa’lai and Usan.SLA had earlier announced the transport of goods to Jaffna along A9 route by lorries on Tuesday.

Sri Lankan cluster shelling kills 129 civilians within 7 hours

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells fitted with cluster munitions and fire-bombs into civilian 'safety zone' killing at least 129 civilians between 2:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Around 200 civilians were wounded. 300 tarpaulin huts burned down to ashes in Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fired rockets. The medical store at Valaignarmadam has sustained damage and the son of a doctor was reported killed there, according to initial reports. A local NGO official, who was coordinating the rescue of the wounded described the carnage as "Colombo’s show of open mockery at international concern," reports TamilNet's Vanni correspondent. "The attack was criminally deliberate as it was timed for the aftermath of a mini cyclone and floods, at the stranded civilians," the NGO official said. "In a show of open mockery at the mounting international concern for civilians in Vanni, the Colombo government indiscriminately attacked all parts of the ‘safe zone’ using every kind of lethal shells, some of them banned in many countries." The low-lying and inhospitable coastal terrain, bereft of vegetation, was the choice of the government as the safe-zone for herding civilians. The government has now turned it into a killing zone, where civilians every day die in hundreds due to shelling and starvation.Commenting further, the NGO official who didn't wish to be named said: "What the Colombo government is committing is not ordinary genocide, but mass torture and genocide." "Why Colombo is doing this is quite obvious. Because, in truth, the war waged by Colombo is against the Tamil people, aiming at their subjugation," he says. "Let the criminal minded international pundits, who argue in favour of the Colombo government for its right to wage this war tell us in what way the killings in the ‘safe zone’ are different from the proven genocides elsewhere in the world.""The alternative suggested to the civilians is a worse form of concentration camps intended for years." A civilian who escaped the shelling, but witnessed people standing nearby killed, came out with a touching statement on Sunday that he was 'unfortunate to survive'. Comments from the NGO official tells the extent of the resentment and anger among the civilians in Vanni:"The Indian Establishment and the Co-Chairs countries share responsibilities for the genocide and war crimes taking place in the island."With a stroke of pen they declared the fighting force of the Tamils as ‘terrorists’ and tilted the balance in favour of the genocidal government."They provided money, weapons and diplomatic leverage to Colombo."The war waged by Colombo is a proxy war of all of them."Are they in a position now to stop the real terrorism of Colombo and genocide?"All these years they couldn’t even lift a finger to all the human rights abuses taking place in the island."What we see even now is only lip services, meaningless statements, sabotage at UN and dodging tactics."While the US Pacific Command is planning how to handover the people into the murderous hands of Colombo, the US Ambassador in Colombo is seen pleading the chauvinists even for subservient concessions, rejected by Tamils long back," commented the NGO worker.

SLA cut downs use of A9 route to Jaffna due to security risks

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which had earlier announced the opening of A9 land route to Jaffna has now limited its turns of transporting soldiers to 3 days in a week due to clashes breaking along the road and security risks, SLA sources in Jaffna said. Information on the days of transport is not disclosed and the convoy of busses takes the soldiers on vacation from Palaali to Vavuniyaa and back on unannounced days, three times a week. SLA had been following the same procedure in the transport of soldiers between Jaffna and Trincomalee by the vessel ‘Jetliner’ in an irregular manner so as to avoid risks of being attacked on the sea.The soldiers are transported from Palaali along A9 route to Vavuniyaa and from there to Anuradapura. The same procedure is followed in bringing soldiers back to Jaffna peninsula.SLA uses more than 25 buses for this purpose and the last convoy of them took soldiers from Palaali to Vavuniyaa Sunday.Meanwhile, Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh, announced that ships carrying relief goods sent by the Commissioner of Essential Services left Colombo Sunday and will arrive at Kaangesanthu’rai harbour Tuesday.The relief goods will be transported to the Government Stores located in Naavatku’li, the announcement said.After a period of 18 years the A9 Jaffna-Kandy road was first used by SLA to bring troops to Jaffna from Vavuniyaa on 2nd March.

LTTE breaks through SLA lines amidst casualties

The Sri Lanka Army divisions surrounding Puthukkudiyiruppu face the threat of attack from behind their lines as LTTE fighters managed to break through their lines despite suffering casualties on Sunday, reports from Jaffna said quoting Sri Lankan military sources of anonymity. In the meantime, Sri Lankan defence sources in Colombo claimed recovery of more than 100 bodies of LTTE fighters.
Residents of Jaffna peninsula heard heavy exchange of gunfire and artillery explosions throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Police playing hide and seek in Lasantha probe

Government Analyst (GA) T.R.N.M. Liyanarachchi on Friday (8) told that his report on the murder of the late Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge was handed over to the police a few weeks back.
The GA's revelation stands in stark contradiction of the position taken by the police that they have not yet received the GA report and hence the investigation is at a standstill. Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekera once again stated that the police were awaiting the GA's report for 'scientific evidence.' Wickrematunge was brutally murdered by unidentified gunmen on January 8 at Attidiya in the high security zone in close proximity to the Ratmalana Airport and Air Force Base, while on his way to office. Although the police appointed four investigation teams to investigate into the killing of Wickrematunge, the police are yet to make a breakthrough for the past two months. When asked as to what the latest progress into the killing of Wickrematunge was, SSP Gunasekera said that the police teams are still investigating into the telephone calls received by Wickrematunge and nothing else. "I was not told as to what is happening and still the police are awaiting the GA report for a breakthrough," SSP said. However GA, Liyanarachchi and his deputy W.D.G.S. Gunathilake confirmed to The Sunday Leader that they had sent the report to the Mount Lavinia Police a few weeks ago. "Copies of the report have been sent to SSP Mount Lavinia, Hemantha Adikari and to the HQI Mount Lavinia a few weeks back. So how could the police say that they have not yet received the report," queried Deputy GA, Gunathilake. All attempts to contact SSP Adikari for a comment failed.

Adversity of Vanni people to investigate and grant relief - Richard Bowchar

American Deputy Secretary for South East Asia Richard Bowchar stated that by granting equal rights to Sri Lankan Tamil people, and to lead them respectfully all arrangements should be organized by the Sri Lankan Government immediately .
Tamil Eelam Libeartion tigers are continuously keeping the innocent people under their control and this is a difficult position to them was further stated by him. People trapped in the Vanni area, are proposed to remove them, by the assistance from American Pacific Commanding Team but it is awaiting the permission from both sectors, hence they cannot not proceed was mentioned by him. “Till then we would attempt what sort of assistance we could do to those civilians” was mentioned by him. He mentioned some of this officers have proceeded to such areas, to find out the situation of Vanni people and in what sort of assistance they could grant, and the possibilities was stated by Richard Bowchar.

Heavy fighting reported in Vanni

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched heavy artillery barrage and mortar fire Saturday midnight on Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) soldiers of its 55th Division stationed in Chaalai, Chu’ndikku'lam and some areas of Puthukkudiyiruppu, killing and seriously injuring considerable number of soldiers, according to an SLA source in Thenmaraadchi. LTTE forces are attempting to break into the formation of the SLA 55th Division, the officer said.Residents in Thenmaraadchi said they could hear loud explosions from the above area where the fighting is said to be continuing until Sunday evening.

Sri Lankan attacks kill 208 civilians within 72 hours

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery-fitted cluster shells hit several IDP settlements within the 'safety zone', claiming the lives of at least 53 civilians Saturday until 3:00 p.m. Around 112 civilians sustained injuries. On Friday, 86 civilians were killed and more than 100 civilians were wounded. Dead bodies were not brought to the hospital as shelling continued. Thousands of civilians within the 'safety zone' were forced to remain inside the bunkers. 69 civilians were killed on Thursday in the indiscriminate shelling and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombardments. More than 330 civilians have been wounded within the last 3 days. Artillery shells with cluster-bomblets exploded Saturday Ampalavanpokka'ani and Maaththa'lan. Artillery shells have hit a few bunkers killing civilians inside the bunkers. Shells also hit Mu'l'livaaykkaal and Iraddaivaaykkaal. Ira'naippaalai, outside the 'safety zone' is under continuous barrage. Casualty details were not available from Ira'naippaalai. On Saturday, Shells exploded 500 meters away from the hospital. Two of the civilians, who were waiting to register themselves with the GS (Village Officer) in order to receive humanitarian supplies at a location between Maaththa'lan and Ampalavanpokka'nai, were also killed in the shelling.On Thursday, 31 civilians were killed at Aananthapuram in I'ranaippaalai in SLAF bombardment and SLA shelling. Two bombers dropped 8 times in two rounds throughout the day. Sasi Mathan, 27, Mullaiththeevu District Distribution Manager of Eezhanaatham Daily, the only newspaper published in LTTE controlled territory, was among the victims at Aananthapuram. He is a native of Mu'l'liyava'lai. Four civilians were killed Thursday when SLA shelling targeted an area where government vehicles were parked was also subjected to shell attack at Valaignarmadam.A fire-bomb shell claimed the lives of 4 more civilians in Pokka'nai on Thursday. Around 30 civilians were killed in the remaining places, including Mu'l'livaaykkaal on Thursday. The SLA also fired from Chaalai using long-range machine guns into the sea on Thursday. At least one bullet hit the ICRC ship, according to informed sources.

Media activists in Colombo fear reprisals, keep away from protest

Around 25 media persons, mostly leftist oriented, took part in a demonstration Thursday noon at Colpetty junction in Colombo, protesting against the manner in which Vithyatharan, the editor of ‘Sudaroli’ Tamil newspaper was 'arrested' by the Sri Lankan Police. Many media activists and journalists kept away from demonstration fearing reprisals by the Colombo government, concerned activists told TamilNet. Colombo Crime Division police personnel, disguised as media men, took photographs of the protesters, according to the participants in the protest. Siritunga Jayasuriya, the leader of United Socialist Party and Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarante, the president of the Left Front and the general secretary of the NSSP and Human Rights Lawyer, Nimalka Fernando took part in the demonstration.Colombo based Free Media Movement (FMM), which used to issue timely statements on the injustice caused to journalists, is yet to release a statement on the 'abduction' and later the detention of Vithyatharan by the police, the sources further said. Only a statement was issued on behalf of the five organisations following the 'arrest' of Vithyatharan.Almost none of the media organizations including FMM, Working Journalists’ Association, Ceylon Tamil Journalists’ Association were present at the demonstration Thursday, complained the participants. Representatives of the leading Tamil dailies Thinakural and Virakesari were also not seen participating in the demonstration.

US Congressman supports review of Gotabaya, Fonseka indictment

Congressman Walter B Jones representing North Carolina's 3rd District, in a letter of support sent to the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder, said that the "Department of Justice must take care to review all issues brought to its attention," in the model indictment submitted early February, and requested that the Justice Department to "review this document thoroughly." Congressman Jones serves in the House Committee on Armed Services and in the Committee on Financial Services. Full text of the letter follows:

Honorable Eric H. Holder

United States Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Mr. Attorney General:

I am in receipt of the model grand jury indictment of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka proposed by Mr. Bruce Fein, Counsel for Tamils Against Genocide. It is my understanding that this document was submitted to the Department of Justice last week.

Congress communicated its strong committment to prosecution for acts of genocide when it passed the Genocide Accountability Act of 2007. That Act, which amended 18 USC 1091, extended the reach of the U.S. law when investigating and prosecuting acts of genocide.While I have no personal knowledge of the facts or events charged in the aforementioned model indictment, the Department of Justice must take care to review all issues brought to its attention. I respectfully request that you review this document thoroughly.Sincerely,Walter B Jones (signed) Member of Congress

SLA shells hospital environs, 13 killed including 4 children

Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells targeting the environs of Maa'ththa'lan makeshift-hospital within the 'safety zone' from 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The shells hit the IDP settlement, located 200 meters near the hospital, claiming the lives of 13 Tamil civilians. Four of them were children, including a 1-year-old baby. 56 civilians have sustained injuries, according to medical sources. Two children below the age of 10 were reported missing. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter bombers were seen bombing north of the 'safety zone' twice Tuesday morning. Shelling was also reported in Pokka'nai area, but casualty figures were not available. Meanwhile, a shell exploded on a bunker Monday night, causing injuries to 4 civilians in Maaththa'lan.

STF kills mother of raped girl in Batticaloa

Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commandos who had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Tamil girl Sunday in Vellaave’li police division, again went to the girl’s house Monday between 8:00 p.m and 9:00 p.m where they assaulted her father first and then severely tortured her mother before killing and dumping her body in the well as punishment for complaining against the STF with Batticaloa police for raping her daughter. The father was held bound while the commandos beat the mother to death, the neighbors said. Vellaave’li police recovered the body of the mother with the help of neighbors and handed it over to Ka’luvaangnchchikudi hospital.The mother of the raped girl had earlier complained of the incident to Eastern Province Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.The Chief Minister had reportedly said that he had no authority on security affairs directing her to take the matter to Vinayagamoorthy Muralitahran alias Karuna, member of parliament. The STF commandos in Vellaave'li police division in Batticaloa sexually abused a 14-year-old Tamil girl in front of her mother during a cordon and search conducted Sunday early morning in Vallaave’li, sources. The medical officer who examined the girl admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital confirmed that she had been sexually abused. The STF commandos, having ordered all the men in the area to go to a temple, interrogated the women who were left alone in the houses collecting particulars about members of the family besides sexually abusing them.