{"id":98450,"date":"2020-01-30T22:51:31","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T05:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=98450"},"modified":"2020-02-04T15:10:25","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T22:10:25","slug":"sri-lankas-military-humanitarian-operation-with-timelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/01\/30\/sri-lankas-military-humanitarian-operation-with-timelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka\u2019s military-humanitarian operation with timelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A government with a will to defend the nation combined with the heroic efforts of Sri Lanka\u2019s national army reunited every inch of land under one national flag on 19 May 2009. The LTTE held a shrinking area of 100 metrex 100 metres which was finally taken with the announcement of the killing of Prabakaran on 19 May 2009. Needless to say LTTE terrorism served the purpose of many. For the West terrorism provided a source of exertion over the GoSL and with LTTE now over the West was quick to use IDPs, resettlement, reconciliation as its themes to exert influence over Sri Lanka with UN being source for war crimes\/genocide charges lest GoSL did not tow line. These are realities that we cannot be na\u00efve too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka Army battle successes<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 Ja nuary <\/td>\n Kilinochchi\n captured (LTTE political capital)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 5\n January\n <\/td>\n Elephant\n Pass captured\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 9\n January\n <\/td>\n A9\n reopened\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 14\n January\n <\/td>\n Jaffna\n captured\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 22\n January\n <\/td>\n Dharmapuram\n captured \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 24\n January\n <\/td>\n 2\n LTTE camps south of Pudukudurippu\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 25\n January\n <\/td>\n Mullaitivu\n captured\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 28\n January\n <\/td>\n Vishwamadu\n captured\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 3\n February\n <\/td>\n Jungle\n airstrips with 2km runway & hangar for light aircrafts in Thirivilaru\n village\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 6\n February\n <\/td>\n Chalai\n (LTTE now hold access to only 20km (12miles) of coastline in Mullaitivu\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 2\n April\n <\/td>\n Pachchapulmudai (LTTE\u2019s last supply route used for\n reinforcement and logistic transportation to Puthukkudiriruppu junction)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 3 April\n <\/td>\n Anandapuram\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 21 April\n <\/td>\n Troops enter Putumathalan & Amapalavanpokkanai in the\n no-fire zone\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 25\n March\n <\/td>\n Army\n capture hideout of Pottu Amman in Iranapalai (LTTE intelligence head)\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Safe Zone declared by Sri Lanka (only for\ncivilians) \u2013 no fire zone<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st<\/sup>\nsafe zone: 35sq.km (13sq.miles) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd<\/sup>\nsafe zone: 12 Feb 2009 \u2013 12sq.km (7.5mile) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3rd<\/sup> safe\nzone: 8 May 2009 –  2sq.km long and\n1.5sq.km wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LTTE reactions to Army advances<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 Jan<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE\nblasts dam<\/strong> releasing large volume of water from an irrigation tank in\nKalmadu, Mullaitivu & flooding section of A-35 main road at Dharmapuram and\nVishwamadu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 May<\/strong> – Troops continued their advance further\u2026 amidst stiff\nresistance as LTTE terrorists made their maximum effort to hold the earth bund\n(embankment) built to obstruct the security forces,\u201d the ministry said. Troops\nalso received minor damages from exploding anti personnel mines,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LTTE controlled areas shrinking<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

25 Jan 2009<\/strong>\u2013 LTTE confined to a small strip of\nbetween 20 kilometres by 15 kilometres (300 square kilometres, 115 square\nmiles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE now control area just 200\nsquare kilometres (77 square miles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Feb<\/strong> 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE restricted to\narea less than 100sq.km (38 sq.miles) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

22 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE shrunk to 73 square kilometres\n(28 square miles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE have lost almost 99 percent of\nthe territory they held<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE restricted to an\narea of just 35 square kilometres (13 square miles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE confined to 21 square\nkilometres (8 square miles), most of which is a government-declared safe zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16 April 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE restricted to 20sq.km <\/p>\n\n\n\n

22 April 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE confined to 12sq.km (five square\nmiles)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

23 April 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE controlled just 10-12 sq.km (4\nsquare miles) of territory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 May 2009<\/strong> – \nLTTE confined to 4 sq.km (1.5 square mile) area in Mullaittivu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 May 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE now boxed into a 100m x 100m\narea,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 May 2009<\/strong> – He (Prabakaran) is there and we\nhave surrounded him \u2014 it is a 360 degree cordon and he has no escape,\u201d (SL\nArmy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> Government forces were advancing into\nLTTE held territory at the rate of more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) a day<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 31 March 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE were cornered to a tiny but\ndensely populated strip of coastal jungle measuring just 21 square kilometres (8\nsquare miles), The army says LTTE has less than 500 fighters left, but those\nthat remain appear to be offering stiff resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakdown of civilians fleeing LTTE \/ rescued by\nSL Army<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Number<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n Date<\/strong>                           \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 170\n <\/td>\n 17\n Jan 2009\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 350\n <\/td>\n 19\n Jan 2009 (including 50 children)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 139\n <\/td>\n 4\n Feb 2009 to Jaffna\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 10,000\n <\/td>\n 8\n Feb 2009 throughout 4 days to Kilinochchi\u2013over 2800 children\/3000 women)         \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 240\n <\/td>\n 10\n Feb 2009 Tamil patients evacuated by ICRC\n (official figures as of 14 Feb 2009 showed 37,420 Tamils\n crossing to govt area)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 745\n <\/td>\n 10 Feb by ferry\/ICRC\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 440\n <\/td>\n 16\n Feb by ferry\/ICRC                      \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 1000\n <\/td>\n 18\n Mar  (650 escaping by boat others\n walking through jungle)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 1,150\n <\/td>\n 21\n Mar (108 left by boat while the others walked through jungle)\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 381\n <\/td>\n 28\n Mar\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 475\n <\/td>\n 15\n Apr wounded evacuated by ICRC\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 3000\n <\/td>\n 19\n Apr \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 5000\n <\/td>\n 20\n Apr \u2013 biggest single rescue early morning\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 30,000\n <\/td>\n 20\n Apr \u2013 throughout day\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 4000\n <\/td>\n 21\n Apr\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 81,420\n <\/td>\n 22\n Apr\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 10,000\n <\/td>\n 14\n May           \n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 115,000\n <\/td>\n 20\n Apr to 13 May\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 63,000\n <\/td>\n 14\n May to 16 May (total nearly 250,000 saved – GoSL)\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
  • Official\nfigures as of 17 Feb 2009 showed 35,745\nTamils crossing since 1 Jan<\/strong><\/li>
  • 5 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 ICRC says since February, it has\nhelped evacuate nearly 2,800 patients and their relatives by sea out of the\nisland\u2019s north-east<\/li>
  • 18 Mar<\/strong> \u2013 nearly 40,000 have escaped LTTE<\/li>
  • 21 Mar<\/strong> – \nfrom Jan more than 55,000 civilians have escaped LTTE <\/li>
  • 17 Apr<\/strong> – Ron Redmond, spokesman for the UN\nrefugee agency, the UNHCR said more than 63,000 people have fled since the\nfighting began<\/li>
  • 18 Apr<\/strong> – United Nation says up to 100,000\ncivilians are trapped in the area in dire humanitarian conditions.\u201d<\/li>
  • 21 Apr<\/strong> – 80,000 people had fled the shrinking\npatch of territory<\/li>
  • 22 Apr<\/strong> – UN estimated 150,000 civilians in\nthe rebel-held territory before Monday\u2019s exodus <\/li>
  • Around\n100,000 people have managed to escape rebel-held territory this week (20-23Apr)<\/strong><\/li>
  • 24 Apr<\/strong> – UN\nsays 95,000 civilians have fled<\/strong> LTTE but thousands remain trapped <\/li>
  • 26 Apr<\/strong> – UN\nbelieves up to 50,000 civilians are trapped<\/strong> in a strip of jungle <\/li>
  • 7 May<\/strong> – government estimates that up to 20,000 civilians are\nbeing held in the less than five-square-kilometre (two-square-mile) area<\/li>
  • 12 May<\/strong> – UN say up to 50,000 Tamil civilians\nhostage kept by LTTE.<\/li>
  • 17 May 2009<\/strong> – More than 50,000 people have come out<\/strong> of that area in the past three days<\/strong> and with that we have rescued all the civilians held\nas a human shield by the Tigers<\/strong>,\u201d (SLArmy)<\/li>
  • 17 May 2009<\/strong> Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said more than 63,000 people had crossed over\ninto government territory in the past three days<\/strong>, raising the total\nnumber of civilians who fled the war zone since January to nearly 250,000.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Civilians killed<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n Number<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n Date<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 10\n <\/td>\n 26\n Jan inside safe zone (alleged by Gordon Weiss)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 20\n <\/td>\n 25\n Jan inside safe zone (alleged by Gordon Weiss)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 52\n <\/td>\n 27\n Jan in Suranthapuram (alleged by Gordon Weiss)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 8\n <\/td>\n 9 Feb\n LTTE suicide attack on refugee camp\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 17\n <\/td>\n 10\n Feb LTTE shoot dead fleeing Tamils\/wounding 69\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 16\n <\/td>\n 10\n Feb during makeshift hospital shelling\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 1\n <\/td>\n 14\n Feb grenade thrown at bus carrying civilians\/13 wounded\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 4\n <\/td>\n 14\n Feb Puttumatalan \u2013 elders home shelling\/Dr. Satyamurthy\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 10\n <\/td>\n 21\n Feb – village of Kirimetiya mainly farmers\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 1\n <\/td>\n 5 Mar \u2013 ICRC local worker killed in\n Chalai<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 3\n <\/td>\n 7 Mar\n \u2013 LTTE shot fleeing Tamils escaping by boat in Mullaitivu coast \/ 1 civilian\n seriously injured\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 1\n <\/td>\n 26\n Mar (LTTE fired at fleeing civilians)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 5\n <\/td>\n 12\n Apr farmers killed by LTTE in Mahagodayaya village Buttala\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 17\n <\/td>\n 20\n Apr suiciding bombing by LTTE to prevent civilians leaving\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 170\n <\/td>\n May 1st<\/sup>\n week \u2013 claim by Anandasangaree\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

    17 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 TULF leader Anandasangaree says\ntotal deaths for last week was 288 with 766 injured<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    27 Apr 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> – UN estimates that as many as 6,500\ncivilians may have been killed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    8 May 2009<\/strong> – TULF leader V. Anandasangari said at\nleast 170 Tamil civilians had been killed and 951 wounded during four days of\nfighting last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    12 May 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> – UN\nsays up to 6,500 civilians may have been killed and 14,000 wounded in fighting\nsince January<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    LTTE killed by SL Army<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n Number<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n Date<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 6\n <\/td>\n 8\n Feb by SL Navy sinking 2 LTTE boats trying to escape\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 28\n <\/td>\n 12\n Feb\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 65\n <\/td>\n 22\n Feb\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 13\n <\/td>\n 24\n Feb\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 11\n <\/td>\n 26 Feb\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 5\n <\/td>\n 28 Feb\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 33\n <\/td>\n 5 Mar in Chalai\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n over 100\n <\/td>\n 6 & 7 Mar in Mullaitivu \/ over 100 injured\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 50\n <\/td>\n 9 Mar in Mullaitivu\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 12\n <\/td>\n 12 Mar in Pudukudurippu\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 33\n <\/td>\n 13 Mar (Fri)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 32\n <\/td>\n 15 Mar (Sun)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 31\n <\/td>\n 19 Mar\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 2\n <\/td>\n 21 Mar\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 24\n <\/td>\n 30 Mar (1 SL Navy officer also killed)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 13\n <\/td>\n 1 Apr by SL Army\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 44\n <\/td>\n 3 Apr in Anandapuram\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 33\n <\/td>\n 3 Apr by SL Army\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 11\n <\/td>\n 4 Apr by SL Navy\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 7\n <\/td>\n 4 Apr by SL Army\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 111\n <\/td>\n 4 Apr in ground & sea clashes\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 450\n <\/td>\n (3 to 5th<\/sup> April)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 10\n <\/td>\n 15 Apr by SL Navy\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 8\n <\/td>\n 17 Apr\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 17\n <\/td>\n 18 Apr\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 8\n <\/td>\n 21 Apr\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 25\n <\/td>\n 29 Apr by SL Navy sank 6 LTTE boats\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 23\n <\/td>\n 1 May\n by SL Navy 3 LTTE boats sunk\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 10\n <\/td>\n 13\n May LTTE suicide boat attack\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 70\n <\/td>\n 17\n May trying to escape through lagoon in 6 boats\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 1\n <\/td>\n 18\n May Charles Anthony body found in Karayamullavaikkal area\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 3\n <\/td>\n 18\n May bodies of Nadeshan, Pulidevan and Ramesh\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 250\n <\/td>\n 18\n May (still Prabakaran not found)\n <\/td><\/tr>
    \n 1\n <\/td>\n 18\n May Prabakaran killed\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Note:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Sri Lanka Army\nclaims LTTE admitted 2000 of its\nfighters died in combat in 2008<\/strong><\/li>
    • 27 Jan<\/strong> \u2013\narmy claim 2 LTTE killed were senior field commanders.  <\/li>
    • 24 Apr<\/strong> \u2013 58 division commanded by Brigadier\nSilva had killed 5,953 LTTE & wounded another 2,938 since September 2007 <\/li>
    • 1 Apr<\/strong> \u2013 Prabakaran\u2019s son Charles Anthony injured<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Statements by UN Secretary General \u2013 Ban Ki Moon<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      30 Jan 2009 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Secretary General calls upon the (rebel) Liberation Tigers\nof Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in particular, to allow civilians in the conflict zone\nto move to where they feel most secure, including (government-controlled)\nareas,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      He called on both Colombo and the LTTE to do all in their power to make this safe passage a reality, and to\nensure the protection of civilians in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3 April 2009<\/strong> – . The Secretary\nGeneral calls upon the LTTE (Tamil rebels) leadership to allow civilians to\nleave the conflict area of their own free will,\u201d<\/strong> a statement issued\nby UN spokeswoman Michele Montas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The severe restrictions of the LTTE on\ntheir freedom of movement violate international law.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ban\nalso deplored the forced\nrecruitment of civilians, particularly children\u201d<\/em><\/strong> The UN statement\nsaid Ban is deeply distressed by continuing reports from the Vanni region of\nSri Lanka that civilians are at extreme risk,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      23 Apr 2009<\/strong> – I\nintend to immediately despatch a UN humanitiarian team to the no-fire zone,\u201d<\/em>\nhe told reporters in Brussels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The\npurpose of this humanitarian team will be to first of all monitor the situation\nand support the humanitarian assistance and try to do whatever we can to\nprotect the civilian population,\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (oh yeah sure and LTTE will stand and watch them monitor J)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It is critical that this\nteam be allowed into the no-fire zone as soon as possible, and I\u2019m asking for\nthe strong support and speedy assistance of the Sri Lankan government.\u201d<\/em> (well if the GoSL allowed \u2013 what if\nLTTE doesn\u2019t allow them out? Then what does UN propose to do \u2026 bomb LTTE + the\ncivilians???)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Statement by UNHRC Head \u2013 Navi Pillay<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      13 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Geneva (AFP) \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      her statement confirmed 2800 civilians COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED\nsince late January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Certain actions being undertaken by\nthe Sri Lankan military and by the LTTE (Tamil Tiger rebels) may constitute\nviolations of international human rights and humanitarian law,\u201d<\/em> said Pillay <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We need to know more about what is\ngoing on, but we know enough to be sure that the situation is absolutely\ndesperate. The world today is ever sensitive about such acts that could amount\nto war crimes and crimes against humanity,\u201d \n<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The\nstatement said credible sources had told the Office of the High Commissioner\nfor Human Rights (OHCHR) that more than 2,800 civilians might\nhave been killed<\/strong>, including hundreds of children, and more than\n7,000 injured since January 20. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (Jan 20 to 13 Mar \u2013 2800 civilians\nkilled says UNHRC\/Navi Pillay)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      UN Spokesman Gordon Weiss<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      26 Jan 2009 \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • At least 10\ncivilians killed on 26 Jan (Mon) inside \u2018safety\nzone\u2019<\/em> by the Sri Lanka Military while \u2018roughly at least 20 people were\nkilled or wounded over weekend.<\/li>
      • Weiss said he\ncould not say who was responsible for civilian casualties by UN staff in area\nhad witnessed civilians getting hit by artillery shells<\/li>
      • Pro-LTTE\nTamilnet website claimed 100 civilians killed by artillery fire on 26 Jan 2009<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        29 Jan 2009 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • “About 350 critically wounded civilians,\nincluding 50 children, crossed the front lines,”  <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          4 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • at least 52\ncivilians killed on (27 Jan) in Suranthapuram<\/li>
          • We don\u2019t know who is responsible or\nhow many shells hit, but we have this report from our staff.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/li>
          • The hospital was evacuated after\n16hours of shelling including cluster bomb attack.<\/strong><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            UN & International statements against LTTE\n(use of civilians as human shields\/hostages)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            18 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 UN humanitarian head John Holmes arrived in SL. He\narrived earlier in August 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            19 Feb 2009<\/strong>  – John Holmes\nI call on\nboth sides, the government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), to\nensure civilians are left alone,\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I hope to hear no more of shootings of\npeople trying to leave or recruitment of children as soldiers,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11 Mar 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 UN accused LTTE of siphoning off\nfood meant for severely malnourished children in June 2007<\/strong>. UN had\nsent a high energy food supplement known as BP-100\u201d which was found on a LTTE\nkilled in the fighting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The United Nations\ndeplores that such lifesaving items, destined for severely malnourished\nchildren, were diverted from their intended purpose,\u201d<\/em> the UN said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 Mar 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 UN said an employee & his\nteenage daughter forcibly were recruited by LTTE<\/strong>. The forced\nrecruitment included the 16-year-old daughter,\u201d<\/em> UN called for their immediate release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nUN said another of its employees recruited by the Tigers two weeks ago has not\nyet been released<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A\nmonth ago, another UN staff member was abducted by LTTE.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The UN\nhas accused LTTE of preventing tens of thousands of civilians from leaving Sri\nLanka\u2019s war zone and of shooting and sometimes killing\u201d<\/strong>\nthose who try to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            26 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 John\nHolmes UN\u2019s top humanitarian official<\/strong>, estimated that 150,000 to 190,000\ncivilians were trapped by the fighting and could not escape, resulting in\ndozens of deaths each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            31 Mar 2009<\/strong> – UN\u2019s\ntop humanitarian official, John Holmes<\/strong>, had asked the government to allow\ncivilian authorities to manage the camps (accordingly Sri Lanka handed camp\nmanagement over to the resettlement and relief ministry)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            15 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 UK\n& French Foreign Ministers<\/strong> say LTTE are using civilians as\nhuman shields & preventing them from leaving conflict zone.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Joint\nstatement by David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            France and Britain, as two members of\nthe Security Council, continue to support the active engagement by the UN and\nby other members of the international community on this urgent issue,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We are deeply concerned\nthat there was no large scale movement of civilians away from the conflict area\nto safety as we had hoped to see\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Vijay\nNambiar, UNSG\u2019s chief of staff<\/strong> arrives in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The secretary-general is doing his\nutmost to alleviate the situation in Sri Lanka and high-level contacts were\ncontinuing to be pursued on that matter,\u201d<\/em> UN statement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Liberation Tigers of\nTamil Eelam (LTTE) did not appear to have responded constructively in allowing\ncivilians to leave,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> This is truly disappointing. Civilians must be allowed to leave the area of violence. They must not\nbe used as targets of political or military designs.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>\n<\/strong>UN spokesman Farhan\nHaq noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            22 Apr 2009<\/strong> – We demand that the LTTE immediately lay down arms, renounce terrorism,\nallow a UN-assisted evacuation of the remaining civilians in the conflict area,\nand join the political process,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Claude Heller, of Mexico, UN Security Council President.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            UNSC President<\/strong> speaking on behalf of 15 UNSC Members said strongly\ncondemned the LTTE, a terrorist organization, for the use of civilians\nas human shields and for not allowing them to leave the area.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            25 Apr 2009 \u2013 <\/strong>John Holmes arrives in Sri Lanka again on a 3 day\nmission<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The top priority remains the\npreservation of the lives of the tens of thousands of civilians still trapped\ninside the combat zone,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I also want to see the people in the\ncamps, to visit UN staff being held there, and to review how the sudden outflow\nof so many people from the combat zone is being managed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We need a new humanitarian pause to\nget aid and aid workers into the combat zone,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12\nMay 2009<\/strong> – We\u2019re deeply concerned,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> on reports that more than 400 civilians had been killed in\na no-fire zone<\/strong>\u201d We think that\nthere\u2019s an unacceptably high level of civilian casualties. We\u2019ve repeatedly urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down its arms and allow\nthe civilians to leave the safe zone<\/strong>,\u201d<\/em> State Department spokesman Ian Kelly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12\nMay 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Joint Statement\nby UK & US Secretary Clinton and UK\nForeign Secretary Miliband expressed their profound concern about the\nhumanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka caused by the ongoing hostilities,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13\nMay 2009<\/strong> \u2013 United\nNations \/UN Security Council adopted a non-binding statement<\/strong>\nthat expressed grave concern over the\nworsening humanitarian crisis in northeast Sri Lanka, in particular the reports\nof hundreds of civilian casualties in recent days.\u201d For the first\ntime, a text is formally adopted to express our concern over the situation,\nwhich explains the absolute condemnation of the LTTE<\/strong> (rebel\nLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam),\u201d<\/em> France\u2019s UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice\nRipert, one of the three sponsors of text, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 May 2009\n\u2013 Washington \/ US President Obama called on LTTE to lay down arms & GoSL to\ntake greater care for the safety of civilians<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Going\nforward, Sri Lanka must seek a peace that is secure and lasting, and grounded\nin respect for all of its citizens,\u201d \u2026\u2026.More civilian casualties and\ninadequate care for those caught in resettlement camps will only make it more\ndifficult to achieve the peace that the people of Sri Lanka deserve.\u201d We have\na humanitarian crisis that\u2019s taking place in Sri Lanka, and I\u2019ve been\nincreasingly saddened by the desperate news in recent days\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Without\nurgent action, this humanitarian crisis could turn into a catastrophe,\u201d So I urge the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and let civilians\ngo. Their forced recruitment of civilians and their use of civilians as human\nshields is deplorable. These tactics will only serve to alienate all those who\ncarry them out.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            GOSL & SL Army Statements<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            27 Jan 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Army engaged in taking control over 30km (18mile)\ncoast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Brig. Nandana Udawatte<\/strong> to AFP reporter in Kumalamunai, south of Mullaitivu\n(captured on 25 Jan- Sunday) We are moving along the coast as well as to the\nnorth-west towards another pocket of Tiger resistance,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (Udawatte says his troops had killed at least 2000 LTTE in\nbattle to capture Mullaitivu. LTTE had established 3 defence lines to protect\nMullaitivu but his men had surprised them by crossing lagoon by boat)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

             We also suffered casualties in overcoming\ntheir obstructions,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Defense Ministry LTTE terrorists continued worsening\nsuffering of the thousands of civilians entrapped in the outskirts of\nMullaittivu, ignoring the 48-hour ultimatum served for the safe passage of\ncivilians,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1 Feb 2009<\/strong> – The\nnext step for us is to liberate the civilians,\u201d\u2026.. There will be new\noperations to get the people to safety now that the Tigers have not allowed\ncivilians to leave,\u201d<\/em> said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10 Feb 2009<\/strong> – The\ncivilians came to an army position carrying the 17 dead and 69 others who had\ngunshot injuries,\u201d <\/em>Among those wounded in the attack were 27 women and 11\nchildren<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            24 Feb 2009<\/strong> – Battlefield\nreports indicate intense fighting going on in the area as troops closing in on\nPuthukkudirirppu,\u201d<\/em> the defence ministry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            24 Feb 2009<\/strong> – The\nmilitary is taking more casualties now because they can no longer soften the\ntarget using artillery and air attacks,\u201d<\/em> Defense Secretary told AFP late\nTuesday in an interview<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            26 Feb 2009<\/strong> – Ground\ntroops have positioned for a final thrust towards the remaining LTTE foothold,\u201d<\/em>\nthe ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            28 Feb 2009<\/strong> – Troops\nwho have entered Puthukkudiriruppu town perimeter have found LTTE\u2019s high-tech\nsatellite communication centre, while further advancing into the built-up area\namidst stiff resistance from terrorists,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            8 Feb 2009<\/strong> – As the Mullaittivu battle reached its last phase, the\nLTTE terrorists made several desperate attempts in vain to infiltrate the\nmilitary forward defences,\u201d<\/em> the defence\nministry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            15 Mar 2009<\/strong> – Infantrymen\nfurther advanced into LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) hiding areas\u2026\ninflicting heavy damages to terrorists,\u201d<\/em> (confirms Army is advancing on\nfoot)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            18 Mar 2009<\/strong> – These\ncivilians have revealed the continuation of forcible child recruitment by the\nLTTE for battle purposes and brutal killings of individuals and families who\ndefy their orders,\u201d<\/em> the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 April 2009<\/strong> – the\nworld\u2019s largest hostage rescue operation undertaken by a conventional armed\nforce in modern times.\u201d <\/em>Defense ministry <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            18 April 2009<\/strong> – The LTTE terrorists continued mounting heavy artillery\nand mortar attacks from the no-fire zone at troops now advancing towards the\ngeneral area of Vellamullivaikkal,\u201d<\/em>\ntdefence ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            20 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Defence ministry\nsecretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called on the international community and the\nUnited Nations to put pressure on Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down arms and\nsurrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            21 Apr 2009<\/strong> – The defence ministry has given\nVelupillai Prabhakaran and his fighters until 0630 GMT Tuesday to surrender. The Sri Lanka army\u2019s 58th division soldiers\nentered into (the) areas of Putumathalan and Amapalavanpokkanai in the no-fire\nzone,\u201d <\/em>the ministry said<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            26 Apr 2009<\/strong> –\nWhat is the need for a ceasefire when they are running away? They should first\nlay down arms, surrender and let the people go,\u201d<\/em> (Gotabaya Rajapakse\nresponding to Pulidevans request for ceasefire)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            27 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Sri Lanka\u2019s military has been\nordered to stop using heavy guns and combat aircraft that could cause civilian\ncasualties in the battle against LTTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            30 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 President Mahinda Rajapakse ruled\nout halting military offensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We\nhave no plans to go for a ceasefire with the Tigers, but they have a little\ntime left to drop their weapons and surrender even though our military\noperation is at a final stage,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (after arrival of David Miliband & Bernard Kuchner) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            President\nMahinda said he would not bow to international pressure & promised to\nrescue Tamil civilians. He accused western governments of being hypocrites. They are trying to preach to us\nabout civilians. I tell them to go and see what they are doing in Iraq and\nAfghanistan,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> he said in a speech in the southern town of\nEmbilipitiya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If\nI say we don\u2019t use heavy weapons, that means we don\u2019t. But these foreign envoys\nare prepared to believe the propaganda of a terrorist organisation,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> the president added,  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1 May 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Military spokesman Brig. Udaya\nNanayakkara says 2 columns of troops have consolidated positions along a strip\nof coastline in the northeast \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Tigers have no land escape routes\nleft. We have troops in place to move in at anytime,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If not for the civilians\nstill trapped inside, we would have gone in by now.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Troops have to consider the civilians\u201d<\/strong> still\ntrapped in the territory held by LTTE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12 May 2009<\/strong> – government forces advanced 800\nmetres (yards) during fighting, cutting deeper into the roughly four square\nkilometres (1.5 square miles) of coastal jungle in rebel hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 May 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Sri Lanka military accused LTTE of\nusing phosphorus bombs in a last-ditch attempt to save itself. Burns on\ncivilians who fled LTTE areas suggested such weapons had been used by LTTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            15 May 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Sri Lanka Navy captured wife & 2\nchildren of LTTE Soosai trying to flee by boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 May 2009<\/strong> – I am proud to announce\u2026 that my government, with the total commitment\nof our armed forces, has in an unprecedented humanitarian operation finally\ndefeated the LTTE militarily,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> President Mahinda Rajapakse said\nin a speech in Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 May 2009<\/strong> – More than 50,000 people have come out<\/strong>\nof that area in the past three days and with that we have rescued all the civilians held as a human shield by the\nTigers<\/strong>,\u201d<\/em> (SLArmy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 May 2009<\/strong> – there was no bloodbath\u201d during its\nrescue\u201d of tens of thousands of civilians held hostage by Tamil Tiger rebels. There was no bloodbath as some people\nfeared,\u201d<\/em> Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters. Everybody has come out safely and they are\nbeing looked after by the government.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Journalists flown over conflict area<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            24 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Journalists flown to Kilinochchi & shown large\nhaul of mortars & small arms captured from LTTE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 May 2009<\/strong> \u2013 AFP reported that the LTTE leader\nwas still missing. They say he is still there, leading the fight. But we\nhaven\u2019t found anybody, not a single person, who has actually seen him,\u201d a Sri\nLankan defence official told AFP on condition of anonymity. A huge fireball was\nseen inside the jungle area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE statements – LTTE\ncall for ceasefire\/truce<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            27 Jan 2009<\/strong> – It is malicious propaganda \u2014 our leader is still with us\n\u2014 our leader is giving leadership to our freedom struggle. He is with our\npeople,\u201d \u2026\u2026\u2026 In a liberation war it is normal for a force to lose territory\nand regain the same and achieve freedom,\u201d\u2026\u2026 In the past we have withdrawn many\ntimes and bounced back to achieve big victories.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            BBC Sinhala quoted Tiger political wing leader B. Nadesen via\nsatellite phone interview<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            23 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE\nwas ready to comply with international calls for ceasefire but WOULD NOT lay\ndown arms<\/strong>. The international\ncommunity must do everything in its power to bring a ceasefire so that the\nmiseries of the Tamils\u2026 are brought to an end,\u201d<\/em> a statement from LTTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We also wish to inform the\ninternational community that we are ready to discuss, cooperate, and work\ntogether in all their efforts to bring an immediate ceasefire and work towards\na political settlement,\u201d<\/em>\nthe LTTE\u2019s political chief B. Nadesan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE says its ready to negotiate a\nceasefire & restart peace talks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Such a ceasefire should also contain a\nbase for political negotiations,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            GoSL\nrejected the call and asked LTTE to first lay down arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            26 Apr 2009<\/strong> – The\nceasefire is purely for humanitarian purposes and the duration will depend on\nthe response of the Sri Lankan government,\u201d<\/em> Puleethevan told AFP by\ntelephone (LTTE could still call overseas!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            27 Apr 2009<\/strong> – We\nmade our position very clear to the international community. We will never surrender<\/strong> till our\nlegitimate demands are met,\u201d<\/em> Puleethevan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE asked to surrender \/ lay down arms<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            3 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 US & Donors (Co-Chairs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Co-Chairs called on the LTTE and the\ngovernment not to fire out of or into the no-fire zone<\/strong> established by the government or in\nthe vicinity of the hospital in the war-zone where more than 500 patients are\nreceiving care and many hundreds more have sought refuge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Co-Chairs\ncalled on both sides to allow food and medical assistance to reach those\ntrapped by fighting, cooperate with the international Red Cross to facilitate\nthe evacuation of urgent medical cases, and ensure the safety of aid and\nmedical workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The LTTE and the Government of Sri\nLanka must respect international\nhumanitarian law<\/strong>,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            22 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE chief spokesman Velayudam\nDayanidi, better known as Daya Master and another surrender<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Tamil witnesses against LTTE<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            18 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Trincomalee: Shopkeeper Subramaniam Sudaharan\nescaped but his 2 teenage (14 & 16) sons were shot dead as family fled from\nLTTE. Wife was also shot but did not die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I suffered minor injuries. We are\nlucky to be able to get out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            29 Apr 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 Daya Master & George Master who\nsurrended to SL Army come on tv & make statements denouncing LTTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            Every point from where people could\nmove away from LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) areas were unfortunately\nmanned by LTTE cadre,\u201d<\/em>\nsaid V.K. Pancharatnam, alias George, a translator and aide to the Tigers\u2019 late\npolitical leader S.P. Thamilselvan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            People who tried to leave met with\nviolence,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Velayudam\nDayanidi, better known as Daya Master & LTTE spokesman, said he had been\ntrying to escape from the LTTE for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            When the LTTE broke away from the\npeace talks in 2006, I decided to break away since I believed in negotiations,\u201d<\/em> he said in the interview,  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            International Community calls for\nceasefire\/truce\/temporary \u2018no fire\u2019<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            3 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 US Secretary of State Hillary\nClinton & UK Foreign Minister David Miliband calls for temporary no-fire period\u201d<\/strong> to evacuate casualties and allow in\nrelief.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            5 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 Canada called for truce to evacuate\nwounded civilians & for LTTE to lay down arms. We continue to believe that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily\nand can only be settled through a durable political solution that meets the\nlegitimate aspirations of all the people of Sri Lanka,\u201d<\/em> Lawrence Cannon,\nCanadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            23 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013\nBrussels<\/strong>\/EU foreign ministers<\/strong>\nissued joint call for an immediate ceasefire. The EU is deeply concerned about the evolving humanitarian crisis and\nvast number of internally displaced people,\u201d\u2026The EU calls for an immediate\nceasefire thereby providing for the establishment of full and unrestricted\naccess\u201d<\/em> to allow aid to reach a jungle area of northern Sri Lanka as well\nenable traumatized civilians to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            7 April 2009 \u2013 UK <\/strong>calls for humanitarian ceasefire.\nForeign Secretary David Miliband <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Recent reports suggesting that the Sri\nLankan military have now captured all the territory outside the so-called \u2018no\nfire zone\u2019 and that fighting is now going on inside the zone, where the\ncivilian population is concentrated, are deeply worrying,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The need for a humanitarian ceasefire\nis now even more urgent.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

             Nothing excuses the reported use of civilians by the LTTE as a human\nshield\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            9 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Co-Chairs\n(representatives of the Tokyo Co-Chairs<\/strong> \u2014 the United States, the European\nUnion, Japan and Norway) called for both camps to cease their futile\u201d\nfighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE\nshould permit freedom of\nmovement for the civilians\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 GoSL announce 48hr temporary\nceasefire for New Year celebrations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Brussels\/Czech EU presidency statement welcomes the two-day ceasefire,\u201d\nbut remains however deeply concerned about the situation for the civilians\ntrapped in the conflict zone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 Apr 2009<\/strong> –  We call\nupon the government and military of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers to\nimmediately stop hostilities until the more than 140,000 civilians in the\nconflict are safely out,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> State\nDepartment spokesman Robert Wood<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            18 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Britain \u2014 a permanent member of the\nSecurity Council \u2014 will ask Nambiar to report immediately to the UN Security\nCouncil after his visit,\u201d David Miliband said<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            25 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Washington\/White\nHouse \u2013 First statement by President Obama<\/strong> on Sri Lanka. The United States is deeply concerned about\nthe plight of innocent civilians caught up in the conflict between the\ngovernment of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers and the mounting death toll,\u201d<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We call on both sides to stop fighting\nimmediately and allow civilians to safely leave the combat zone,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We call on both sides to strictly\nadhere to their obligations under\ninternational humanitarian law.<\/strong> We are very concerned about reports of\nviolations, and take these allegations very seriously,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            26 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Foreign Secretary David Miliband,\ntogether with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner and Swedish counterpart\nCarl Bildt, will visit (Sri Lanka) on Wednesday,\u201d Downing Street said in a\nstatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            29 Apr 2009<\/strong> – foreign ministers of Britain and\nFrance, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, arrived in Sri Lanka<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            16 May 2009 London<\/strong> \u2013 British PM Gordon Brown warned Sri\nLanka of consequences for its actions\u201d if Colombo did not allow humanitarian\nagencies access to civilians and end the conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Sri Lanka stands on the brink,\u201d\u2026. We\nhave called repeatedly for the violence to cease\u201d\u2026..The humanitarian agencies\nmust be granted access to civilians caught in the crossfire of a dreadful\nconflict. We are backing UN efforts to secure an orderly end to the conflict. The LTTE must lay down its arms and allow civilians to leave\u201d<\/strong>\n<\/em>\u2026Sri Lanka must\nunderstand that there will be consequences for its actions\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Statements on No Fire Zone \/ Safe Zone<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13 Mar 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Washington (AFP) \u2013 US Secretary of\nState Hillary Clinton expressed deep\nconcern<\/em>\u201d over mounting deaths in a government safe zone. Clinton offered immediate and post-conflict\nreconstruction assistance,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 Apr 2009<\/strong> – Civilians \u2014 estimated at more than\n140,000 by the United States and more than 100,000 by the United Nations \u2014 are\nholed up in the narrow strip on the northeastern coast initially designated a\nsafe zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE keeping hospital patient\u2019s hostage (human\nshields)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            28 Jan 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE prevented ICRC evacuating\nsome 300 hospital patients inside rebel-held territory.<\/strong> 24 vehicles\narranged by ICRC and the United Nations to transport the sick was barred from\ncrossing the frontline  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Convoy\nhad been detained by gun-carrying\u201d fighters and that there had been heated\nargument\u201d with Red Cross and UN officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Hospitals shelled<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            2 Feb 2009 (AFP<\/strong>) \u2013 A hospital in LTTE held area (300 sq.km \u2013\n110sq.miles in jungle) claiming to house 500\nhospital patients<\/strong> shelled (1Feb-Sun) 9\npatients claimed dead<\/strong> and 15 injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            ICRC\nColombo Head Paul Castella We\u2019re shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for\nthe second time in recent weeks,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            ICRC did not say WHO WAS\nRESPONSIBLE FOR SHELLING <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 16 patients die during shelling on\nmakeshift hospital northern Putumattalan (ICRC did not say who was responsible\nfor shelling)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Statements\nfrom Doctors (local & foreign)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            29 Jan 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 more than 250 civilians killed & over 1000 injured since\nbeginning of January 2009 (T. Varatharajah, regional director of health\nservices in Mullaittivu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            “There are dozens of unclaimed bodies lying in\nthe hospital mortuaries because no relatives are coming forward to claim\nthem,”<\/em> Dr.Varatharajah told AFP by telephone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 4 civilians killed from artillery\nshelling near elderly home in Puttumatalan says Dr. T. Satyamurthy but did not\nsay who fired shells. On phone to AFP Dr. Satyamurthy says on 13 Feb 2009\nnearly 100 civilians were admitted to makeshift hospital for injuries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            25 Apr 2009 – British surgeon working\nfor Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Paul McMasters<\/strong>, said his team in the state-run\nhospital in Vavuniya had performed 71 operations in one recent 24-hour period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            One of the patients I have seen is a\nlittle girl of about seven or eight who has a severe leg injury. Her elder\nsister is in the same bed with wounds on her arms and legs,\u201d \u2026.Their sister\nhas burns to her face. Their mother has been killed and their father is in\nintensive care. With the level of aftercare that we can provide at the moment,\nhe has a fifty-fifty chance of making it, at best.\u201d\u2026.It\u2019s so crowded that the\nnurses cannot physically walk around the ward,\u201d he said, estimating the number\nof patients in a 45-bed ward at around 320\u2026..There are simply too many people\nto treat them all. We are not able to save some people because we need to\nprovide more aftercare,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE attack bus carrying civilians<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            14 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE threw grenade at bus\ntransporting civilians out of Puliyankulam killing 1 woman and injuring 13 (4\nwomen & 2 girls with gunshot injuries)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE block UN staff leaving war zone<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            22 Jan 2009<\/strong> \u2013 UN accused LTTE of preventing UN local staff &\ntheir families leaving North with convoy that had brought food and emergency\nsupplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The UN calls on the LTTE (Liberation\nTigers of Tamil Eelam) to meet their responsibilities and immediately permit\nall UN staff and dependents to freely move from this area,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \n<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LTTE suicide attacks<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            9 Feb 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE suicide bomber kills 20 soldiers and 8 civilians\nin refugee camp near Vishwamadu.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            US\ncondemned attack<\/em><\/strong> This apparent effort by\nthe LTTE (Tamil Tigers) to discourage Tamils from leaving the conflict area\nkilled and wounded many Tamil civilians.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            21 Feb 2009<\/strong> \u2013 LTTE suicide attack in Colombo by plane<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            10 Mar 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 15 killed and 60 wounded including 2 ministers in\nsuicide attack by LTTE in Akuressa, South Sri Lanka at a mosque function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Telecommunications minister Mahinda Wijesekara and Cultural\nMinister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            UNICEF\nStatements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            17 Feb 2009 (AFP) <\/strong>\u2013 LTTE intensified conscripting child soldiers as\nyoung as 14. LTTEE has recruited more than 6000 child soldiers since 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We have clear\nindications that the LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of civilians and\nthat children as young as 14 years old are now being targeted,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> said Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF\u2019s chief in Sri Lanka<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 Apr 2009<\/strong> – UNICEF\nis calling for a ceasefire and for a humanitarian pause which allows\nhumanitarian workers to access the conflict zone and for civilians who are\ntrapped in this zone \u2026 to be allowed to seek refuge in secured zones,\u201d<\/em> said\nVeronique Taveau, spokeswoman UNICEF<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            UNHCR<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees\n(UNHCR) said it had received 300 acres\nof land from the government to set up, by the end of the week, a camp for\n42,000 people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            ICRC<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            16 Jan 2009 <\/strong>ICRC reported massive\ndisplacement\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Repeated displacements, often\ninvolving the loss of their personal belongings, have taken a toll,\u201d said Paul\nCastella, the ICRC\u2019s head of delegation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Tens of thousands of displaced\ncivilians are concentrated in an area so small that there are serious concerns\nfor their physical safety and living conditions, in particular in terms of\nhygiene,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            30 Jan 2009<\/strong> We\nare negotiating with both parties to the conflict to ensure safe passage for\nmore patients that need urgent medical attention,\u201d<\/em> Sarasi Wijeratne,\nspokeswoman for ICRC told AFP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 Jan 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Tens of thousands of\ndisplaced civilians are concentrated in an area so small that there are serious\nconcerns for their physical safety and living conditions, in particular in\nterms of hygiene,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            5 Mar 2009<\/strong> – One of our male workers was killed on\nWednesday afternoon by shrapnel,\u201d<\/em> <\/strong>(ICRC local worker – Vadivel\nVijayakumar killed in Chalai)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            HRW Brad Adams on Civilians<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            29 Jan 2009 (AFP) – <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The situation for hundreds of\nthousands of vulnerable civilians trapped in the Wanni war zone (in Mullaittivu\ndistrict) is becoming increasingly dangerous,\u201d<\/em> Brad Adams, Asia director at Human\nRights Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Both the government and the LTTE need\nto take urgent action to prevent large-scale civilian deaths.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13 Mar 2009<\/strong> – Human\nRights Watch accused the LTTE of holding civilians as human shields,\u201d<\/strong>\npreventing people from leaving the areas under their control and forcibly\nrecruiting children to fight the army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Amnesty International \u2013 Yolanda Foster<\/strong>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            “People displaced by the conflict are\nexperiencing acute shortages of humanitarian aid, especially food, shelter and\nmedical care,”  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            “There has been no food convoy in the area since\n16 January.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            “Preventing civilians from accessing medical\ncare constitutes a war crime.”<\/em><\/strong> (<\/em>who was preventing? LTTE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            28 Mar 2009<\/strong>\n– LTTE were\nholding civilians hostage<\/strong> and were reported to have deliberately\nattacked civilians that have tried to escape from areas under their control.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Pro-LTTE rallies abroad<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            19 Mar 2009 (AFP)<\/strong> \u2013 Pro-LTTE rallies in Australia,\nBelgium, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Self-immolations\nin Tamil Nadu, UK & Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Demonstrators\ndraping themselves with LTTE flags!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil\nEelam) is a banned organisation in some of these countries. We are surprised\nthese countries allow LTTE sympathisers to use the LTTE flags\u201d (GoSL)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            7 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 UK police action on pro-LTTE demonstrators\nin Westminster Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13 Apr 2009 \u2013 Syndey\/Australia<\/strong> \u2013 about 300 pro-LTTE protestors stage\nrally outside Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd\u2019s official Sydney residence\ncalling for a lasting ceasefire in Sri Lanka. \nProtester Geetha Mano <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            21 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013\nOttawa\/Canada<\/strong> \u2013 up to 30,000 protestors blocked road for 15th<\/sup>\nday in a row demanding Canada stop GoSL ending LTTE. Canada has banned LTTE in\n2006 and refused to meet protestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            27 Apr 2009 London<\/strong> \u2013 6 Tamils arrested for smashing\nwindows in Indian High Commission and causing damage outside Sri Lanka\u2019s High\nCommission <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11 May 2009 London<\/strong> \u2013 British police arrest 45 Tamil\nprotestors for blocking traffic outside Parliament. Bharathy Maheswaram<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            India on alert against LTTE<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            21 Mar 2009 \u2013 Thiruvananthapuram\/Kerala<\/strong> \u2013 India tightened security in 3 major\nairports in Kerala following threats by LTTE sympathizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            9 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Indian security warn Congress leader\nSonia Gandhi and family of being targets of LTTE ahead of Indian election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            24 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 India\u2019s Foreign Secretary\nShivshankar Menon and National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan flew to Colombo\nre civilians trapped. The only lasting solution will come from political\nefforts to address the real concerns of the Tamil people, giving them lives of\ndignity within the Sri Lankan mainstream,\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            6 May 2009 India<\/strong> \u2013 Sonia Gandhi, leader of Congress\nParty cancelled election rallies in Tamil Nadu due to security risks. Her\nhusband former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi was killed by LTTE in Tamil Nadu in 1991.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            18 May 2009<\/strong> – We also want an authentication of\nPottu Amman\u2019s death,\u201d (Indian Govt)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            International Action against LTTE<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            28 Jan 2009 \u2013 Washington<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Thiruthanikan\nThanigasalam, 40, and Sahilal Sabaratnam, 29, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn, New\nYork to conspiring to purchase guided anti-aircraft missiles for LTTE during\ntrial in a US district court<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Co-defendants\nSathajhan Sarachandran, 29, and Nadarasa Yogarasa, 54, pleaded guilty to\nsimilar charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Thanigasalam,\nSabaratnam and Sarachandran face a 25-year sentence to life in prison, while\nNadarasa faces up to 30 years prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nfour defendants were arrested on Long Island, New York in August 2006 after\nthree from the group were accused of negotiating with an undercover FBI agent\nto buy and export military equipment for the Tamil Tigers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            28 Jan 2009 UK<\/strong> \u2013 Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar  (AC SHanthan) head of United Tamil\nOrganisation charged with 5 offences by Kingston Crown Court in London in\nBritain (before UK banned LTTE in 2001) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            17 Apr 2009 \u2013 London<\/strong> \u2013 Kingston Crown Court convicted Arunachalam\nChrishanthakumar, 52, of coordinating supplies of material to the Liberation\nTigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Jurors\nfailed to reach verdicts on three other charges against Chrishanthakumar, also\nknown as AC Shanthan, plus one charge against another accused, Jegatheeswaran\nMuraleetharan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

             He was also convicted of receiving documents\nfor the purpose of terrorism,  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            USAID assistance<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            2 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 USAID donated $15m (Rs1.7 billion)\nworth of food aid for Sri Lanka to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nfood scheduled to arrive in June 2009, consisted of wheat, lentils and\nvegetable oil, will be distributed to a large number of displaced and\nconflict-affected people in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It\nwould feed 300,000 people over 4 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            USAID\nMission Director Rebecca Cohn said the donation represents about 21% of the\ntotal food aid that WFP has called for in 2009 to meet the needs of refugees\nand other conflict-affected people in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Role of Norway<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            2 April 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Sri Lanka summoned Norway\u2019s envoy\n(Tore Hattrem) to complain about the Nordic country\u2019s alleged role in arranging\na telephone conversation between LTTE\u2019s KP and UN John Holmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13 April 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Sri Lanka stripped Norway of role as\nbroker in Sri Lanka\u2019s peace process. The\ngovernment of Sri Lanka perceives that there is no room for Norway to act as\n(peace) facilitator,\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Calls for Political Solutions<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            6 Jan 2009<\/strong> UK High Commission Colombo issues statement by Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister of State for the Foreign and\nCommonwealth Office of the British Government and Douglas Alexander, Secretary\nof State for International Development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

             This development makes it even more urgent\nthat all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that\naddresses the legitimate concerns of all communities,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We remain concerned about the\nhumanitarian impact of the conflict and call on all parties to abide by their\nobligations under international humanitarian\nlaw.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Interfering in Sri Lanka\u2019s internal affairs<\/strong>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12 Feb 2009 (<\/strong>AFP) Sri Lanka rejected UK appointing special envoy Des Browne<\/strong> to SL\naccusing London of interfering into Sri Lanka\u2019s internal affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Resettling IDPs<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            30 Apr 2009<\/strong> \u2013 400 civilians out of 3000 returned\nto their homes (confirmed UNHCR) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This is the first time in years that\ninternally displaced people are able to return home in the Mannar district,\u201d<\/em> (UNHCR)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            ABSURDITY OF STATEMENTS by foreign\nenvoys\/international media & rights groups:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Claims by either side cannot be\nverified as human rights groups, diplomats and independent journalists are not\nallowed to report freely from the conflict zone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Battlefield casualty claims are\nimpossible to verify as journalists are not allowed to travel freely in the\narea.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            tens\nof thousands\u201d was a chorus used in virtually all of the statements issued by\nUN\/ICRC & international media. None of them could give any definite number\nor detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            When LTTE does not allow their own people to leave and ICRC\nlocal staff have also died or had been held hostage by LTTE \u2013 does the foreign\nelements think that reporters, rights groups and diplomats will be allowed\ninside for them to count the dead, monitor situation or ask questions from LTTE\nwhile engaged in hostilities? These are statements just issued for lack of any\npractical thinking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Sri\nLanka\u2019s President Mahinda Rajapakse formally announced end of LTTE Terrorists\n& their ground force on 19 May 2009<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We\nhave successfully ended the war,\u201d said Defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Prabhakaran\u2019s\nbody is among the 300 terrorist bodies that we captured,\u201d Army chief Lieutenant\nGeneral Sarath Fonseka said on state television. Now the entire country is\ndeclared rid of terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Sadly\nthose that supported LTTE are very much back in action firstly to take revenge\nfor ending LTTE and secondly as this affords a new opportunity to keep GoSL\nunder their influence & control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            A government with a will to defend the nation combined with the heroic efforts of Sri Lanka\u2019s national army reunited every inch of land under one national flag on 19 May 2009. The LTTE held a shrinking area of 100 metrex 100 metres which was finally taken with the announcement of the killing of Prabakaran […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1498,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98450\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}