4500 civilians displaced from Musali to Naanaaddaan in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 September 2007, 00:54 GMT]
More than 4500 civilians were forced to flee Musali division in Mannnaar district Saturday when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) moved in, without any direct confrontation, into the area located south of Mannaar-Madawachchi Road where Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) were known to have been present in pockets of areas. No Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) were maintained by either warring party in the said areas. The coastal villages located between Mannaar and Puththa'lam. Naanaaddaan MV school and Don Bosco technical college where 1136 IDPs of 327 families were residing have been surrounded by the SLA and the Sri Lankan police.

40 Muslim families who were allegedly held captives as human shields by the SLA have also sought refuge at the Technical College.

Muslims from Pa'ndaarave'li, Musali and Koo'laangku'lam in Musali division complained that the SLA soldiers were harassing them accusing them of supporting the Tigers. They were allowed to reach the Don Bosco Technical College via Chilaavaththu'rai Murungkan Road. 99 families have sought refuge at the technical college. Police have told the IDPs that they would be free to move after inquiries on individuals are complete.

Around 500 individuals of 133 families were registered as IDPs in Umanakari GS area in Naanaaddaan division. 129 persons of 29 families had reached Eruviddaan and 54 persons of 16 families were registered in Puththiraka'ndaan.

More than 4500 civilians have fled Musali division to public buildings and relatives in Naanaaddaan division in villages Pontheevukka'ndal, Vaazhkaip-paddaan, Pa'l'lakkamam, Razool Puthuve'li, Vangkaalai, Na'ruvizhik-ku'lam and other villages.

Meanwhile, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in Colombo proclaimed a military victory in Musali division where Tigers were known to have maintained pockets of areas along the coastal belt.

There are 20 GS areas in Musali division that comprises 474.2 square kilometers.

5864 persons, among them 1644 Muslims, were registered residents in the division, according the statistics from the divisional secretariat in 2006.



Chronology: