3RD LEAD

100 civilians feared killed, countless wounded, artillery barrage on 'saftey zone'

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 2009, 09:06 GMT]
More than one hundred civilians were killed and hundreds of wounded patients were helpless without medical attendance as Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was continuously engaged in one of the most inhumane artillery barrage on civilian populated 'safety zone' in Udaiyaarkaddu Monday morning. All the civilians were remaining under the bunkers for more than 5 hours, according to initial reports from the medical sources in Udaiyaarkaddu. The makeshift hospital at Udaiyaarkaddu was on total disarray as 10 patients were killed and four ambulances damaged. The doctors have called for the ICRC, which is also helpless under the bunkers, the reports said.

The medical authorities have contacted the ICRC outside the region and urged to send in medical help as soon as possible and to put an end to the carnage inside the civilian safety zone.

Hundreds of artillery shells have been fired into the safety zone in what was described as the most inhumane genocidal attacks on civilian population.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which wants to see the civilians surrender, by bringing them to their extreme limits, has caused the carnage.

There is nobody available to help the wounded, according to the initial reports from the medical sources.

Last Thursday, the Government Agent of Mullaiththteevu Imelda Sukumar, who returned to Vavuniyaa said she cannot function anymore, until the normalcy returns, and said that she had advised her staff to move out from the area.

TamilNet correspondent who reported from the area on Sunday said:

"The message the Sri Lankan forces were passing to the civilians of Vanni, by repeated and unprovoked attacks, is that the civilians should subjugate themselves by walking into the territories in the hands of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)."

"People are not prepared to surrender themselves to their killers. They seem very concerned of the future course of the struggle and were concerned of their sons and daughters."

"The Sri Lankan military is testing the breaking point of the people."

Chronology: