5 years today - Indiscriminate shelling continues, India says 'killings must stop', calls for political solution

23 April 2014

23 April 2009 Further shelling of churches and ICRC regions The church in Valaignarmadam was shelled for the second consecuti e da!" in#uring and $illing se eral social welfare personnel" reported Tamilnet% Further instances of shelling of coastlines where in#ured Tamil ci ilians were loo$ing to &e e acuated &! the ICRC ship were reported from the ground% 23 April 2009 India calls for political solution and an end to $illings of Tamil ci ilians The ongoing carnage came as the Indian '(ternal Affairs )inister *rana& )u$her#ee" calling for the $illings to stop" warned that onl! a political

solution would ensure true lasting peace% +pea$ing to media after an hour long meeting on the situation in +ri ,an$a he said" -e are er! unhapp! at the continued $illing of innocent Tamil ci ilians in +ri ,an$a% These $illings must stop% The onl! lasting solution will come from political efforts to address the real concerns of the Tamil people" gi ing them a life of dignit! within the +ri ,an$an mainstream%. 22 April 2009 / ICRC intimidated" churches shelled and 0+ reiterates calls for international access into 1o Fire 2one The +ri ,an$an )ilitar! fired shells in close range of an ICRC ship a short time after e(act co/ordinates of the e acuation ship were gi en to the +ri ,an$an go ernment" sources on the ground told Tamil1et% Further reports from the 1o Fire 2one" said that prominent places of refuge such as a church in Valaignarmadam had &een shelled &! the +ri ,an$an militar!% The 0+ state department" in a press &rief on +ri ,an$a" repeated calls on the go ernment to allow international aid agencies and o&ser ers into the 1o Fire 2one% The 0+ official also stressed the need to ascertain the num&er of people remaining in the 1o Fire 2one% )eanwhile" an official from the ,TT' political di ision estimated that o er 200"000 Tamil ci ilians remained in the 1o Fire 2one% 23 April 2009 / +ri ,an$an go ernment dela!s aid to Vanni The +ri ,an$an go ernment dela!ed the departure of a -orld Food *rogramme 4-F*5 aid ship to ta$e supplies to conflict affected regions in Vanni% The go ernment had stopped the ship form lea ing despite ha ing the e(act co/ordinates of the doc$ing point in Vanni" officials from the Va uni!aa 6istrict +ecretariat toldTamilnet% +ituational reports for the pre ious month showed that onl! a 7uarter of the re7uired aid had reached Tamil ci ilians in the conflict regions% 23 April 2009 / +outh African political part! mem&ers condemn ethnic cleansing and stress need to consider political solution The +olidarit! 8roup for *eace and 9ustice in +ri ,an$a" which consisted of mem&ers of the African 1ational Congress 4A1C5" Congress of +outh African Trade 0nions 4C:+AT05 and +outh African Communist *art! 4+AC*5 groups condemned the ;ethnic $illings< Tamil ci ilians &! +ri ,an$a go ernment forces% The +outh African organisation in their statement warned"

The pursuit of a militar! solution not in fa our of a ia&le political framewor$ addressing the legitimate grie ances of the Tamil people and their aspirations for self/determination remains the fundamental &arrier &etween permanent peace amid an unfolding humanitarian disaster%= If a polic! of ethnic cleansing continues to &e pursued &! the +ri ,an$an administration" the +olidarit! 8roup and its affiliates will &e poised to ta$e strong measures in pressuring the state to accept an unconditional ceasefire%= +ee full statement here% 20 April 2009 / +hells" cluster &om&s and hospital attac$s lea e thousands in#ured The +ri ,an$an militar! in one of the most deadl! offensi es of the 2009 conflict &om&arded the 1o Fire 2one with shells and cluster &om&s in#uring o er 3000 ci ilians and lea ing countless dead" sources on the ground told Tamilnet% Further reports said that the *uthamathalan ma$eshift hospital within 1o Fire 2one had &een hit &! se eral shells causing se ere in#uries% The International Committee of the Red Cross 4ICRC5 Countr! Chief" also e(pressed concern o er the lac$ of medical aid for the people in the 1o Fire 2one% The situation there is er! difficult% The ma$eshift health facilities that are still e(isting are not immune of the effects of the hostilities%. *aul Castella told the >>C% The )inistr! of ?ealth staff still wor$ing there is reall! worn out / these people are wor$ing for months now without an! &rea$" the! wor$ da! and night% And medical supplies are lac$ing". he added% 20 April 2009 / ,TT' welcomes 0+ statement" sa! it@s willing to discuss $e! issues with international communit! The ,i&eration Tigers of Tamil 'elam" in a statement &! its political head7uarters" welcoming the 0+ state department<s calls for a ceasefire" urged the +ri ,an$an go ernment to stop militar! actions and commit to an immediate ceasefire% The ,TT' further added that the! were committed to meaningful negations with the international communit! on issues related to humanitarian access" securit! and the mo ement and welfare of the Tamil ci ilian population% +ee full statement here% 20 April 2009 / Thousands of Tamil protestors &loc$ade roads in ,ondon After witnessing a wee$end of carnage in the 1o Fire 2one" thousands of Tamildemonstrators swelled onto roads outside the ?ouses of *arliament in ,ondon%

: er 2A00 protestors temporaril! &loc$ed the roads leading up to -estminster >ridge in desperate attempts to force international action to stop the ongoing slaughter of Tamil ci ilians% April 39 2009 / Tamil Ci ilian deaths and casualties continue in 1o Fire 2one Ci ilian casualties and deaths continued to escalate as reports suggested that +ri ,an$an militar! shelling $illed B0 ci ilians and left o er 300 in#ured% )edical authorities from ma$eshift hospitals said that death tolls were inaccurate as dead &odies were not &eing &rought &ac$ to hospitals" reported Tamilnet% CD0 wounded patients were sent to ICRC aid ships at the end of the wee$% +pea$ing toThe 8uardian a doctor on the ship" 8nana 8unalan" said" )ost of the people ha e shell &last in#uries and gunshot in#uries% +ome people ha e lost their lim&s" other people ha e lost other parts of the &od!" some people ha e wounds in the a&domen" some in the chest%= April 39 2009 / >ritish Foreign +ecretar! calls for an immediate ceasefire The >ritish Foreign +ecretar!" 6a id )ili&and" in a statement" maintained calls for an immediate ceasefire in +ri ,an$a" and for Tamil ci ilians to &e allowed to lea e the conflict area% *rotests and demonstrations around the world ha e highlighted the tragic loss of life of innocent ci ilians in +ri ,an$a% Further loss of life will onl! compound the traged!% -e ha e heard their oice and will $eep listening% -e are committed to do all we can to &ring this terri&le conflict to an end". said the Foreign +ecretar! 6a id )ili&and% The Australian capital of Can&erra earlier that wee$ saw o er EA00 Tamils ta$e part in a rall! to demand an immediate ceasefire in +ri ,an$a and an end to atrocities committed against the Tamils% Tamilnet reported that a peace acti ist" ,ara *ullin" who came to see the demonstrations that wee$" said" The rallies &! the Tamils ha e gathered the same momentum that I saw during the pre 'ast/Timor independence time and Anti/ apartheid mo ementF one gets the feeling where Tamils ha e come to a stage where the! are sa!ing ;'nough is 'nough< )eanwhile" Tamilnet reported that BD social welfare Tamil diaspora organisations in France" in a secret &allot" showed unanimous support for the Independence struggle of Tamils in +ri ,an$a% 3E April 2009 / Tamil ci ilians on erge of d!ing of star ation in 1o Fire 2one Thousands of Tamil ci ilians were on the erge of d!ing &! star ation in the 1o Fire 2one " sources on the ground told Tamilnet% A 0nited 1ations official in Colom&o further said" that the

situational report &! the )ullaithee u 6istrict +ecretariat had re7uested for food and rations to feed at least 30A"239 people% ?umanitarian aid figures suggested that onl! 22G of the aid needed had reached the 1o Fire 2one in the month of )arch% ?ighlighting the e(tent of malnutrition in the 1o Fire 2one" the report said" A nutrition sur e! conducted &! the 6epartment of health" )ullaiti u 6istrict in last wee$ of )arch" 2009" indicates that B9%93G of children were under weight and acute under nutrition is er! much increased% The report re7uests for immediate inter ention in suppl! food%. 3E April 2009 / Rape" torture and iolence pre alent in state run I6* camps A human rights acti ist" Thomas +eil&ert" returning from a trip to +ri ,an$a" e(pressed e(treme concern regarding the welfare of Tamil ci ilians run in internall! displaced persons 4I6*5 camps run &! the go ernment% 6escri&ing the welfare of Tamil ci ilians in go ernment hands" he said" H)an! are tortured or simpl! shot% There are also reports of regular rapes%. +ee full statement hereI 3E April 2009 / Further calls &! Tamil demonstrators for 01 to ta$e action : er A000 Tamil demonstrators gathered in 1ew Jor$<s Times +7uare and outside the 0nited 1ation to urge the 01 to stop the slaughter of Tamil ci ilians &! the +ri ,an$an go ernment% *rotestors tra elled from across the 1orth American continent to attend one of the largest demonstrations seen in 1ew Jor$ at the time" reported Tamilnet% 3D April 2009 / +ri ,an$a intends to e(terminate the Tamil population sa!s T1A The Tamil 1ational Alliance" in a letter to the Indian *rime )inister" )anmohan +ingh" said that +ri ,an$a<s actions pro ed that ;the real intention of the +ri ,an$an +tate is the progressi e e(termination of the Tamil people%< The letter highlighted concerns o er the +ri ,an$an militar! usage of chemical weapons" an imminent mass annihilation of Tamil ci ilians" and the ongoing shelling of the 1o Fire 2one% +ee full letter here% 3D April 2009 8lo&al Centre for Responsi&ilit! to *rotect calls on 01 +ecurit! Council to fulfil its dut! The 8lo&al Centre for the Responsi&ilit! to *rotect" in an open letter to the 01 +ecurit! Council" urged the international communit! to demand access to the conflict Kone for humanitarian groups and media and fulfil

responsi&ilit! of pre enting peoples from genocide" war crimes and crimes against humanit!% +ee full letter here% 3B April 2009 / B00 shells fall in 1o Fire 2one" 0+ calls to halt shelling and allow international access The 0+ department of state" in a press release" called on the go ernment of +ri ,an$a to halt shelling of the 1o Fire 2one" allow international monitors to ensure the safe passage of Tamil ci ilians and enforce international humanitarian standards within I6* camps% +ee full statement here% The statement came as o er B00 shells fell in the 1o Fire 2one within the space of a da!% +ources in the 1o Fire 2one registered o er 3A00 shell e(plosions with roughl! B00 occurring within the 1o Fire 2one% Tamilnet reported that 330 in#ured ci ilians were admitted to the ad/hoc hospital within the 1o Fire 2one in *uthumathalan% 3A April 2009 / Tamil ci ilians $illed carr!ing white flag in 1o Fire 2one" diaspora continues protests The +ri ,an$an )ilitar!" in an intense 3 hour assault on the 1o Fire 2ine $illed at least 3E0 Tamil ci ilians% Reports form the ground highlighted that in#ured ci ilians transported with white flags were &eing $illed% The seriousl! wounded ci ilians are d!ing as their transport has &een &loc$ed &! the +ri ,an$an arm! firing on medical transport carr!ing white flags% The +ri ,an$an arm! gunners shot a man who was tr!ing to transport a wounded ictim while holding white flag". sources on the ground told Tamilnet% Thousands of Tamil diaspora across the world continued protests and hunger stri$e demonstrations demanding immediate humanitarian assistance for the people in the 1o Fire 2one and an end to the genocide of Tamils% 3C April 2009 )e(ico sa!s R2* doctrine applica&le in +ri ,an$a Responding to 7uestions regarding a meeting &etween the )e(ican Am&assador to the 0nited 1ations" Claude ?eller" and +ri ,an$an Foreign +ecretar! *alitha Lohana" the )e(ican am&assador told the Inner Cit! *ress that the Responsi&ilit! to protect doctrine could &e applied in +ri ,an$a% -e are er! concerned that in the case of +ri ,an$a there is a concern of the responsi&ilit! to protect the population%.

?eller further added that +ri ,an$a<s summar! of the iewpoint he e(pressed in his meeting with Lohana was not accurate% This report was not the first time the Inner Cit! *ress pic$ed up on +ri ,an$an misrepresentation of international officials% The +ri ,an$an foreign secretar! at the time misrepresented calls &! the 0+ +ecretar! of +tate" ?ilar! Clinton" to allow international aid agencies into the 1o Fire 2one% 3C April 2009 +tates part! to 8ene a con ention ha e legal o&ligation to inter ene +pea$ing to Tamilnet" a professor of International ,aw at the 0ni ersit! of Illinois College of ,aw" Francis >o!le" calling on the 0nited +tates to ta$e action in +ri ,an$a" said that all states part! to the 8ene a Con entions had a legal o&ligation to inter ene and protect Tamil ci ilians in the 1orth/ 'ast of +ri ,an$a% +ee his statement here% 3C April 2009 +ources on the ground warn of mass traged! after further indiscriminate &om&ing of 1o Fire 2one +ources on the ground told Tamilnet that 3B &om&s were indiscriminatel! dropped &! the +ri ,an$an air/force into the 1o Fire 2one in the earl! hours of the morning" as the +ri ,an$an militar! ad anced with gunfire into the 1o Fire 2one" in *uthu$udi!iruppu% The source in the 1o Fire 2one warned of an ine ita&le mass traged!% 33 April 2009 / +ri ,an$a strips 1orwa! of peace facilitating role due to 0+ in ol ement +ri ,an$a stripped 1orwa! of its role as a peace facilitator" reported the Agence France *resse 4AF*5% The go ernment of +ir ,an$a percei es that there is no room for 1orwa! to act as facilitator". a go ernment official told the news agenc!% +pea$ing to Al#aKeera" 1orwa!<s special en o! to +ri ,an$a" 9on ?anssen/ >auer" responding to +ri ,an$a<s decision" said" -e cannot &e facilitators in a peace process which has in effect &een suspended since 200B. 6iplomatic sources in Colom&o told Tamilnet" that +ri ,an$a has made the

decision due to worries o er 0nited +tates influence in the 1orwegian led peace negotiations% 33 April 2009 :ffensi e +ri ,an$an militar! assaults into 1o Fire 2one continue despite ceasefire claims The +ri ,an$an )ilitar! stepped up the shelling and gunfire during an offensi e into the 1o Fire 2one" resulting in the deaths of at least 23 Tamil ci ilians" reported Tamilnet% The offensi e came despite announcements from the +ri ,an$an *resident" )ahinda Ra#apa$sa" that the militar! forces would act defensi el! o er the 2 da! new/!ear period% 33 April 2009 ,TT' calls for permanent ceasefire with humanitarian considerations The political di ision of the ,i&eration Tigers of Tamil 'elam 4,TT'5" in a statement" emphasised that the ,TT' were calling for a politicall! and militaril! meaningful ceasefire with humanitarian considerations% +ee full statement here% 32 April 2009 / T1AI Tamil people face genocide The Tamil 1ational Alliance in a statement released &! its Foreign Relations Committee" accused the +ri ,an$an go ernment of deli&eratel! targeting Tamil ci ilians and concluded that ;the Tamil people in the island are clearl! &eing su&#ected to genocide%< +ee e(tracts from the T1A statement &elow% The +ri ,an$an +tate &! imposing an em&argo on food" medicine and desperatel! needed humanitarian assistance has precipitated a humanitarian catastrophe%. The +ri ,an$an +tate<s use of food and medicine as weapons of war is a war crime under international law%. HThe situation faced &! the Tamil people is unprecedented% -hilst a considera&le section of the Tamil people are &eing e(terminated in the so called Hsafe Kones." or are in imminent danger of &eing e(terminated" the remaining sections are &eing s!stematicall! silenced &! &eing herded into concentration camps" terroriKed &! mass round ups" a&ductions and forced disappearances%. The use &! the +ri ,an$an +tate of internationall! &anned weapons" such as cluster &om&s and chemical weapons" has &een a characteristic feature of the current phase of the war &eing waged against the Tamil people%. HThe Tamil people in the island of +ri ,an$a are clearl! &eing su&#ected to 8enocide%. 32 April 2009 / 33 Tamil ci ilians $illed amidst +ri ,an$an militar! shelling

and gunfire in 1o Fire 2one Reports from Tamilnet suggested that at least 33 ci ilians were $illed and 3B Tamil ci ilians were su&mitted to the ma$e shift hospital in the 1o Fire 2one% 32 April 2009 / +wiss Tamils protest against genocide of Tamils +wiss Tamil protestors too$ part in a demonstration to raise awareness a&out the ongoing genocide of Tamils to the international communit!% The protests occurred on the final da! of a hunger stri$e underta$en &! Tamil students in +witKerland to raise awareness a&out the atrocities occurring in +ri ,an$a" reportedTamilnet% 33 April 2009 / ?ospital records report A99 deaths and 33A0 in#uries in 3 da!s of attac$s on 1o Fire 2one Tamilnet reports from hospital records outlined at least A99 deaths and 333A0 in#uries amongst the Tamil ci ilian population in the 1o Fire 2one after 3 da!s of shelling% 33 April 2009 / 200"000 >ritish Tamils march through ,ondon demanding a ceasefire : er 200"000 >ritish Tamils marched through ,ondon demanding a ceasefire in +ri ,an$a" reported Tamilnet% The demonstration" which was instigated &! >ritish Tamil students" &ro$e all pre ious records of attendance at Tamil protests% 30 April 2009 / Reporter +ans Frontiers demands that #ournalists &e allowed into 1o Fire 2one" e(presses concern o er +, war crimes Reporters sans Frontiers 4R+F5 warned that the death of two #ournalists in the 1o Fire 2one was !et another war crime that the +ri ,an$an go ernment would &e held accounta&le for" and strongl! condemned the +ri ,an$an go ernment<s &anning of independent #ournalists from the 1o Fire 2one and +ri ,an$an arm! front lines% '(tracts from the statement reproduced &elow% It is a disgrace that this war is &eing waged without independent #ournalists present% And &! pre enting thousands of innocent ci ilians from mo ing freel!" the Tamil Tiger re&els &ear a large share of the responsi&ilit! for these crimes% >! limiting media co erage to guided tours with the purpose of confirming militar! ictories" the armed forces are pre enting the press from doing its #o& and are disregarding the pu&lic<s right to &e informed in an independent manner%=

Reporters are una&le to tra el freel! in the northern Vanni district" especiall! the coastal area were nearl! 300"000 ci ilians and re&el com&atants ha e &een surrounded &! the arm!%= 30 April 2009 / +top shelling 1o Fire 2one" ?R- tells +ri ,an$a ?uman Rights -atch in a press release demanded that the +ri ,an$an go ernment stop firing hea ! artiller! into the ;1o Fire 2one" where the! estimated some 300000 Tamil ci ilians were trapped% The Asian director at ?uman Rights -atch descri&ed +ri ,an$a<s 1o Fire one as ;the most dangerous place in the world%< Reaching out to ?uman Rights -atch" a doctor in the 1o Fire 2one" said" =-e ha e &een reporting e er! da!" e er! da! pro iding reports to rele ant authorities and to the international communit!" and still there are no real steps ta$en to sa e these innocent ci ilians%= +ee full ?uman Rights -atch press &rief here% 30 April 2009 / 0+ Tamil organisations urge state department to chec$ reports of chemical weapons used in 1o Fire 2one 'le en Tamil organisations in a meeting with the 0+ state department urged the 0+ Am&assador to +ri ,an$a" Ro&ert >la$e" to in estigate allegations and e idence of chemical weapon attac$s against Tamil ci ilians and called for aid to &e deli ered to the 1o Fire 2one% +ee press release from the 0+ state department meeting here% 09 April 2009 / : er 300 in#ured ci ilians admitted to *uthumaathalan ma$e shift hospital : er 300 in#ured Tamil ci ilians were admitted to the ma$eshift hospital with CD people d!ing after &eing admitted throughout the da!% +ources on the ground told Tamilnet that se eral ci ilians that were $illed &! indiscriminate shelling and gunfire &! the +ri ,an$an militar! had &een left were the! la!% The sources further added that an estimate of the total $illed and in#ured for the da! was hard to calculate% 09 April 2009 / ICRC team leader $illed in Vanni A team leader for the International Committee of the Red Cross 4ICRC5" +innathurai Lugathasan" was $illed &! +ri ,an$an militar! shelling within

the 1o Fire 2one" rescue wor$ers told Tamilnet% 0E April 2009 / Child nutrition centre shelled &! +ri ,an$an militar! C33 ci ilians including 300 children were affected &! the shelling of a child care centre and mil$ powder distri&ution centre at *o$$anai" within the 1o Fire 2one% Reports gi en to Tamilnet alleged that three artiller! shells were fired into the ci ilian facilities" lea ing 329 dead and 300 children in#ured% An sur i or of the shelling in an e!ewitness account to ?uman Rights -atch" said" There had &een no distri&ution of mil$ powder for three months" and so when the! announced that there would &e distri&ution toda!" hundreds of people lined in 7ueue% It was earl! in the morning% I heard the first shell" and hit the ground% I sur i ed &! miracle" &ut m! CA/!ear old uncle died on the spot/ he lost &oth legs%. 0D April 2009 / +ri ,an$an militar! uses chemical weapons" sa!s ,TT' A senior commander of the ,TT'" who witnessed attac$s in the 1o Fire 2one said that the +ri ,an$an )ilitar! was e(tensi el! using chemical weapons" reported Tamilnet% The +ri ,an$an go ernment had alread! recei ed criticism for the purchase of weapons &anned under international law% +ee related articleI Controversial weapon meant for genocide alleges MP (17 August 2001) 0D April 2009 / +helling star ation and death in the 1o Fire 2one A wounded Tamil civilian spea ing from t!e "o #ire $one descri%ed t!e !ellis! conditions t!at t!e people faced under relentless s!elling from t!e &ri 'an an arm() *escri%ing a s!ell attac t!at illed !is son+ t!e wounded civilian+ &u%asan+ said+ , was t!rown %( t!e %last and %ot! m( ears were %loc ed %( t!e e-plosion) .!en , recovered from m( initial s!oc + , realised t!at , was in/ured) , tried to save a %adl( in/ured 10 (ear old %o( l(ing near%( %ut t!e %o( succum%ed to !is in/ur()1 , !ave two c!ildren+ %ut t!e food we !ave is inade2uate to feed t!e famil() T!e food we !ave !ere is enoug! for onl( one person+ %ut we s!are+3 !e furt!er added spea ing to Tamilnet) B April 2009 / Thousands of Tamil protestors occup! parliament s7uare demanding international action as slaughter of Tamil ci ilians in 1orth/'ast

escalates B of April mar$s the Ath anni ersar! of the parliament s7uare protests% Following 2 wee$s of protest outside >ritish parliament the num&er of demonstrators escalated to thousands in response to the intensified shelling of Tamil ci ilians in the 1orth/'ast% Thousands of protestors too$ to the streets and staged a sit down demonstration in front of the ?ouses of Commons% For an e!e/witness account of the e ents see here%

Thousands of protestors take to the streets

Veteran British politician Tony Benn joins demonstrations

*hotographsI The 8uardian

Bth April 2009 / )edical officials in the 1orth/'ast report s!stematic shelling of o er 2A0"000 ci ilians in 1o Fire 2one The regional officer of the )ullaithee u Regional 6irector of ?ealth +er ices 4R6?+5"outlined an o& ious pattern of shelling within the 1o Fire 2one% The officer reported that conser ati e estimates placed at least 2A0"000 people within the 1o Fire 2one% A April 2009 / +ri ,an$an Airforce intensifies attac$ on ci ilian 1o Fire 2one : er 200 ci ilians were either $illed or wounded due to +ri ,an$an Air/ force &om&ardmentof the 1o Fire 2one on this da!% Areas of )aaththalan" *o$$anai" Valaignarmadam" Iraddai/ aa!$$al and other areas of safet! Kone were shelled 14t! #e%ruar( 2005 6 Tamil civilians face intense s!elling as t!e( flee to 7"o #ire $ones7 8ver 190 civilians were feared illed %( &ri 'an an Arm( s!elling roads t!at were %eing used %( civilians to flee from conflict areas and reac! newl( defined :no fire ;ones)< &everal casualties and fatalities were reported along roads side from Teavipuram to Put!u udi(iruppu+ wit! t!e fleeing civilians forced to leave t!eir dead on t!e side of t!e roads or %ur( t!em under intense s!elling) A furt!er 50 civilians were reported illed %( similar circumstances two da(s prior) 11 #e%ruar( 2005 6 =ospitals %om%ed+ relentless assault on Tamil civilians and calls for international protection #e%ruar( 11t! saw t!e >affna ?overnment Agent (?A) made an urgent appeal to international non6governmental organisations to provide food and protection to over 2000 internall( displaced people (,*P) t!at were in !eld across t!ree &ri 'an an Militar( run camps) T!e 'TT@ *ivisional Political =ead in Aanni+ C ,lamparit!(+ w!ilst re%uffing &ri 'an an militar( claims t!at t!e 'TT@ were responsi%le for t!e slaug!tering of civilian+ urged t!e international communit( to protect Tamil civilians) T!e ,nternational Committee of t!e Bed Cross (,CBC)+ in a statement released t!e previous da(+ e-pressed :s!oc < at t!e lac of protection and a%sence of international aid reac!ing t!e Tamil population in Aanni) &pea ing at an ,CBC press release+ t!e !ead of t!e delegation in &ri 'an a+ Paul Castellasaid+ .e are s!oc ed t!at patients are not afforded t!e protection t!e( are entitled to)1 ,n a statement 'TT@ official ,lamparit!( said+ T!e :safet( ;one< unilaterall( announced %( t!e Colom%o government !as %een turned to a illing field %( t!e &ri 'an a militar() T!e &ri 'an an militar( mac!iner(+ w!ic! !as relentlessl( illed and maimed t!ousands of civilians during t!e past four wee s+ is now engaged in a propaganda drive to divert mounting pressure on t!e Colom%o government %( t!e international communit()1 Colom%o is committing t!e worst crimes of !umanit(+ %( illing and maiming !undreds of civilians ever( da( wit! t!e :safet( ;one< and %( indiscriminatel( %om%ing medical

institutions)1 T!e international communit( must ensure t!e presence of international protection and t!e monitoring aut!orities to assure t!e safet( of t!e civilians+ including t!e wounded patients and t!eir guardians w!o accompan( t!em)1 T!e ,CBC press statement also read+ Most of t!e population is now displaced and completel( depended on outside aid+ (et none !as reac!ed t!e area since 25 >anuar()1 In a statement made at the start of the month the ICRC e(pressed disma! at the +ri ,an$an Airforce<s repeated &om&ing of hospital and medical facilities in Vanni" stating" .e<re s!oc ed t!at t!e !ospital was !it+ and t!is for t!e second time in recent wee s) .ounded and sic people+ medical personnel and medical facilities are all protected %( international !umanitarian law) Cnder no circumstance ma( t!e( %e directl( attac ed) T!e staff are under acute stress surrounded as t!e( are %( t!e sound of ongoing fig!ting and t!e influ- of new patients) Am%ulances are constantl( arriving+ %ut people are also %eing %roug!t in %( wagon+ pic up truc s+ tractor and even motor scooter)1