ID :
43458
Sat, 01/31/2009 - 07:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/43458
The shortlink copeid
LTTE says it is not holding civilians
T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 30 (PTI) Rubbishing the Sri Lankan
Government's claim that it is holding civilians in Wanni as
"human shields", the LTTE Friday said it has not imposed
restrictions on anyone to leave the war zone in northern areas
as Colombo set a 48-hour deadline for the rebels to surrender.
"We have been very clear that any individual who
wishes to leave the combat zone has an individual right to
move anywhere," Tamil Tigers' political head B Nadesan said.
"We have not imposed any restriction on individuals.
But, we will not be organising any 'organised exodus' against
the collective will of the people who have sought refuge away
from a genocidal military," he was quoted as saying by the
pro-LTTE website TamilNet.com.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had yesterday issued a
48-hour ultimatum to the LTTE to surrender and allow free
movement of civilians trapped in conflict areas and assured a
"safe passage" to the civilians to a secure environment.
Nadesan claimed that several civilians have died
without medical transport and the LTTE has been urging the
ICRC, the UN and all the actors of the international community
to act urgently to provide transport to the wounded.
He said yesterday that the LTTE has been urging the
UN, ICRC and other international actors through all available
offices to facilitate transportation for the wounded civilians
in need of medical treatment to the Vavuniyaa Hospital.
Nadesan said there were "elements" seeking to feed
false reports to tarnish the image of the Tigers.
The rebel leader also said the LTTE has been asking
the top officials of the UN and other international agencies
to immediately visit the 'safety zone' and obtain the views of
the civilians and make independent assessment of the needs and
concerns of the civilians.
The website also said that "Nadesan revealed that a UN
'security officer' who accompanied the World Food Programme
(WFP) humanitarian convoy, had attempted to pressure the
Tigers on completely wrong moral grounds."
"This was to organise an exodus of the family members
of the local staff of the UN leaving behind the remaining
civilians in the safety zone to be subjected to genocidal
attack by the Sri Lankan military," the website quoted
Nadesan as saying.
"The security officer was attempting to terminate the
WFP humanitarian operations by attempting to evacuate the
local staff of the UN, leaving behind the civilians who are in
urgent need of humanitarian aid and medical assistance,"
he said.
Nadesan categorically denied reports in the press
which blamed LTTE for not allowing wounded patients to be
transported to Vavuniya, the Tamilnet said.
"Several civilians have died without medical
transport. We have been urging the ICRC, the UN and all the
actors of the International Community to act urgently to
provide transport to the wounded," Nadesan said.
Colombo, Jan 30 (PTI) Rubbishing the Sri Lankan
Government's claim that it is holding civilians in Wanni as
"human shields", the LTTE Friday said it has not imposed
restrictions on anyone to leave the war zone in northern areas
as Colombo set a 48-hour deadline for the rebels to surrender.
"We have been very clear that any individual who
wishes to leave the combat zone has an individual right to
move anywhere," Tamil Tigers' political head B Nadesan said.
"We have not imposed any restriction on individuals.
But, we will not be organising any 'organised exodus' against
the collective will of the people who have sought refuge away
from a genocidal military," he was quoted as saying by the
pro-LTTE website TamilNet.com.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had yesterday issued a
48-hour ultimatum to the LTTE to surrender and allow free
movement of civilians trapped in conflict areas and assured a
"safe passage" to the civilians to a secure environment.
Nadesan claimed that several civilians have died
without medical transport and the LTTE has been urging the
ICRC, the UN and all the actors of the international community
to act urgently to provide transport to the wounded.
He said yesterday that the LTTE has been urging the
UN, ICRC and other international actors through all available
offices to facilitate transportation for the wounded civilians
in need of medical treatment to the Vavuniyaa Hospital.
Nadesan said there were "elements" seeking to feed
false reports to tarnish the image of the Tigers.
The rebel leader also said the LTTE has been asking
the top officials of the UN and other international agencies
to immediately visit the 'safety zone' and obtain the views of
the civilians and make independent assessment of the needs and
concerns of the civilians.
The website also said that "Nadesan revealed that a UN
'security officer' who accompanied the World Food Programme
(WFP) humanitarian convoy, had attempted to pressure the
Tigers on completely wrong moral grounds."
"This was to organise an exodus of the family members
of the local staff of the UN leaving behind the remaining
civilians in the safety zone to be subjected to genocidal
attack by the Sri Lankan military," the website quoted
Nadesan as saying.
"The security officer was attempting to terminate the
WFP humanitarian operations by attempting to evacuate the
local staff of the UN, leaving behind the civilians who are in
urgent need of humanitarian aid and medical assistance,"
he said.
Nadesan categorically denied reports in the press
which blamed LTTE for not allowing wounded patients to be
transported to Vavuniya, the Tamilnet said.
"Several civilians have died without medical
transport. We have been urging the ICRC, the UN and all the
actors of the International Community to act urgently to
provide transport to the wounded," Nadesan said.
