5 years today - Hospital bombed on

consecutive days , Obama demands an end to

indiscriminate shelling, TNA call for action
against genocide
13 ay !"1#
ullivai$al%s ma$e-shift hospital in the No &ire 'one (as shelled for the second
consecutive day, $illing over 1"" civilians including medical staff at the hospital
reported TamilNet and the ))*+
The ,- .resident )arac$ Obama, in a statement on -ri /an$a, urged the government
to stop indiscriminate shelling of the No &ire 'one and allo( international access to
civilians+
01tracts from statement reproduced belo(+
ullivai$al%s ma$e-shift hospital in the No &ire 'one (as shelled for the second
consecutive day, $illing over 1"" civilians including medical staff at the hospital
reported TamilNet and the ))*+
Object 1
I'm also calling on the Sri Lankan government to take several steps to
alleviate this humanitarian crisis. First, the government should stop the
indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including
several hospitals, and the government should live up to its commitment to
not use heavy weapons in the conflict zone."
"Second, the government should give nited !ations humanitarian teams
access to the civilians who are trapped "etween the warring parties so that
they can receive the immediate assistance necessary to save lives."
"#hird, the government should also allow the nited !ations and the
International $ommittee of the %ed $ross access to nearly &'(,(((
displaced people within Sri Lanka so that they can receive additional
support that they need.)
The US president also called on the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms.
The TNA, speaking at a press conference, further added that 3000 Tamils had een killed in
genocidal acts y the Sri !ankan go"ernment o"er the pre"ious 3 days.
#he government of Sri Lanka is mass killing #amil civilians after denying
them food and medicine. #his is the reality. *ore "loodshed can happen in
the ne+t few days. ,e appeal to the international community to
immediately stop this systematic slaughtering of civilians. #here is a
genocide taking place in -anni. #he entire international community is "eing
silent.)
See full statement here
Tamil Guardian 12 May 2014-&. *ay .((' / 0ospital
"om"ed, satellite photos prove shelling in !o Fire 1one, S 2 3 call for
cease/fire
Aftermath of hospital shelling #hotograph$TamilNet
45 civilians were killed during shelling of a !o Fire zone hospital which was
functioning at a school in *ullivaikal, reported #amil!et.
#his hospital was set up in response to the shelling of a previous hospital
the week "efore.
!ew satellite images, further proved that the Sri Lankan government was
still using heavy weapons and shelling the !o Fire 1one said 0uman %ights
,atch.
%ecent satellite photos and witness accounts show the "rutal shelling of
civilians in the conflict area goes on, 6 said the South 7sia director of
0uman %ights ,atch 8rad 7dams.
,itness accounts pu"lished "y 0uman %ights ,atch illustrated the adverse
conditions of shelling and starvation that #amil civilians were facing in the
!o Fire 1one.
See full report here.
#he S and 3 in a 9oint statement called on all sides to end hostilities and
allow for the safe evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians in the !o Fire
1one.
#he S Secretary of State, 0illary $linton, and 8ritish Foreign Secretary,
:avid *ili"and, called on the Sri Lankan government to ;a"ide "y its
commitment of 7pril .5 to end ma9or com"at operation and the use of
heavy weapons.<
See full statement here.
11 May 2014
&& *ay .((' / =.(( civilians killed overnight in !o Fire 1one, 8ritish
Foreign Sec calls on ! Security $ouncil action, ,estminster "lockaded "y
#amil protesters
>ver =,.(( civilians were killed in another night of indiscriminate shelling of
the !o Fire 1one "y the Sri Lankan air/force and military, the head of a
local !?> working in the -anni area, reported.
*edical staff were not a"le to report to duty as areas around their
residential huts had faced heavy shelling, local sources said.
#he 8ritish Foreign *inister, :avid *ili"and, speaking to the ! Security
$ouncil said that the conflict in Sri Lanka should "e raised to the security
council, reported %euters.
>ur message Is a simple one, which is that the killing must stop. #he
civilians trapped in the zone, up to @(,((( in an area of 9ust = sAuare
kilometres are the victims of what at the moment is a war without witness.
I "elieve very strongly that the civilian situation in the northeast of Sri
Lanka merits the attention of the nited !ations at all levels, 6 he said.
Brotests in the diaspora intensified across the 3, !orway, France, S,
7ustralia, ?ermany Switzerland, and :enmark.
8ritish #amils, once again, "locked the streets of ,estminster in a sit down
protest calling for international action to stop the killings of #amil civilians.
>ver a thousand 8ritish #amils "locked the streets with =C protestors
arrested, reported the Dvening Standard.
7 &' year old student e+pressed outrage at the 8ritish government<s
relative inaction on Sri Lanka.
#he police lost control. #hey tried to stop us "ut we are very angry. ,e
have "een here for =4 days and Sri Lanka are still killing out people. 8ritain
must do more,) she told the Dvening Standard.
*eanwhile the nited !ations spokesperson in Sri Lanka, called for
international access into the !o Fire 1one.
,e don<t have any independent assessment of the condition of people
inside the zone "ut we understand that malnutrition levels are e+tremely
high, not to mention of course "attlefield casualties," said ?ordon ,eiss.
#he L##D in a statement said that over .,((( #amil civilians had "een killed
in the recent night of shelling and called for the international community to
stop the ;genocidal tendencies< of the Sri Lankan government.
See full statement here.
% years today & 'hemical urns and phosphorous in(uries seen on fleeing ci"ilians report doctors at
)rench field hospital
10 May 2014-10 May 2009 - Chemical burns and
phosphorous injuries seen on fleeing civilians report doctors at
French field hospital, oronto brought to stand-still as amils
protest against ensuing massacre
:octors at a French field hospital descri"ed seeing in9uries consistent with
chemical "urnson civilians fleeing the !o Fire 1one $ivilians and "some with
white hands, possi"ly caused "y "urns from phosphorus", 7FB reported.
%escue workers counted at least &.(( dead "odies following a night of
intense shelling in the !o Fire 1one, reported #amil!et.
*eanwhile the city of #oronto was "rought to a stand/still as #amils
protesting against the ensuing carnage in the !o Fire 1one, "lockaded the
city's roads, and "rought traffic to a halt.
7 protester, outlining that she would risk everything to draw attention to
the suffering in Sri Lanka, speaking to $anadian press said,
",e don't care what happens to us. !o one wants to cause an
inconvenience "ut. mem"ers of the community have their "lood relatives
massacred and killed in the most inhuman ways."
#hotoE #he Star
Former Special %apporteurs for the nited !ations 0uman %ights $ouncil,
condemning the worsening situation in Sri Lanka, called on the $ouncil to
esta"lish an investigative commission.
Shipments of food and medicine to the "no fire zone" have "een grossly
insufficient over the past month and the ?overnment has reportedly
delayed or denied timely shipment of life saving medicines as well as to
chlorine ta"lets. 7s a result of the "lackout on independent information
sources, it is impossi"le to verify any of the ?overnment's claims as to the
num"er of casualties to date or as to the steps that it says it is taking in
order to minimize the further killing of innocent civilians, and ensure
delivery of humanitarian assistance,) said the former ! officials.
#he L##D urged the international community to act and stop the killing of
civilians.
D+tracts from the statement issued "y the L##D are reproduced "elowE
#he Sri Lanka government has unleashed its ferocious military aggression
against the hapless #amil civilians living in the so called ;Safe/1one in
-anni. *ore than .,((( innocent civilians have "een killed in the last .4
hours.)
6#he international community and ! have an o"ligation to protect the
#amil people facing genocidal aggression directed in a manner against ll
international humanitarian laws. It is clear that the Sri Lankan government
has prevented all aid agencies and humanitarian organisations from visiting
the conflict zone.)
6,e would like to point out that the starvation of civilians as a method of
warfare, constitutes an act of genocide and a war crime.)
6#hroughout the entire e+istence of our li"eration struggle, we have always
e+tended our most courteous cooperation to the humanitarian relief
organisations that have sought to provide relief of our people.)
*ay (' .((' / !o Fire 1one assault continues, 0%, confirms hospital
"om"ings, $4 9ournalists e+pelled
#he assault on the !o Fire 1one continued with the make/shift hospital in
*ullaithivu seeing another influ+ of in9ured #amil civilians, reports #amil!et.
0uman %ights ,atch, listing at least =( incidents of hospitals "eing shelled
in the !o Fire 1one, alleged that Sri Lankan armed forces had repeatedly
shelled hospitals in the !orthern -anni region in indiscriminate attacks.
0ospitals are supposed to "e sanctuaries from shelling, not targets, said
the 7sia director at 0uman %ights ,atch.)
7 witness from the !o Fire 1one gave 0uman %ights ,atch the following
accountE
"I was in the hospital. %ight after &.E=( p.m., I noticed a Sri Lanka military
drone conducting reconnaissance a"ove the hospital. #he people in the
hospital suspected that an attack was imminent, so they lay down on the
ground. Shortly thereafter, we heard a loud e+plosion in the air, followed "y
several smaller e+plosions on the ground. >ne of the e+plosions took place
only a couple of meters from me. >ne of the doctors, who was lying 9ust
ne+t to me, was killed "y a shrapnel piece that hit him in the head. Four or
five people were killed and more than =( were wounded in the attack."
#he Sri Lankan government announced that it would move displaced people
from -anni into permanent detention centersF in #henmaraadchi.
GF#amil civilians were kept in permanent detention centers for over . years
and some still wait to "e resettled in their original areas.H
*eanwhile $hannel4 !ews< 9ournalists reporting from #rincomalee were
arrested and sent "ack to $olom"o after filming horrific conditions in the
government run I:B camps, reported $hannel 4 !ews.
*ay I .((' / $ivilians and I$%$ "om"ed in !o Fire 1one, ! urged to
fulfill duty and stop genocide of #amils
#he !o Fire 1one faced continuous "om"ardment "y the Sri Lankan air/
force, leaving at least .4. civilians in9ured and countless dead,
reports #amilnet.
I$%$ vehicles transporting civilians were also hit "y Sri Lankan military
"om"s.
*eanwhile Brofessor 8oyle of niversity Illinois $ollege of Law, warned that
the ! Secretary ?eneral 8an 3i/moon, had a charter o"ligation in
;promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental
freedoms,,< "y doing all in his power to halt the on/going genocide of
#amils.
See full statement here.
(5 *ay .((' / 0umanitarian situation worsens, L##D welcomes I$%$,
8ritish #amils enter second month of continuous protest
#he L##D in a letter to the I$%$, thanked the organisation for its
humanitarian efforts despite facing shelling from the government and
reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of humanitarian workers.
See full letter here.
8ritish #amils continued to demonstrate outside Barliament with demands
for an immediate ceasefire and action to address the humanitarian crisis
faced "y the #amils in -anni and I:B camps.
#he protesters who had demonstrated in parliament sAuare for a month,
reaffirmed that there endless actions were intended to highlight the need to
end the humanitarian crisis.
8ritish #amil students in a statement, said,
60umanitarian intervention has taken place in many parts of the world to
save people that have "een su"9ect to violence, ethnic cleansing and
starvation "y "lockade.)
6It is only "ecause of the :iaspora that the international community is
paying attention to the suffering #amils in Sri Lanka. 8ut what is needed
now is action "y the international community not merely words of
sympathy.)
See e+tracts from statement here.
(C *ay .((' / I:B death toll rises, call for ! war crimes pro"e
7mid intense shelling of civilians trapped "y advancing Sri Lankan forces, at
least &( elderly people in government/run Internally :isplaced Bersons
GI:BH camps died this day due lack of a lack of proper medical care and
psychological stress, #amil!et reports.
*eanwhile, amidst the escalating death tolls, &.@ academics from $anada
and elsewhere signed a petition calling on the $anadian government to
take urgent steps to stop the intensifying humanitarian crisis.
7mongst other things they called on $anada to 6rge the ! Security
$ouncil to authorize timely and decisive measures to halt mass atrocities in
the -anni region of Sri Lanka, including the dispatch of a special envoy to
the region, and the creation of a commission of inAuiry into crimes under
international law committed "y any person or entity.)
See the report here and the full te+t of their appeal here.
(@ *ay .((' / -anni starves, L##D condemns genocide and calls on
international community to support diaspora aid initiatives
7 !?> providing food to civilians within -anni, in a monthly situation
update, said that over &(( #amil people had died of starvation.
See full report here.
#he L##D in a statement condemning the Sri Lanka government<s denial of
aid to !o Fire 1one<s urged the international community to support
diaspora initiatives to provide aid directly the #amil civilian sin the !o Fire
1one, reported #amil!et.
Brofessor 8oyle of niversity of Illinois $ollege of Law, warned that the Sri
Lankan government<s genocide against #amils could e+ceed the atrocities of
Sre"renica.
Speaking to #amil!et he said,
#he ,orld $ourt later found that the Ser"ian e+termination of I(((
8osnian *uslim men and "oys at Sre"renica was genocide in violation of
the ?enocide $onvention. Since the outset the latest crisis in January, the
?>SL has e+terminated a"out 5(((F #amils in -anni, certainly a
;su"stantial part< of the #amil population in -anni and Sri Lanka. If not
stopped now, the ?>SL< toll of genocide against #amils could far e+ceed
recent horrors of Sre"renica."
GF#he Internal %eview Banel %eport on Sri Lanka, pu"lished "y the ! in
.(&. estimated the total civilian death toll to "e around 5(,(((.H
Sonali ,ickrematunge in a statement made after receiving her murdered
hus"and<s !DS$> ,orld Bress Freedom Brize, condemned the Sri Lankan
government<s ;racist war< against #amils.
0ighlighting dominant government war slogans relating to race, she said,
#hat this is a racist war is not a secret. #he government itself has
plastered the countryside with enormous placards lauding the military with
the slogan, in Sinhala, the language of the Sinhalese ma9ority which I too,
"elong, statingE ;Soldiers, our race salutes youK< !ot ;the people<, not ;the
country<, "ut the race. Interestingly, none of these hoardings are in #amil,
the language of the people the government claims it is seeking to li"erate.)
I "eseech you and anyone who will listen not to allow Sri Lanka's
government, under the cover of a war against terror, to engage in acts of
terror or crimes against humanity. Soon it will "e too late, and history will
not forgive us if we do not act now,) she added.
(4 *ay .((' / 0uman %ights ,atch G0%,H and #amils 7gainst ?enocide
G#7?H urge international action, Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict is not 'war on
terror' says 3 Foreign >ffice minister
#he International $riminal $ourt $hief prosecutor, *oreno/>campo, was
urged "y an advocacy group to open investigations into war crimes and
crimes against humanity committed "y four high/ranking officials in the Sri
Lankan government, reports #amil!et.
#amil 7gainst ?enocide G#7?H, in a letter to *oreno, urged the I$$ to open
investigations against Sri Lankan president *ahinda %a9apaksa, :efence
Secretary ?ota"aya %a9apaksa, *B 8asil %a9apaksa and 7rmy $ommander
Sarath Fonseka.
#he Auartet should "e investigated for war crimes, crimes against
humanity and genocide of Sri Lankan civilian #amils unconnected with the
conflict "etween the government and the L##D,) the letter read.
In an opinion piece on Sri Lanka and the need to address #amil grievances,
the 0uman %ights ,atch Legal and Bolicy :irector, James %oss, wrote,
#he current government is unlikely to take up these initiatives on its own.
#he nited States and other concerned states have an important role to
play in Sri Lanka's future. >therwise the "loody fighting on the sandy strip
will not "e marking the end of the current war, "ut sowing the seeds of the
ne+t one.)
Speaking on the conflict "etween the Sri Lankan government and the L##D
at the 0ouse of $ommons, the Foreign >ffice *inister, Lord *alloch/
8rown, said,
I share the view that ;the war on terror is a much a"used and overused
phrase. >"viously, this is a Auarrel that has ancient roots. It is also an
e+tremely violent Auarrel, with appalling things "eing done "y "oth sides.)
(= *ay .((' / Fears that military is preparing to use illegal weapons, after
report of a shipment of gas masks "eing imported, #!7 warns international
aid will "e used in war against #amils
#he Sri Lankan *ilitary deployed heavy and prohi"ited weapons to the
front lines in preparation for a final onslaught on the !o Fire 1one, sources
in $olom"o told #amil!et.
Further reports detailed the shipment of gas masks to soldiers in what was
thought to "e preparation for the use of illegal chemical weapons.
In a meeting with Japanese 7m"assador to Sri Lanka Lasushi 7kashi, a
team of #!7 parliamentarians warned the diplomat that any aid given to
the Sri Lankan government would "e used against the #amils.
#!7 parliamentarian Suresh Bremachandran, in a press "rief shortly after
the meeting said,
,e told the Japanese 7m"assador that Sri Lanka government plans to
place the Internally :isplaced #amils held in detention centres permanently
in sheds for at least five years and we asked him not to give aid meant for
#amils reha"ilitation to the government as it is certain that the money will
"e use din the war against the #amils instead.)
See full statement here.
Dastern Brovince parliamentarians from the #!7 accused the government of
appropriating land of displaced persons and colonising #amil traditional
areas on the "order of #rincomalee and 8atticaloa.
(. *ay .(&4 / !o Fire 1one hospital shelled, international investigation
needed for enduring peace says L##D
#he Sri Lankan 7rmy shelled the final remaining !o Fire 1one hospital twice
killing C4 people, after receiving the e+act location coordinates of the
"uilding, reported #amil!et.
7 worker at the hospital, = days earlier, confirmed the hospital<s location
with mem"ers of the I$%$ who intended to pass the location on to the Sir
Lankan government to stop them from shelling hospitals.
#he L##D, citing their declaration of a ceasefire on 7pril .C, warned that Sri
Lanka was a <to eradicate a distinct #amil identity,< and that international
intervention would now "e needed for ;enduring peace on the island.<
#he statement further said,
It is in the face of this situation that we seek the recognition and the
support of the international community for our struggle. It is a struggle for
democracy and an enduring peace "ased on our aspirations as a people.
Should the Sri Lankan regime "e permitted to continue with its ultimate
o"9ective of imposing a ;final solution< through military means, we have no
dou"t that it will desta"ilize the region.)
See full statement here.
& *ay .((' / Indiscriminate shelling continues in !o Fire 1one, shocking
failure to protect civilians says 8ritish Foreign Sec
#he Sri Lankan 7rmy, ignoring calls "y the visiting 8ritish Foreign Secretary
for a ceasefire and immediate international access to the !o Fire 1one,
continued the relentless shelling of the !o Fire 1one killing and in9uring
scores of civilians in *ullivaaikkal.
Sources on the ground told #amil!et that &&( in9ured civilians had "een
admitted to the makeshift civilian whilst .5 in9ured civilians had passed
away during the night.
#he previous day saw .(( civilians "rought into to the hospital with ='
deaths.
Sources from makeshift hospital were only a"le to give accounts of people
that died in care as severely in9ured civilians and dead "odies were "eing
left in the fields "y this stage.
#he 8ritish and French envoys speaking on their visit to Sri Lanka, said,
"#ime is running out for those trapped or displaced "y the fighting. >ur
mission was simpleE to make, in person, the case for the humanitarian
relief that the !, the D and the ?I have called for."
"0ere the refusal to allow the !, the aid agencies and the media full and
proper access is Auite wrong."
"7s mem"ers of the ! Security $ouncil we do not shy away from the
responsi"ility of sovereign governments and the international community to
protect civilians

=( 7pril .((' / Satellite images confirm shelling of !o Fire 1one, over 5(((
#amils killed in = months alleges #!7
Leaked satellite imagery from the nited !ations Institute for #raining and
%esearch G!I#7%H, revealed evidence of Sri Lankan shelling in the !o Fire
1one, where &((((( #amil civilians were estimated to "e, reported
the Inner $ity Bress.
#he #amil !ational 7lliance, in a "riefing to the 8ritish Foreign Secretary,
alleged that over 5,(((F civilians had "een killed in -anni with at least
&4,((( in9ured over the previous three months.
Speaking at a press meet, #!7 *B Suresh Bremachandran said,
Sri Lanka government which had deceived the #amils for the last =( years
is now deceiving the International $ountries. It is killing its own citizens in
violation of all the conventions of the ! including the one on 0uman
%ights which the Sri Lanka government has ratified.)
6,hy should the international community which had successfully made
3osovo an independent state for the killing of &@(( people remain passive
though more than 5((( #amils have "een killed in the last = months
aloneM) he added.
#he #amil ?uardian in its editorial wrote,
#hose who think that the L##D will "e destroyed in the coming weeks and
that then it is a Auestion of 'peace "uilding' and 'development' for the ne+t
few years are gravely mistaken. #he foundations for a cataclysmic civil war
are "eing ine+ora"ly laid today. #he kind of polarisation that sustain not
decades, "ut generations of struggle has "ecome widespread and
em"edded.)
GF#he #!7 estimates which echoed pu"lished ! estimates were later
found to "e drastically inaccurate. 7nonymous ! officials, speaking to a
French foreign correspondent in June .((', said,
",e rang the alarm "ells for some months "ut no/one ever took the Sri
Lankan government to task pu"licly.It gave the government a "lank cheAue
to carpet "om" the whole area."
#he nited !ations in an internal review panel report later found that,
'Seen together, the failure of the ! to adeAuately counter the
?overnment<s under/estimation of population num"ers in the -anni,
thefailure to adeAuately confront the ?overnment on its o"structions to
humanitarian assistance, the unwillingness of the ! in !0N and $olom"o
to address ?overnment responsi"ility for attacks that were killing civilians,
and the tone and content of ! communications with the ?overnment on
these issues, collectively amounted to a failure "y the ! to act within the
scope of institutional mandates to meet protection responsi"ilities.'H
.' 7pril .((' / 0ospital attacked in !o Fire 1one, 8ritish Foreign Sec calls
for ceasefire, Sri Lanka downplays casualty figures
#he Sri Lankan !avy fired artillery at a make/shift hospital within the !o
Fire 1one, in *ullivaaikkal, killing patients, #amil!et reported.
>ver &C( civilian "odies were recovered following intense gunfire earlier in
the day, with another &@( feared dead "y the evening.
#he 8ritish Foreign Secretary, :avid *ili"and, during a one day visit to the
island, calledon the Sri Lankan government to declare an immediate
ceasefire.
"!ow is the time for the fighting to stop. protection of civilians is a"solutely
paramount in our minds," he said to press in Sri Lanka.
GFLeaked diplomatic ca"les revealed a year later that *ili"and's trip to Sri
Lanka to call for a ceasefire was part result of the strong protests and
'vocal' presence of #amils in parliament sAuare.H
*ahinda %a9apaksa in a statement said that &@,(((F civilians remained in
the !o Fire 1one.
GF! estimates pu"lished in the Banel of D+ports %eport in .(&& stated that
over &.5,&55 civilians remained in the !o Fire 1one.H
*eanwhile internally displaced peoples demanded that they "e resettled in
their original homes.
*em"ers of the #amil diaspora continued to protest and demand their
governments to take action to stop further deaths of #amil civilians. #amils
in London, Baris, #oronto, Switzerland and several other cities protested
outside "uildings of governance.
.I 7pril .((' / $arnage ensues in !o Fire 1one
nprecedented levels of shelling and aerial "om"ardment were reported "y
medical facility workers within the !o Fire 1one, who said that the wounded
were left to die as shelling was so intense that people could not move out
of their "unkers to retrieve "odies.
#he L##D told #amil!et that over @,C(( shells had "een fired into the !o
Fire 1one within the space of &@ hours, in what was the most intense day
of shelling the !o Fire 1one had seen to date.
.5 7pril .((' / 7erial "om"ardment of !o Fire 1one, 3 politicians warn of
carnage of unimagina"le magnitude
#he Sri Lankan 7ir Force continued the onslaught in the !o Fire 1one,
dropping at least .= "om"s and countless shells into the civilian population,
reported #amil!et.

Darlier assurances to stop using heavy weapons around the !o Fire 1one "y
the Sri Lankan government proved futile as hundreds of #amil civilians were
in9ured and several killed "y the areal "om"ardment.
#he L##D :irector of the Beace Secretariat, Bulidevan, speaking to
#amil!et, said that Sri Lanka was 6attempting to deceive the International
$ommunity.)

*eanwhile the 7ll Barty Barliamentary ?roup for #amils G7BB?#H, a cross/
party committee of *Bs in 8ritain, called on the international community to
prevent the ;final onslaught< of the Sri Lanka 7rmy which would result in
6carnage of unimagina"le magnitude.)
See full 7BB?# statement here.
.C 7pril .((' / %elentless "om"ing of !o Fire 1one, Sri Lanka re9ects L##D
ceasefire announcement, 8ritish #amil enters .(th day of fast
>ver .(( civilians were in9ured and several died after the Sri Lankan air
force indiscriminately "om"ed the !o Fire 1one =' times,
reported #amil!et.
Sources in the !o Fire 1one also reported an increasing num"er of military
personnel around the "orders of the !o Fire 1one, spreading fears of an
imminent aerial and ground assault into the !o Fire 1one.
In a statement that acknowledged international concerns, the L##D political
division announced a unilateral ceasefire.
See full statement here.
#he Sri Lankan government responded immediately, re9ecting the idea of a
ceasefire as a ;9oke< reported #he ?uardian.
*eanwhile a 8ritish #amil activist, entered the .(th day of his hunger strike
in Barliament SAuare, calling for an end to the genocide of #amils. Brotests
in Barliament SAuare continued day after day, calling for international
intervention to stop a genocide.
.@ 7pril .((' / Sri Lankan government denies vital aid to the !o Fire 1one
7 &.@ *ega #onne ,orld Food Brogramme G,FBH shipment that was
scheduled to arrive at the coastal region of the !o fire 1one, *ullivaikal,
was diverted to Jaffna at "y the Sri Lankan government, reported #amilnet.
#he diversion came as earlier reports from the !o Fire 1one suggested that
&C@((( #amil civilians were a"out to face a humanitarian disaster.
.@ 7pril .((' / Jayalalitha concludes independent Delam is only solution
#he #amil !adu opposition party leader, Jayaram Jayalalitha, after seeing
evidence of mass atrocities in the !o Fire 1one, concluded that an
independent #amil Delam was the only solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri
Lanka.
6#ill today, I have never said that a separate Delam is the only solution. I
have spoken a"out political solution this and that. 8ut, now I emphatically
say, a separate Delam is the only permanent solution to the Lankan
conflict,) she said.
See full statement here.
.4 7pril .((' / ! confirms at least .(((( casualties, SL re9ects aid envoy
nited !ations documents confirmed that at least C@(( civilians had died
and &4((( wounded over the previous three months, reported #he
?uardian.
! officials told #he ?uardian that 7pril had seen at least .((( civilians
killed and an increasing rate of death.
#he Internal %eview Banel %eport on Sri Lanka, pu"lished "y the ! in
.(&. estimated the total civilian death toll to "e around 5(,(((.
#he nited !ations Secretary ?eneral, 8an 3i/moon announced the
dispatch of a humanitarian team to the conflict zone. #he !
announcement was immediately re9ected "y Sri Lankan :efence Secretary
?ota"haya %a9apaksa, who said,
It is not a sensi"le thing at the moment. #here is a civilian rescue
operation going on in the area and allowing aid agencies inside the conflict
zone is not matching with the ground realities."
.4 7pril .((' / L##D call on international community to provide aid for over
&C@((( starving civilians
#he Li"eration #igers of #amil Delam GL##DH, in a statement to the
international community ,said that over &C@((( #amil civilians faced a
humanitarian disaster due to denial of food and humanitarian supplies "y
the Sri Lankan government, and urged actors to ensure that immediate and
continuous aid to the #amil civilians.
See full statement here.
.= 7pril .((' O Further shelling of churches and I$%$ regions
#he church in -alaignarmadam was shelled for the second consecutive day,
in9uring and killing several social welfare personnel, reported #amilnet.
Further instances of shelling of coastlines where in9ured #amil civilians were
looking to "e evacuated "y the I$%$ ship were reported from the ground.
.= 7pril .((' O India calls for political solution and an end to killings of
#amil civilians
#he ongoing carnage came as the Indian D+ternal 7ffairs *inister Brana"
*ukher9ee, calling for the killings to stop, warned that only a political
solution would ensure true lasting peace.
Speaking to media after an hour long meeting on the situation in Sri Lanka
he said,
,e are very unhappy at the continued killing of innocent #amil civilians in
Sri Lanka. #hese killings must stop. #he only lasting solution will come from
political efforts to address the real concerns of the #amil people, giving
them a life of dignity within the Sri Lankan mainstream.)
.. 7pril .((' / I$%$ intimidated, churches shelled and S reiterates calls
for international access into !o Fire 1one
#he Sri Lankan *ilitary fired shells in close range of an I$%$ ship a short
time after e+act co/ordinates of the evacuation ship were given to the Sri
Lankan government, sources on the ground told #amil!et.
Further reports from the !o Fire 1one, said that prominent places of refuge
such as a church in -alaignarmadam had "een shelled "y the Sri Lankan
military.
#he S state department, in a press "rief on Sri Lanka, repeated calls on
the government to allow international aid agencies and o"servers into the
!o Fire 1one.
#he S official also stressed the need to ascertain the num"er of people
remaining in the !o Fire 1one.
*eanwhile, an official from the L##D political division estimated that over
.((,((( #amil civilians remained in the !o Fire 1one.
.& 7pril .((' / Sri Lankan government delays aid to -anni
#he Sri Lankan government delayed the departure of a ,orld Food
Brogramme G,FBH aid ship to take supplies to conflict affected regions in
-anni.
#he government had stopped the ship form leaving despite having the
e+act co/ordinates of the docking point in -anni, officials from the
-avuniyaa :istrict Secretariat told#amilnet.
Situational reports for the previous month showed that only a Auarter of
the reAuired aid had reached #amil civilians in the conflict regions.
.& 7pril .((' / South 7frican political party mem"ers condemn ethnic
cleansing and stress need to consider political solution
#he Solidarity ?roup for Beace and Justice in Sri Lanka, which consisted of
mem"ers of the 7frican !ational $ongress G7!$H, $ongress of South
7frican #rade nions G$>S7#H and South 7frican $ommunist Barty GS7$BH
groups condemned the ;ethnic killings< #amil civilians "y Sri Lanka
government forces.
#he South 7frican organisation in their statement warned,
#he pursuit of a military solution not in favour of a via"le political
framework addressing the legitimate grievances of the #amil
people and their aspirations for self/determination remains the
fundamental "arrier "etween permanent peace amid an unfolding
humanitarian disaster."
If a policy of ethnic cleansing continues to "e pursued "y the Sri
Lankan administration, the Solidarity ?roup and its affiliates will "e
poised to take strong measures in pressuring the state to accept
an unconditional ceasefire."
See full statement here.
.( 7pril .((' / Shells, cluster "om"s and hospital attacks leave thousands
in9ured
#he Sri Lankan military in one of the most deadly offensives of the .(('
conflict "om"arded the !o Fire 1one with shells and cluster "om"s in9uring
over &((( civilians and leaving countless dead, sources on the ground told
#amilnet.
Further reports said that the Buthamathalan makeshift hospital within !o
Fire 1one had "een hit "y several shells causing severe in9uries.
#he International $ommittee of the %ed $ross GI$%$H $ountry $hief, also
e+pressed concern over the lack of medical aid for the people in the !o Fire
1one.
#he situation there is very difficult. #he makeshift health facilities
that are still e+isting are not immune of the effects of the
hostilities.) Baul $astella told the 88$.
#he *inistry of 0ealth staff still working there is really worn out /
these people are working for months now without any "reak, they
work day and night. 7nd medical supplies are lacking,) he added.
.( 7pril .((' / L##D welcomes S statement, say it's willing to discuss key
issues with international community
#he Li"eration #igers of #amil Delam, in a statement "y its political
headAuarters, welcoming the S state department<s calls for a ceasefire,
urged the Sri Lankan government to stop military actions and commit to an
immediate ceasefire.
#he L##D further added that they were committed to meaningful negations
with the international community on issues related to humanitarian access,
security and the movement and welfare of the #amil civilian population.
See full statement here.
.( 7pril .((' / #housands of #amil protestors "lockade roads in London
7fter witnessing a weekend of carnage in the !o Fire 1one, thousands of
#amildemonstrators swelled onto roads outside the 0ouses of Barliament in
London.
>ver .@(( protestors temporarily "locked the roads leading up to
,estminster 8ridge in desperate attempts to force international action to
stop the ongoing slaughter of #amil civilians.
7pril &' .((' / #amil $ivilian deaths and casualties continue in !o Fire
1one
$ivilian casualties and deaths continued to escalate as reports suggested
that Sri Lankan military shelling killed C( civilians and left over &(( in9ured.
*edical authorities from makeshift hospitals said that death tolls were
inaccurate as dead "odies were not "eing "rought "ack to hospitals,
reported #amilnet.
45( wounded patients were sent to I$%$ aid ships at the end of the week.
Speaking to#he ?uardian a doctor on the ship, ?nana ?unalan, said,
*ost of the people have shell "last in9uries and gunshot in9uries.
Some people have lost their lim"s, other people have lost other
parts of the "ody, some people have wounds in the a"domen,
some in the chest."
7pril &' .((' / 8ritish Foreign Secretary calls for an immediate ceasefire
#he 8ritish Foreign Secretary, :avid *ili"and, in a statement, maintained
calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, and for #amil civilians to "e
allowed to leave the conflict area.
Brotests and demonstrations around the world have highlighted the tragic
loss of life of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. Further loss of life will only
compound the tragedy. ,e have heard their voice and will keep listening.
,e are committed to do all we can to "ring this terri"le conflict to an
end,) said the Foreign Secretary :avid *ili"and.
#he 7ustralian capital of $an"erra earlier that week saw over I@(( #amils
take part in a rally to demand an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and an
end to atrocities committed against the #amils.
#amilnet reported that a peace activist, Lara Bullin, who came to see the
demonstrations that week, said,
#he rallies "y the #amils have gathered the same momentum that
I saw during the pre Dast/#imor independence time and 7nti/
apartheid movementP one gets the feeling where #amils have come
to a stage where they are saying ;Dnough is Dnough<
*eanwhile, #amilnet reported that C5 social welfare #amil diaspora
organisations in France, in a secret "allot, showed unanimous support for
the Independence struggle of #amils in Sri Lanka.
&I 7pril .((' / #amil civilians on verge of dying of starvation in !o Fire
1one
#housands of #amil civilians were on the verge of dying "y starvation in the
!o Fire 1one , sources on the ground told #amilnet.
7 nited !ations official in $olom"o further said, that the
situational report "y the *ullaitheevu :istrict Secretariat had reAuested for
food and rations to feed at least =(@,.&' people. 0umanitarian aid figures
suggested that only ..Q of the aid needed had reached the !o Fire 1one
in the month of *arch.
0ighlighting the e+tent of malnutrition in the !o Fire 1one, the report said,
7 nutrition survey conducted "y the :epartment of health, *ullaitivu
:istrict in last week of *arch, .((', indicates that C'.'&Q of children were
under weight and acute under nutrition is very much increased. #he report
reAuests for immediate intervention in supply food.)
&I 7pril .((' / %ape, torture and violence prevalent in state run I:B
camps
7 human rights activist, #homas Seil"ert, returning from a trip to Sri
Lanka, e+pressed e+treme concern regarding the welfare of #amil civilians
run in internally displaced persons GI:BH camps run "y the government.
:escri"ing the welfare of #amil civilians in government hands, he said,
6*any are tortured or simply shot. #here are also reports of regular rapes.)
See full statement hereE
&I 7pril .((' / Further calls "y #amil demonstrators for ! to take action
>ver @((( #amil demonstrators gathered in !ew Lork<s #imes SAuare and
outside the nited !ation to urge the ! to stop the slaughter of #amil
civilians "y the Sri Lankan government.
Brotestors travelled from across the !orth 7merican continent to attend
one of the largest demonstrations seen in !ew Lork at the time, reported
#amilnet.
&5 7pril .((' / Sri Lanka intends to e+terminate the #amil population says
#!7
#he #amil !ational 7lliance, in a letter to the Indian Brime *inister,
*anmohan Singh, said that Sri Lanka<s actions proved that ;the real
intention of the Sri Lankan State is the progressive e+termination of the
#amil people.<
#he letter highlighted concerns over the Sri Lankan military usage of
chemical weapons, an imminent mass annihilation of #amil civilians, and
the ongoing shelling of the !o Fire 1one.
See full letter here.
&5 7pril .((' O ?lo"al $entre for %esponsi"ility to Brotect calls on !
Security $ouncil to fulfil its duty
#he ?lo"al $entre for the %esponsi"ility to Brotect, in an open letter to the
! Security $ouncil, urged the international community to demand access
to the conflict zone for humanitarian groups and media and fulfil
responsi"ility of preventing peoples from genocide, war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
See full letter here.
&C 7pril .((' / C(( shells fall in !o Fire 1one, S calls to halt shelling and
allow international access
#he S department of state, in a press release, called on the government
of Sri Lanka to halt shelling of the !o Fire 1one, allow international
monitors to ensure the safe passage of #amil civilians and enforce
international humanitarian standards within I:B camps.
See full statement here.
#he statement came as over C(( shells fell in the !o Fire 1one within the
space of a day. Sources in the !o Fire 1one registered over &@(( shell
e+plosions with roughly C(( occurring within the !o Fire 1one.
#amilnet reported that &=( in9ured civilians were admitted to the ad/hoc
hospital within the !o Fire 1one in Buthumathalan.
&@ 7pril .((' / #amil civilians killed carrying white flag in !o Fire 1one,
diaspora continues protests
#he Sri Lankan *ilitary, in an intense = hour assault on the !o Fire 1ine
killed at least &I( #amil civilians.
%eports form the ground highlighted that in9ured civilians transported with
white flags were "eing killed.
#he seriously wounded civilians are dying as their transport has
"een "locked "y the Sri Lankan army firing on medical transport
carrying white flags. #he Sri Lankan army gunners shot a man who
was trying to transport a wounded victim while holding white flag,)
sources on the ground told #amilnet.
#housands of #amil diaspora across the world continued protests and
hunger strike demonstrations demanding immediate humanitarian
assistance for the people in the !o Fire 1one and an end to the genocide of
#amils.
&4 7pril .((' O *e+ico says %.B doctrine applica"le in Sri Lanka
%esponding to Auestions regarding a meeting "etween the *e+ican
7m"assador to the nited !ations, $laude 0eller, and Sri Lankan Foreign
Secretary Balitha 3ohana, the *e+ican am"assador told the Inner $ity
Bress that the %esponsi"ility to protect doctrine could "e applied in Sri
Lanka.
,e are very concerned that in the case of Sri Lanka there is a
concern of the responsi"ility to protect the population.)
0eller further added that Sri Lanka<s summary of the viewpoint he
e+pressed in his meeting with 3ohana was not accurate.
#his report was not the first time the Inner $ity Bress picked up on Sri
Lankan misrepresentation of international officials.
#he Sri Lankan foreign secretary at the time misrepresented calls "y the S
Secretary of State, 0ilary $linton, to allow international aid agencies into
the !o Fire 1one.
&4 7pril .((' O States party to ?eneva convention have legal o"ligation to
intervene
Speaking to #amilnet, a professor of International Law at the niversity of
Illinois $ollege of Law, Francis 8oyle, calling on the nited States to take
action in Sri Lanka, said that all states party to the ?eneva $onventions
had a legal o"ligation to intervene and protect #amil civilians in the !orth/
Dast of Sri Lanka.
See his statement here.
&4 7pril .((' O Sources on the ground warn of mass tragedy after further
indiscriminate "om"ing of !o Fire 1one
Sources on the ground told #amilnet that &C "om"s were indiscriminately
dropped "y the Sri Lankan air/force into the !o Fire 1one in the early hours
of the morning, as the Sri Lankan military advanced with gunfire into the
!o Fire 1one, in Buthukudiyiruppu.
#he source in the !o Fire 1one warned of an inevita"le mass tragedy.
&= 7pril .((' / Sri Lanka strips !orway of peace facilitating role due to S
involvement
Sri Lanka stripped !orway of its role as a peace facilitator, reported the
7gence France Bresse G7FBH.
#he government of Sir Lanka perceives that there is no room for
!orway to act as facilitator,) a government official told the news
agency.
Speaking to 7l9azeera, !orway<s special envoy to Sri Lanka, Jon 0anssen/
8auer, responding to Sri Lanka<s decision, said,
,e cannot "e facilitators in a peace process which has in effect "een
suspended since .((C)
:iplomatic sources in $olom"o told #amilnet, that Sri Lanka has made the
decision due to worries over nited States influence in the !orwegian led
peace negotiations.
&= 7pril .((' O >ffensive Sri Lankan military assaults into !o Fire 1one
continue despite ceasefire claims
#he Sri Lankan *ilitary stepped up the shelling and gunfire during an
offensive into the !o Fire 1one, resulting in the deaths of at least .= #amil
civilians, reported #amilnet.
#he offensive came despite announcements from the Sri Lankan Bresident,
*ahinda %a9apaksa, that the military forces would act defensively over the
. day new/year period.
&= 7pril .((' O L##D calls for permanent ceasefire with humanitarian
considerations
#he political division of the Li"eration #igers of #amil Delam GL##DH, in a
statement, emphasised that the L##D were calling for a politically and
militarily meaningful ceasefire with humanitarian considerations.
See full statement here.
&. 7pril .((' / #!7E #amil people face genocide
#he #amil !ational 7lliance in a statement released "y its Foreign %elations
$ommittee, accused the Sri Lankan government of deli"erately targeting
#amil civilians and concluded that ;the #amil people in the island are clearly
"eing su"9ected to genocide.<
See e+tracts from the #!7 statement "elow.
#he Sri Lankan State "y imposing an em"argo on food, medicine
and desperately needed humanitarian assistance has precipitated a
humanitarian catastrophe.)
#he Sri Lankan State<s use of food and medicine as weapons of
war is a war crime under international law.)
6#he situation faced "y the #amil people is unprecedented. ,hilst a
considera"le section of the #amil people are "eing e+terminated in
the so called 6safe zones), or are in imminent danger of "eing
e+terminated, the remaining sections are "eing systematically
silenced "y "eing herded into concentration camps, terrorized "y
mass round ups, a"ductions and forced disappearances.)
#he use "y the Sri Lankan State of internationally "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 #amil people.)
6#he #amil people in the island of Sri Lanka are clearly "eing
su"9ected to ?enocide.)
&. 7pril .((' / =& #amil civilians killed amidst Sri Lankan military shelling
and gunfire in !o Fire 1one
%eports from #amilnet suggested that at least =& civilians were killed and
=C #amil civilians were su"mitted to the make shift hospital in the !o Fire
1one.
&. 7pril .((' / Swiss #amils protest against genocide of #amils
Swiss #amil protestors took part in a demonstration to raise awareness
a"out the ongoing genocide of #amils to the international community.
#he protests occurred on the final day of a hunger strike undertaken "y
#amil students in Switzerland to raise awareness a"out the atrocities
occurring in Sri Lanka, reported#amilnet.
&& 7pril .((' / 0ospital records report @'' deaths and ==@( in9uries in =
days of attacks on !o Fire 1one
#amilnet reports from hospital records outlined at least @'' deaths and
===@( in9uries amongst the #amil civilian population in the !o Fire 1one
after = days of shelling.
&& 7pril .((' / .((,((( 8ritish #amils march through London demanding a
ceasefire
>ver .((,((( 8ritish #amils marched through London demanding a
ceasefire in Sri Lanka, reported #amilnet.
#he demonstration, which was instigated "y 8ritish #amil students, "roke
all previous records of attendance at #amil protests.

&( 7pril .((' / %eporter Sans Frontiers demands that 9ournalists "e
allowed into !o Fire 1one, e+presses concern over SL war crimes
%eporters sans Frontiers G%SFH warned that the death of two 9ournalists in
the !o Fire 1one was yet another war crime that the Sri Lankan
government would "e held accounta"le for, and strongly condemned the Sri
Lankan government<s "anning of independent 9ournalists from the !o Fire
1one and Sri Lankan army front lines.
D+tracts from the statement reproduced "elow.
It is a disgrace that this war is "eing waged without independent
9ournalists present. 7nd "y preventing thousands of innocent
civilians from moving freely, the #amil #iger re"els "ear a large
share of the responsi"ility for these crimes. 8y limiting media
coverage to guided tours with the purpose of confirming military
victories, the armed forces are preventing the press from doing its
9o" and are disregarding the pu"lic<s right to "e informed in an
independent manner."
6%eporters are una"le to travel freely in the northern -anni district,
especially the coastal area were nearly &((,((( civilians and re"el
com"atants have "een surrounded "y the army."
&( 7pril .((' / Stop shelling !o Fire 1one, 0%, tells Sri Lanka
0uman %ights ,atch in a press release demanded that the Sri Lankan
government stop firing heavy artillery into the ;!o Fire 1one, where they
estimated some &((((( #amil civilians were trapped.
#he 7sian director at 0uman %ights ,atch descri"ed Sri Lanka<s !o Fire
one as ;the most dangerous place in the world.<
%eaching out to 0uman %ights ,atch, a doctor in the !o Fire 1one, said,
",e have "een reporting every day, every day providing reports to
relevant authorities and to the international community, and still
there are no real steps taken to save these innocent civilians."
See full 0uman %ights ,atch press "rief here.
&( 7pril .((' / S #amil organisations urge state department to check
reports of chemical weapons used in !o Fire 1one
Dleven #amil organisations in a meeting with the S state department
urged the S 7m"assador to Sri Lanka, %o"ert 8lake, to investigate
allegations and evidence of chemical weapon attacks against #amil civilians
and called for aid to "e delivered to the !o Fire 1one.
See press release from the S state department meeting here.
(' 7pril .((' / >ver =(( in9ured civilians admitted to Buthumaathalan
make shift hospital
>ver =(( in9ured #amil civilians were admitted to the makeshift hospital
with 45 people dying after "eing admitted throughout the day.
Sources on the ground told #amilnet that several civilians that were killed
"y indiscriminate shelling and gunfire "y the Sri Lankan military had "een
left were they lay.
#he sources further added that an estimate of the total killed and in9ured
for the day was hard to calculate.
(' 7pril .((' / I$%$ team leader killed in -anni
7 team leader for the International $ommittee of the %ed $ross GI$%$H,
Sinnathurai 3ugathasan, was killed "y Sri Lankan military shelling within
the !o Fire 1one, rescue workers told #amilnet.

(I 7pril .((' / $hild nutrition centre shelled "y Sri Lankan military
4&& civilians including &(( children were affected "y the shelling of a child
care centre and milk powder distri"ution centre at Bokkanai, within the !o
Fire 1one.
%eports given to #amilnet alleged that three artillery shells were fired into
the civilian facilities, leaving &.' dead and &(( children in9ured.
7n survivor of the shelling in an eyewitness account to 0uman %ights
,atch, said,
6#here had "een no distri"ution of milk powder for three months, and so
when they announced that there would "e distri"ution today, hundreds of
people lined in Aueue. It was early in the morning. I heard the first shell,
and hit the ground. I survived "y miracle, "ut my 4@/year old uncle died on
the spot/ he lost "oth legs.)
(5 7pril .((' / Sri Lankan military uses chemical weapons, says L##D
7 senior commander of the L##D, who witnessed attacks in the !o Fire
1one said that the Sri Lankan *ilitary was e+tensively using chemical
weapons, reported #amilnet.
#he Sri Lankan government had already received criticism for the purchase
of weapons "anned under international law.
See related articleE
$ontroversial weapon meant for genocide alleges *B G&5 7ugust .((&H
(5 7pril .((' / Shelling starvation and death in the !o Fire 1one
7 wounded #amil civilian speaking from the !o Fire 1one descri"ed the
hellish conditions that the people faced under relentless shelling from the
Sri Lankan army.
:escri"ing a shell attack that killed his son, the wounded civilian, Su"asan,
said,
6I was thrown "y the "last and "oth my ears were "locked "y the
e+plosion. ,hen I recovered from my initial shock, I realised that I was
in9ured. I tried to save a "adly in9ured &4 year old "oy lying near"y "ut the
"oy succum"ed to his in9ury.)
6I have two children, "ut the food we have is inadeAuate to feed the family.
#he food we have here is enough for only one person, "ut we share," he
further added speaking to #amilnet.
C 7pril .((' / #housands of #amil protestors occupy parliament sAuare
demanding international action as slaughter of #amil civilians in !orth/Dast
escalates
C of 7pril marks the @th anniversary of the parliament sAuare protests.
Following . weeks of protest outside 8ritish parliament the num"er of
demonstrators escalated to thousands in response to the intensified
shelling of #amil civilians in the !orth/Dast. #housands of protestors took to
the streets and staged a sit down demonstration in front of the 0ouses of
$ommons.
For an eye/witness account of the events see here.
Thousands of protestors take to the streets
Veteran British politician Tony Benn joins
demonstrations
#hotographs$ The *uardian
Cth 7pril .((' / *edical officials in the !orth/Dast report systematic
shelling of over .@(,((( civilians in !o Fire 1one
#he regional officer of the *ullaitheevu %egional :irector of 0ealth Services
G%:0SH,outlined an o"vious pattern of shelling within the !o Fire 1one.
#he officer reported that conservative estimates placed at least .@(,(((
people within the !o Fire 1one.
@ 7pril .((' / Sri Lankan 7irforce intensifies attack on civilian !o Fire 1one
>ver .(( civilians were either killed or wounded due to Sri Lankan 7ir/
force "om"ardmentof the !o Fire 1one on this day.
7reas of *aaththalan, Bokkanai, -alaignarmadam, Iraddai/vaaykkal and
other areas of safety zone were shelled
&=th Fe"ruary .((' / #amil civilians face intense shelling as they flee to '!o
Fire 1ones'
>ver &@( civilians were feared killed "y Sri Lankan 7rmy shelling roads that
were "eing used "y civilians to flee from conflict areas and reach newly
defined ;no fire zones.<
Several casualties and fatalities were reported along roads side from
#eavipuram to Buthukkudiyiruppu, with the fleeing civilians forced to leave
their dead on the side of the roads or "ury them under intense shelling.
7 further '( civilians were reported killed "y similar circumstances two
days prior.
&& Fe"ruary .((' / 0ospitals "om"ed, relentless assault on #amil civilians
and calls for international protection
Fe"ruary &&th saw the Jaffna ?overnment 7gent G?7H made an
urgent appeal to international non/governmental organisations to provide
food and protection to over .4(( internally displaced people GI:BH that
were in held across three Sri Lankan *ilitary run camps.
#he L##D :ivisional Bolitical 0ead in -anni, $ Ilamparithy, whilst re"uffing
Sri Lankan military claims that the L##D were responsi"le for the
slaughtering of civilian, urged the international community to protect #amil
civilians.
#he International $ommittee of the %ed $ross GI$%$H, in a statement
released the previous day, e+pressed ;shock< at the lack of protection and
a"sence of international aid reaching the #amil population in -anni.
Speaking at an I$%$ press release, the head of the delegation in Sri Lanka,
Baul $astellasaid,
,e are shocked that patients are not afforded the protection they are
entitled to.)
In a statement L##D official Ilamparithy said,
#he ;safety zone< unilaterally announced "y the $olom"o
government has "een turned to a killing field "y the Sri Lanka
military. #he Sri Lankan military machinery, which has relentlessly
killed and maimed thousands of civilians during the past four
weeks, is now engaged in a propaganda drive to divert mounting
pressure on the $olom"o government "y the international
community.)
$olom"o is committing the worst crimes of humanity, "y killing
and maiming hundreds of civilians every day with the ;safety zone<
and "y indiscriminately "om"ing medical institutions.)
#he international community must ensure the presence of
international protection and the monitoring authorities to assure
the safety of the civilians, including the wounded patients and their
guardians who accompany them.)
#he I$%$ press statement also read,
*ost of the population is now displaced and completely depended
on outside aid, yet none has reached the area since .' January.)
In a statement made at the start of the month the I$%$ e+pressed dismay
at the Sri Lankan 7irforce<s repeated "om"ing of hospital and medical
facilities in -anni, stating,
,e<re shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second
time in recent weeks. ,ounded and sick people, medical personnel
and medical facilities are all protected "y international
humanitarian law. nder no circumstance may they "e directly
attacked. #he staff are under acute stress surrounded as they are
"y the sound of ongoing fighting and the influ+ of new patients.
7m"ulances are constantly arriving, "ut people are also "eing
"rought in "y wagon, pick up trucks, tractor and even motor
scooter.)