Thousands of civilians under SLA custody in Vanni

Major part of civilians seek refuge with LTTE, while US, India deliberate
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 2009, 16:40 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is said to be holding civilians from Vanni in Iyakkachchi without permitting them to enter Jaffna, since Monday, according to reliable sources in Jaffna. So far, only 4,325 civilians who were brought to Point Pedro in fishing boats by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been placed in the SLA 'detention centres' in Thenmaraadchi, according to Divisional Secretariat sources there. Several thousands of civilians were caught by the SLA on Tuesday when it advanced its troops into the 'safety zone'. Exact number of civilians in SLA custody is not known. The SLA has been accused for separating females, males and elderly and for subjecting the separated for 'filtering' before placing them in separate internment camps.

Two bus loads of the civilians have been sent Wednesday evening to Chaavakachcheari SLA detention camps, Thenmaraadchi Divisional Secretariat sources said.

Additional information about the civilians held in Iyakkachchi is not known to Jaffna Secretariat officials.

SLN continues to bring civilians from Vanni to Vettilaikkea'ni area in their vessels and from there the civilians are brought in small boats to Point Pedro Munai area.

Meanwhile, altogether 23 seriously injured civilians from Vanni brought to Point Pedro have been admitted to Manthikai Government Hospital since Monday, hospital sources said.

Six of the above patients have been sent to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) for additional treatment, the sources added.

JTH sources said that six seriously injured civilians from Vanni have been sent to their hospital from Kodikaamam detention camp in Thenmaraadchi.

Meanwhile, Jaffna Government Agent has taken charge of ten schools to place civilians from Vanni.

Point Pedro Munai Roman Catholic School, Kattkoava’lam Methodist Mission Tamil Mixed School, Vadamaraadchi Hindu Ladies College, Nelliayadi Maha Viththiyalayam, Uduppiddi Ladies College, Valikaamam Neerveali Aththiyaar Hindu College, Jaffna Koapaay Christian College, Meesaalai Veerasingham Maha Viththiyalayam, Chaavakachcheari Hindu Ladies College, Kodikaamam Thirunaavukkarasu Maha Viththiyalayam are the ten schools taken over by the GA.

The Divisional Secretariat officials where these schools are located have prepared the schools to place the civilians from Vanni, Jaffna Secretariat sources said.

Civilians from Vanni have already been placed in Chaavakachcheari Hindu Ladies College and Kodikaamam Thirunaavukkarasu Maha Viththiyaalam in the first stage.