UN calls for an immediate ceasefire

Yesterday the U.N. secretary general called for an immediate cease fire in Sri Lanka and said that thousands of civilians had been killed by the Sri Lankan government. He also stated that the UN has received reports that people have died from starvation in the no fire zone due to the government blocking food aid shipments. The report can be read on the UN website here:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30099&Cr=sri+lanka&Cr1=

The report concludes, "The Secretary-General today also urged the Government to begin “serious” efforts to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict."

The particular wording used has raised a lot of eyebrows. It seems the UN wants more than an end to the fighting, but wants a political solution for the Tamil people. It is obvious international opinion has completely shifted sides over the last two months. If the Sri Lankan government refuses to heed the UN, as well as countries such as the US and UK, there may be a solution forcibly impossed on them, much like was done in serbia, granting autonomy to the Bosnians.

It appears the killing of an ICRC worker and wounding of his son by government artillery shelling of the so-called "safe zone" has convinced the UN to change their position.

Current Situation in PTK

As of now the LTTE still holds 90% of PTK. They will try to defend it, and if that proves to be impossible they will take positions across the lagoon and defend the bridges entering it. They had a lot of success stopping the advancement of the 55th division and 59th division across the water inlets, so they may try this with the remaining divisions as well.

The LTTE is still publishing a daily newspaper and broadcasting Voice of Tigers on the radio, so its not that things have completely broken down. If you see the videos of the civilian areas, vehicles are still moving in both directions as normal. A lot of what happens depends on how many civilians are actually in the area, because that also determines how many people will join the battle. If it is at the high end (400,000 civilians) then the LTTE has a much better chance to defend. If it is on the low end (the government's 60,000 civilians) then that makes it much harder, as there will be fewer people coming forward to join in the battle against the sinhalese invaders. It is impossible for anyone to have accurately counted, but I would guess the number is probably in the middle at 200,000.

There are no signs of panic in the civilian areas. There are still clear signs of civil order and discipline, indicating a large presence of LTTE cadres/police throughout the civilian areas.

The LTTE is also consciously withdrawing from areas, which is evident because no bodies are recovered by the government. If the LTTE positions had been overan, the dead bodies would be proof. But when the LTTE chooses to withdraw from an area over night, the government then steps in when the morning arrives. This is what happened at PTK junction.

There has been plenty of evidence showing that the LTTE can move by boat freely at will. Their recent attack near elephant pass at the rear of the 55th divisions shows they are not boxed in by a naval cordon as the government claims. If the LTTE wanted to completely vacate PTK and infiltrate into other parts of the island they could easily accomplish it, but they want to stay to defend the civilians to the best of their ability.

STF commandos kill rape victim's mother

Two days ago there was a report that a 14 year old Tamil girl was raped in front of her mother by STF commandos in Baticaloa. Today the STF commandos returned to her house and finished their "job" by murdering the mother for having reported the incident to the police.

It is disgusting that this woman can tell the police what happened and then be left helpless as those same police come back to her house two days later and murder her. There is no way Tamils can live peacefully under the Sinhalese, as this is the treatment they are given day in and day out.

Two days ago this case was reported in many places including in the comments of this blog. The Sinhalese readers commented as usual "oh another fake rape case". That is how Sinhalese treat Tamils who have been victimized, by accusing them of being liars. Now each and every one of you Sinhalese "patriots" have this woman's blood on your hands. You are all guilty of this murder, because when she came to you with her story asking for justice, you accused her of being a liar and left her to be killed by your own police force.

Alleged video of Oddusudan ambush released

Yesterday a video alleged to show an ambush on the Mankulam-Oddusudan road had been released on the internet, but the footage was so disturbing that it disappeared from all hosting sites within minutes of being posted. We have no way to determine if the footage is accurate, or if it may have been an older video, but we have never seen the footage before.

The video showed a lone Sri Lankan army transport vehicle being hit by machine gun fire and RPGs. There appears to have been no return fire, as everyone in the vehicle seems to have been killed in the flurry of machine gun fire.

Once the machine gun fire finishes, four or five LTTE members (including at least one female fighter) approach the back of the vehicle and climb inside, as blood pours out from the floor. Then one by one they drag the bodies out and dump them in a pile on the road. Altogether around 20 bodies are piled up, at least one still slightly moving. At one point there is some further movement inside the vehicle, so an LTTE fighter again shoots two of the dying soldiers.

The footage is extremely graphic and very disturbing to watch, as it shows the war in its full brutality. Especially disturbing is the manner in which the dead (and some living) soldiers are dumped onto the ground. I am not criticizing either side, but just pointing out the fact that war is terrible and we should never feel happy at the death of anyone. These types of violent actions are obviously carried out by soldiers on both sides, as that is what war is.

I suggest everyone should watch the clip, so you can understand how bad this war is and the urgent need for peace. The option for peace is in the hands of the Sinhalese and Sri Lankan government, as they are the ones who have initiated this war by invading the Vanni. The people in the South have been sheltered from seeing what is happening to their own soldiers in the war. If they saw the true nature of this war, without the cover of the propaganda curtain, I believe everyone would want peace in this country. Remove the songs, flashy military vehicles, and propaganda messages and see the actual death that this war is bringing to both sides. The government likes to show high tech airplanes, boats and battle tanks in their propaganda news clips, but war is not as clean as they like to show. War reduces people on both sides to act like animals and engage in violence that is unimaginable.

I am not able to provide a link to the video, as it has disappeared from all the sites I have seen it hosted on, but keep an eye out for it. Those who have seen it will understand exactly what I am talking about. If you find a working link for the video, post it in the comments.

Sri Lanka's war zone - an insider's testimony

I don't usually post newspaper articles here, but this one was very revealing and may not be seen by most people. It is a first hand report from foreign ICRC workers delivering food in the Vanni. It shows how others view the Sri Lankan army, and reveals how undisciplined they are. "No officers within 30 km of the front lines" sums up the Sri Lankan army command structure. The Sri Lankan government still doesn't realize how pubic opinion has completely turned against them throughout the world.

Sri Lanka's war zone - an insider's testimony
By Peter Foster (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/peter_foster/blog/2009/03/02/sri_lankas_war_zone__an_insiders_testimony_)

THE humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka deepens daily, with up to 200,000 (the Sri Lankan government says 100,000) civilians trapped in the conflict zone as Sri Lanka's armed forces attempt a final rout of the Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) in defiance of requests from India and others for a ceasefire.

I have referred in the past to the difficulties for aid workers in Sri Lanka, so I wanted to share a communication that I received from a veteran international aid worker who was delivering food-aid to displaced people in the Vanni towards the end of last year.

I'm giving you the account in full below, but what is interesting to me is how it shows the extent to which relations between the Sri Lankan government and the United Nations are strained on the ground.

To my source it appeared that Sri Lanka army and politicans didn't see the UN as 'their UN too', but rather a "hostile and subservient" force in its own country.

Attempts to deliver aid (such as shelter materials) are often obstructed for fear of anything landing up in the hands of the LTTE. From this perspective, 'humanitarian aid' becomes indistinguishable (to some of those prosecuting this war) from 'aiding' the enemy.

This explains a lot of Sri Lanka's foot-dragging when it comes to meeting its humanitarian obligations. It is true that the LTTE (shooting at fleeing civilians) is worse, but then it is fair to expect higher standards from a democratically elected government.

The source also reports that UN vehicles and staff were subjected to searches in disregard of the Vienna Convention that grants immunity from such intrusions. "Not even in Kosovo in 1998 (before NATO came in) were the Serbs so disrespectful of international UN staff as is the Sri Lankan Army," the aid worker adds.

This attitude towards the UN and its humanitarian mission has very serious implications - not just for the suffering displaced people on the ground who need an effective aid-operation - but because it gives the world another reason not to take at face value the 'good intentions' of the Sri Lankan government.

Pro-Tamil groups are pressing hard to have the Sri Lankan war-effort censured at the UN (which won't happen because China and Russia will veto such efforts), accusing the Sri Lankan government of conducting what amounts to a 'genocide' against the Tamil minority.

Without wanting to get into the legal definition of 'genocide', such claims - true or false, exaggerated or otherwise - are given a certain amount of force by the apparent reluctance of the Sri Lankan government to be more transparent and co-operative with international agencies as it conduct its war.

The ultimate question, as I have written in the past, is what post-War settlement the right-wing Sinhalese government of Mahinda Rajapakse intends to impose on Sri Lanka's Tamils.

The fear - fuelled by the repeated attacks on the Sri Lankan media (most recently the Tamil newspaper editor N Vithyatharan), the refusal to tolerate dissent in Sri Lanka and the often chauvinist rhetoric of key figures in the Sri Lankan government, including the army chief Sarath Fonseka - is that the final settlement will be so discriminatory and demanding of subservience from the Tamil minority that it will amount to a piece of ethnic suppression/cleansing in all but name.

Only time will truly tell if those fears are justified. I make no predictions, however I do believe that the legitimacy of such fears - indignantly dismissed as Tamil propaganda by the Sri Lankan government - is deepened by the current Sri Lanka's government's apparently hostile attitude towards the UN, both on the ground and in international diplomatic circles.

What follows is a simple account of one aid workers experience on the ground in Sri Lanka. At one level it is perfectly mundane, but at the same time provides a rare insight into how difficult and highly politicised aid has become on the ground in Sri Lanka.

The correspondent writes as follows:

"On one particular food convoy which consisted of 60 x 35 ton trucks loaded to capacity the loading of it was monitored by soldiers and trucks they were sealed and secured in a compound the night before departure. Fuel tanks were sealed as were spare wheels etc. This may be reasonable in order to deny giving help to the enemy but it also included searching personal effects of UN international staff - short of body searches everything was searched.

On 2 occasions government propaganda leaflets were secreted into vehicles by a soldier - these were aimed at the Tamils who would be unloading vehicles at the destination.

When the convoy left it was escorted by the army to the SLA [Sri Lankan Army] front line (to prevent anything being added to the loads) and then accompanied by ICRC [Red Cross] through 30 kilometers of no-man's land (NML) to the LTTE checkpoint. Apart from counting trucks there was no problem from the LTTE.

About 10 kilometers into NML 2 shells landed to the rear far enough away to cause no damage but the light vehicles (Toyota Land Cruisers) shuddered with the vibration. This despite being assured by both sides that it would be safe.

On arrival at Puthukkudyiruppu (PTK) the convoy split and 30 trucks went to Dharmapuram - it was still daylight and the state of the IDPs [internally displaced people or refugees] in shacks, etc along the roadside and deeper into the countryside was easy to observe. There was no chance to get out and speak to them as the mission was to deliver food and educational material to Dharmapuram, unload and get out. The government had given times to keep to.

One staff member compared the situation of the IDPs to that he'd seen in Somalia when talking to the BBC. The IDPs were living very basically. The BBC added that Somalia had no government since 1991. This angered the government which only wants to see positive reporting and the person who made the remark was banned from carrying out any more humanitarian activity in the Vanni. Such is the control of the press and objective reporting. Clearly the government is scared about the world hearing what is going on.

The following morning from first light (6am) some IDPs were visited in Dharmapuram. IDPs were found living under plastic sheet shelters, used rice bags, cardboard etc. There were no shelter materials which agencies wanted to distribute as the government would not allow these to be taken in case LTTE used them as defence stores.

...............................

On the return trip there were further shellings to the front of the convoy which lasted about 2 hours. When it stopped the convoy carried on south out of the battle area. In no man's land the road was partially blocked by debris which was found to be shell debris - a shell impact was found on the track and broken branches across the road. This was the case also 500 meters further on. The shelling was happening despite being given assurances by both parties that it would be safe. Had the convoy not stopped or proceeded with care it could easily have been under the shelling.

The track was cleared and we drove on - arriving at the government front line where there were some troops and an ICRC tent with some of their staff. The front line was at a river and over a dozen SLA soldiers were splashing around almost naked in the river. Only one man was clothed and holding and weapon. Is it much surprise that the army take such heavy casualties? It was odd that that only a corporal was present - no officers. One wondered where the officers were - an officer was not seen for another 25 kilometers!

Later, at Omantai Checkpoint, (a purpose-built government vehicle search area) the convoys have to stop. Each and every one of the UN trucks is systematically searched. Although they were empty by this time, some 4 hours was spent by soldiers measuring interior dimensions and comparing them with external dimensions. Engines, chassis, driving compartments - everything was subject to such detailed searches.

Not only that, but the UN cars occupied by UN staff went through the same routine. International staff are required to empty out their personal effects while every item is examined by soldiers with a pompous attitude which would not have been tolerated by those being searched on Belfast Streets years ago. Food containers were opened, toothpaste tubes, etc. The troops are unsupervised except by Military Police junior NCOs. No officers are present.

A UN staff member who told the BBC that the situation of the displaced community in the battle area was comparable to that he saw in Somalia some years before. As a result of making that comment the government ordered that he report to the commanding general. He refused to do so as it was very likely to be reprimanded and he was not to be humiliated. He was informed that he was persona non grata in the LTTE area and was to keep out of it. Foreign eyes are not supposed to say anything about what is seen in the battlefield.

He returned to Colombo and went into low profile. In the following days a TV studio (which did not tow the government line) was trashed by 20 thugs with weapons, a leading journalist (critical of the government) shot dead in the street, an ambassador called to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for making unbecoming comments at the funeral of the journalist.....there is a risk in saying anything critical of the situation in Sri Lanka.

Fighting reported in Kevil, near Elephant Pass

Heavy fighting has been reported in the Kevil area on the coast near Elephant pass. No further details are available at present. It appears to be targeting the rear supply base of the 55th division.

Sri Lankan army makes shocking discoveries in PTK

We enter the eighth day of silence from the government in regards to the PTK battle. Though they initially claimed PTK had fallen on the first day itself, they have subsequently changed their story multiple times. In one version the 58 division "captured" PTK, and in another version the 53rd division "captured" PTK. After the dramatic capture, the government announced their forces were actually 200 meters outside the city. Following that admission we were then left with 8 days of silence - no mention at all as to what is happening with 50,000 soldiers trying to enter PTK.

Instead of providing us with actual battlefield information, the Sri Lankan military has turned to more important stories:

1) "Swimming pool found, needs cleaning", ( source: http://army.lk/morenews.php?id=20472)

2) "Cable television distributor office found, looted" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090228_01 )

3) "20 year old photos of Vaiko found, startling discovery" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090301_02 )

4) "15 Children in Vavuniya recovering [while hundreds still killed each day in bombings]" ( source: http://army.lk/morenews.php?id=20470 )

5) "70 year old man wrestles gun from three LTTE cadres and kills the entire LTTE army" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090302_01 )

6) "19 civilians liberated from LTTE area [to join other 35,000 tamils in prison camps]" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090226_09 )

7) "SLA Troops conduct medical clinic in Jaffna [to treat wounds caused by security forces]" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090228_10 )

8) "Call to end use of child soldiers [suggestion to use them for testing artillery bombs on instead]" ( source: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090226_07 )

Since most of you do not have time to read through all of their fascinating articles, I will highlight the accomplishments of the Sri Lankan army's last 8 days in PTK here:

( picture source: http://www.defence.lk/img/20090226_17.jpg )

"Terrorist toilet recovered in PTK after heavy damages dealt to LTTE. Security forces are still searching for the toilet brush, suspected of having been burried as the LTTE withdrew. Intercepted terrorist radio communications indicate senior LTTE leaders were present on the front lines to defend this toilet at all costs. Soldiers are presently searching the toilet to disable any mines or booby traps the LTTE may have left before they allow security forces to use it. The presence of a stainless steel flush knob indicates a foreign hand, probably NGOs, working hand in hand with the terrorists. It is reported one Tamil civilian, obviously being used as a human shield, came running out in a shocked manner as the security forces broke down the locked door. The presence of an obnoxious odor seems to suggest the LTTE was using this toilet to store some form of chemical or biological weapons. Photos of other notable discoveries included below."

( picture source: http://defence.lk/img/20090228_01l.jpg )

"Used terrorist cell phone recharge card. Security forces were dissappointed that it had already been used and had no more validity."

( picture source: http://www.defence.lk/img/20090226_04.jpg )

"Terrorist carrom board. Security forces are looking for where the terrorists have burried the striker and dots. If they are unable to find them, suggestions are to reopen A-9 early and have the dots supplied from Colombo."

( picture source: http://defence.lk/img/20090228_01t.jpg )

"Security forces capture LTTE leader Anton Balasingham. So far he refuses to tell interrogators anything. He has also reportedly refused all attempts to feed him. If he continues to refuse food, security forces may have to resort to force feeding."

( picture source: http://defence.lk/img/20090228_01N.jpg )

"Terrorist baby mosquito protector recovered by security forces. This was obviously used by terrorist babies so they wouldn't be bitten by mosquitos as they planned their terroristic attacks. The security forces have developed unique screening methods to identify terrorist babies from ordinary civilian babies, which they are employing at all screening centers to seperate out the terrorist babies."

( picture source: http://defence.lk/img/20090228_01u.jpg )

"Terrorist plastic waste basket cover. This clearly reveals dark secrets about the LTTE's garbage recycling plans."

( picture source: http://defence.lk/img/20090228_01y.jpg )

"A terrorist black and white laser printer, obviously used for making fake passports and printing counterfeit currency notes."