Government urges LTTE to free all civilians
The Sri Lankan Government has once again appealed to the LTTE to free all civilians who are held hostage by them so that the civilians can go to safe areas and IDP villages that are being maintained under the care and control of the Government.
A statement by the President's office states that Armed Forces have very clearly stated that their operations are conducted in such a manner to as to ensure that no civilians are killed or injured. and that is why their advance over the past few weeks has been so slow.
According to the President's office the TNA had said that “Since the beginning of this year alone, over 3000 civilians have been killed in ….. ‘safe zones’ by bombing campaigns [and] well over 8000 civilians have been gravely injured. …… civilians are being deliberately targeted. …. food and medicine are being used against the Tamil civilians as a weapon of war.”
"His Excellency’s instructions to the Armed Forces have been to ensure 100 percent civilian safety. If the allegations of indiscriminate attacks and disregard for civilians were true, the Sri Lankan forces would have overrun the LTTE and liberated the uncleared areas weeks earlier," the President's office said.
It also said that no one can confirm the numbers of civilians reportedly killed or injured and that it is also impossible to determine who is an injured or killed combatant when the LTTE, who are not in uniform, mingle with the civilians and fires on Sri Lankan forces from their midst.
The Sri Lankan Government has once again appealed to the LTTE to free all civilians who are held hostage by them so that the civilians can go to safe areas and IDP villages that are being maintained under the care and control of the Government.
A statement by the President's office states that Armed Forces have very clearly stated that their operations are conducted in such a manner to as to ensure that no civilians are killed or injured. and that is why their advance over the past few weeks has been so slow.
According to the President's office the TNA had said that “Since the beginning of this year alone, over 3000 civilians have been killed in ….. ‘safe zones’ by bombing campaigns [and] well over 8000 civilians have been gravely injured. …… civilians are being deliberately targeted. …. food and medicine are being used against the Tamil civilians as a weapon of war.”
"His Excellency’s instructions to the Armed Forces have been to ensure 100 percent civilian safety. If the allegations of indiscriminate attacks and disregard for civilians were true, the Sri Lankan forces would have overrun the LTTE and liberated the uncleared areas weeks earlier," the President's office said.
It also said that no one can confirm the numbers of civilians reportedly killed or injured and that it is also impossible to determine who is an injured or killed combatant when the LTTE, who are not in uniform, mingle with the civilians and fires on Sri Lankan forces from their midst.
