Civilians suffer while warring Parties trying to get Credit of it

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Civilians suffer while warring Parties trying to get Credit of it

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Civilians Suffers, but Ltte and SLDF blame each other and try to get credit by discrediting Other party ??

http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090129_01        says
Associated Press kills story about civilians deaths after realizing they were subjected to a hoax

(By: Walter Jayawardhana)

The Associated Press in a notice sent to all its client publications requested to kill the Sri Lanka war story that said 300 civilians have been killed and 1000 other civilians have been injured after realizing that they have been subjected to a hoax.

In the notice the Associated Press said, "Kill the Sri Lanka-Civil War story, V5414. The source denies he wrote the letter that said more than 300 civilians had been killed and 1,000 wounded in fighting in northern Sri Lanka."

Most of the Western news agencies have been subjected to the hoax of a letter purported to have been written by a Medical administrative doctor in the form of an urgent appeal letter emailed to news agencies embassies and aid agencies etc.

Dr. Varatharaja, the Regional Director of Health Services (RDGS) Mullaitivu, who is purported to be the originator of this "appeal" has denied any association with it, and states its contents are false and exaggerated; that it has not originated from him or his office, and that he does not agree with its contents, and that this "appeal" circulated in order to embarrass him.

Lttes Answer to read here :

http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28194

LTTE not opposed to individual right of a civilian to flee combat zone - Nadesan

"Mr. Nadesan revealed that, a UN 'security officer' who accompanied the WFP humanitarian convoy, had attemptd to pressure the Tigers on "completely wrong moral grounds," 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. "

This means also ltte did not allowed them to leave ????

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UN Rights Chief expresses concern at rapidly deteriorating conditions in Vanni

http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28196

Pillay also expressed concern at the highly restricted access to the Vanni region for aid agencies and impartial outside observers, including journalists and human rights monitors.

"The perilous situation of civilians after many months of fighting, multiple displacements and heavy rains and flooding is extremely worrying," Pillay said. "The lack of access for independent monitors, humanitarian workers and the media only adds to concerns that the situation may be even worse than we realize," she added.

The High Commissioner cited reports of forced recruitment, including of children, as well as the use of civilians as human shields by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). She also condemned the fact that safe zones promised by the Government have subsequently been subjected to bombardment leading to civilian casualties.

"People trying to flee the conflict areas are reported to have either been prevented from doing so, or to have been arbitrarily detained in special centres," she said. "It seems there may have been very grave breaches of human rights by both sides in the conflict, and it is imperative that we find out more about what exactly has been going on. It is also urgent that civilians in the north can find safe shelter, away from the fighting."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7856829.stm

Sri Lanka denies civilian crisis

It will be the second time in three days that a United Nations convoy, trapped in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, will attempt to reach hundreds of critically wounded civilians, including at least 50 seriously injured children, the UN said from Colombo.

It is seeking permission from the Tamil Tigers to cross the front line during a lull in fighting and ferry the injured to Ministry of Health hospitals in Vavuniya that can cope with their wounds.

Ltte says

http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28187

LTTE denies reports of preventing patients leaving combat zone [TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 2009, 19:08 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE)'s Political Office on Wednesday categorically denied a news originated in Colombo government's media, the Daily News, and was highlighted in the International media that LTTE prevented UN convoy transporting injured patients from Mullaiththeevu district to Vavuniyaa hospital. Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan described the news as mischievous.

S. Puleedevan, Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat "In fact, the LTTE has been repeatedly urging the ICRC to facilitate unhindered transportation of injured civilians who need urgent attention and also for the provision of medical facilities locally," Mr. Puleedevan told TamilNet Wednesday night.

Only a makeshift hospital functions at Udaiyaarkaddu in the 'safety zone' declared by Colombo. The Government Agent of Mullaiththeevu, Ms. Imelda Sukumar, on Tuesday told TamilNet that the government has asked all public services to be shifted to the safety zone. However, as the 'safety zone' is under continuous artillery attack by the Sri Lankan forces, the transfer became not feasible, it is learnt.

In the meantime, unconfirmed reports from Colombo indicate that there was a pressure from the Sri Lanka government to UN officials stationed in Colombo to organise an evacuation of the families of local UN staff from the besieged Vanni.

Or B. Nadesan

http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28194

Nadesan categorically denied reports in the press which blamed LTTE for not allowing wounded patients to be transported to Vavuniyaa.

"We have repeatedly called for the ICRC to voice for the rights of the civilians under the International Law and the Geneva Conventions as Colombo has been gravely violating transportation of critically wounded patients for many days, resulting in many deaths." 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7857491.stm

'Exaggeration'

On Wednesday Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse denied that the fighting had led to a humanitarian crisis in the north.

He told the BBC that he had a policy of "zero" civilian casualties and that the ICRC and UN were wrong about the situation in the north.

"I'm not saying they are lying but they are exaggerating," Mr Rajapakse said.

He also ruled out any ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, saying it would give the Tigers a chance to reorganise.

"The purpose of this offensive is to eradicate them."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2009/01/090129_icrc.shtml

ICRC escorts sick and wounded civilians

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it escorted 226 sick and wounded patients requiring urgent medical treatment to Vavuniya Hospital in the government controlled area.

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ICRC saw the situation of refugees and can estimate the plight of the civilians better than other Propaganda sources but I think they will keep their mouth closed.