LTTE denies reports of preventing patients leaving combat zone

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.