Sri Lanka blast toll hits 28 dead, dozens wounded - military

by Sanjay Jha | February 9, 2009 at 01:00 am

446 views | 23 Recommendations | 25 comments

A female suicide bomber has blown herself up at a camp which had been set up for civilians fleeing the war zone in the northeast of Sri Lanka, killing 24 people. News coming from Sri Lankan military says the suicide bomber mingled with civilians before blasting herself.

At least 28 people were killed and 90 wounded when a female Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up on Monday at a checkpoint for refugees fleeing Sri Lanka's war zone, the military said.

"Two officers and 18 others were killed from the army, two officers injured and 48 others injured. Eight civilians were killed and 40 others injured. Many of them are women and children" military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

In the meantime Sri Lankan government have said that more than 10,000 Sri Lankan civilians have fled in the past few days from rebel-held territory in the north.

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Tiana

at 06:05 on February 9th, 2009

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Sri-Lanka-Tamil-Tiger-Suicide-Bomber-Kills-Dozens-In-Refugee-Camp/Video/200902215219553?lpos=video_Article_Related_Content_Region_1&lid=VIDEO_15219553_Sri_Lanka_Tamil_Tiger_Suicide_Bomber_Kills_Dozens_In_Refugee_Camp

Tiana

at 07:59 on February 9th, 2009

Not relevant to this title, but apparently 20000 civilians have escaped so far! Wow, that's something :)

Relevant to this title, in their desperate task to kill 20 sla, taking 8 of their own civilian's lives?!! ATROCIOUS! Whilst doing that, putting suspicions in the sla's minds that any one of those innocent civilians could be suicide bombers and subjecting every individual to thorough examinations and extremely controlled environment??!! truely disgusting!

sudharaka

at 06:22 on February 9th, 2009

The so called freedom fighters who kills the same people whom they supposedly represent… The world should wake up to the kind of cannibalism at least now.
I will not be surprised if some copy cat agent justifies even this.

sudharaka

at 06:16 on February 9th, 2009

…another good chance for seemingly balanced (but heavily biased) intellectual kind to show their colors as well.

Yet, in reality, this kind of barberism has been allways there and the world should wake up to it at least now.

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:08 on February 9th, 2009

These civilians were interviewed by SKY News you idiot. The army probably didn't even realise this video footage was being taken. I know you're deaf to the truth, but didn't you hear the reporter saying that they had to smuggle the footage from the Sri Lankan army... even when this footage is supporting everything the army and the government stands for. Ignorance never served a purpose...

LotusFlower

at 01:29 on February 9th, 2009

The deaths continue in the dispute between Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government with this suicide bomb claiming 24 lives.

The Tamil Tigers are being portrayed as not freedom fighters but terrorists by the Sri Lankan Governmeent but around the world protestors whilst not agreeing with terrorist acts are highlighting the heavy handed approach by the Sri lankan authourities who they say are waging almost a war on their own people wqith thousands of civillians living in fear of Government attacks.

A suspected rebel suicide bomber killed 24 people Monday when she blew herself up among a group of soldiers searching civilians fleeing Sri Lanka's northern war zone, the military said.

The bombing was the first major suicide attack in Sri Lanka in more than a month and led to fears the Tamil Tiger separatists — boxed in by the military and on the verge of defeat — will increasingly turn to guerrilla warfare in their battle against government forces.

Following a string of victories, the military backed the rebels into a small strip of land on the northeastern coast, where the Red Cross estimates 250,000 civilians are also trapped.

The military has accused the rebels of holding the civilians as human shields and called for noncombatants to flee to government-controlled areas. The rebels have accused the government of indiscriminately shelling the war zone, leading to increasing civilian casualties.

On Monday morning, more than 800 civilians had crossed the front lines and were being searched by soldiers before being sent to camps farther south, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

When the attacker was frisked, she set off the bomb she was wearing, killing 24 people and

Japanagent

at 05:21 on February 9th, 2009

There is no media freedom we need to investigate this to find out the truth.

Tiana

at 06:07 on February 9th, 2009

What do you call it when you're not allowed to enter the outside world and the outside world is not allowed to contact you?? Imprisonment? That is what is happening to those people who escape and this incident will only contribute to even stricter atmosphere.

sudharaka

at 06:27 on February 9th, 2009

Those blindfolded brainwashed people who still think these low-life cannibals are their saviors, whoever up their have mercy on them, because they will end up just like the rats who followed the pied piper.

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:10 on February 9th, 2009

lol... you can tell that to my 4 week old dobermann... and you might even hear him chuckle...

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:11 on February 9th, 2009

I think you need to get back into your straight jacket.

sudharaka

at 18:29 on February 9th, 2009

The guy is doing a great job of making a fool of himself. ;-)

Tiana

at 06:09 on February 9th, 2009

Video footage of the attack aftermath....

Tiana

at 06:30 on February 9th, 2009

When one has suffered the most at the hands of one force, one is allowed to have dislike for that force. That doesn't mean one will take the atrocities of another force with a pinch of salt.

Japanagent

at 07:42 on February 9th, 2009

They are freedom fighters. Those civilians are afraid while they are in the hands of SLA it's normal that they have to say things to media as per army's demands if not they will be killed.

Japanagent

at 07:47 on February 9th, 2009

The video released by the Sri Lankan government.

What exactly happened is difficult to be asserted since no independent source is available in the war frontier to verify the claims or the sequence of the tragedy.

For nearly three weeks now, when the Sri Lanka Army has been deliberately firing artillery at civilian targets and at hospitals, using cluster shells and killing even patients to the full knowledge of the ICRC, the international agencies didn't know 'from where the shells were coming'.

Japanagent

at 08:03 on February 9th, 2009

Sri Lankan Army bombed on IDP civilians and blamed on LTTE

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:36 on February 9th, 2009

Japanagent

at 09:06 on February 9th, 2009

Sri Lankan Army bombed the fled Tamil civilians and blamed on LTTE, Sri Lankan government banned independent journalist so no one can verify from out side.

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:17 on February 9th, 2009

The world doesn't need independent journalists to verify who blew up who... the rest of the IDPs that survived the blast will do that... Thank you very much for your absolutely useless input though.

Japanagent

at 09:20 on February 9th, 2009

Those escaped IDP civilians are being used for the Sri Lankan government's Propaganda.

Isuru Thilakaratne

at 09:34 on February 9th, 2009 new

Yes, indeed they are. So...? The only thing is, this propaganda is based on truth and it serves a purpose.

Its actually a little tiring to deal with your stupidity. Its probably best you shut up because everytime you say something, I'm going to counter that, and its going to make you look like an utter fool.

sudharaka

at 18:10 on February 9th, 2009

The pertinent question is, who is running, to whom, from whom and why?
Actually thats four questions.

Tiana

at 04:13 on February 10th, 2009

People do not want to stay with the ltte in a warzone for the obvious reasons (chance of getting bombed and perhaps of being forced to fight). They are running to the safe zone only to be bombed there as well. Yet they are taking the risk to get away from it all. However, they do not want to be under the control of either and would rather get on with their normal life asap.

sudharaka

at 06:47 on February 11th, 2009

People were being held forcibly by the LTTE terrorists for a long time. It was necessary for those who wanted go to Govt controlled ares to find two people as guarantors to obtain permission to do so and thats a fact.

sudharaka

at 06:52 on February 11th, 2009

Not 'perhaps' but they are being forced to fight as it seems and end up getting killled. That's why they risk their lives to crossover to the area under Govt protection. If not for the human shield the cowards keep, the normalcy wouldve been restored by now.