Thousands of Civilians Flee Sri Lankan War Zone
By VOA News
14 May 2009
The Sri Lankan military says thousands of civilians are braving Tamil rebel attacks to wade across a lagoon and escape the northern war zone.
A military spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, says the rebels opened fire as the civilians fled Thursday, killing four people and wounding 14. The casualties have not been independently confirmed.
The spokesman says at least 2,000 people managed to escape, and that many others are waiting to cross the lagoon that divides the government soldiers from the rebels.
Rights groups blame both sides
Human rights groups say the rebels are using civilians as human shields. They also accuse the government of disregarding the safety of civilians in their effort to crush the rebels. Both sides deny the charges.
On Thursday, the government and rebels ignored the U.N. Security Council's non-binding statement demanding they protect civilians trapped by the fighting.
Sri Lanka's Disaster Management and Human Rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told VOA Thursday the military offensive is also a hostage rescue operation.
He dismissed reports that the government is using mortars in the shrinking battle zone where tens of thousands of civilians are still trapped. He said the rebels and their sympathizers, including doctors, are distorting the facts.
Concern over heavy artillery
But diplomats and humanitarian officials are concerned the military is still using heavy artillery.
U.S. President Barack Obama appealed to both sides in the conflict Wednesday to protect civilian lives. He urged the rebels to lay down their weapons, called on the military to end indiscriminate shelling and allow aid groups access to the war victims.
The rebels have been fighting for an independent homeland for ethnic Tamils for more than 25 years.
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