Patients held captive by LTTE taken to Vavuniya hospital by ICRC
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The Hindu , a leading Indian
newspaper depicted the plight of the Tamil civilians in
Wanni in a cartoon published on Wednesday (Jan 28). |
A
total of 226 patients in the company of their 139 relatives and
bystanders have brought to the Vavuniya government hospital from
Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaittivu by UN and ICRC officials this evening
(Jan 29), military sources reveal. There are at least 40 children in the
group of civilians, the sources add.
Sri Lankan government sent 12 ambulances and 5 buses
on Tuesday (Jan 27) with medical officers and nursing staff of Vavuniya
hospital to Puthukkudiyiruppu defence line to facilitate transfer of
some 300 patients in the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. However, the LTTE
terrorists refused the transfer of patients with the intention of
retaining them further in the human shield. The ICRC and UN officials
who had brought the patients to the LTTE roadblock at Puthukkudiyiruppu
in 16 ambulances, 7 trucks and one other vehicle were sent back by the
terrorists despite the repeated requested made by both UN and ICRC to
the LTTE to proceed to the government controlled areas.
However, the UN officials and ICRC officials have been
able to transfer the patients today. The relatives of the patients have
told military officials that the LTTE had to take this decision with the
increasing public despise over the brutality of the outfit. The two UN
expatriates who had been detained by the LTTE in Wanni since 16 January
were also able to come to the government controlled areas with the group
of patients.
Meanwhile, defence.lk special correspondent in
Vavuniya said that the number of civilians arrived today are greater than
the numbers indicated as the patients and their by standers. As the
registration of the IDPs is still going on and the exact number is yet to be
announced, he said.
Also, the civilians have told our correspondent how
the LTTE has cowardly positioned their heavy guns in the densely
populated areas to take cover from the innocent civilians. According to
them , the civilians are in a great danger as the mindless terrorists
often run amok time to time with increasing disputes between the
civilians and them . According to the defence sources there are about
150, 000 civilians are being detained in the remaining LTTE hiding areas
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