More of LTTE brutality: Fleeing civilians shot and hacked to death
"We heard gunfire and we knew we were
surrounded. Two boats with several dozen people were fleeing from the
area and our boat was the third. They (LTTE) came running and directing
small arms fire towards us from the coast. Several people fell overboard
receiving gunshot injuries, may be they were killed on the spot or
drowned. I don't know, but I saw one boat spiraling on the water and
within minutes its engine died-off. They are killing us and killing at
will".
This was what Soosai Jeyamarasa Jenistan, 20, had to
say after being rescued by Security Forces in the shallow waters North
of Chalai, while desperately fleeing from LTTE. He now feels fortunate
to have defied probable death, hopes to start a new life and return home
once LTTE is wiped. Jeyamarasa, his 48 year old father Isador Soosai and
the Principal of the Therumurikandy Government School Asirwadan
Soosainadar, 42, are among the many others who sought protection with
Security Forces on 6thMarch, 2009.
This is just a glimpse of what is actually happening
in the non-liberated territory under LTTE occupation. "People are held
forcibly against their will in the largest hostage taking of any kind in
recent history", a defence observer told our Wanni correspondent.
The crimes perpetrated by LTTE against civilians held
captive in this narrow land stretch has gone un-noticed according to
what is revealed by those who were fortunate to flee the LTTE clutches.
Girls and boys are dragged from temporary shelters to undergo a crash
course of combat training and explosives use and turned into suicide
bombers, in what LTTE sees as its last line of defence against the
advancing security forces.
Men, women and even the elderly are not spared by
them. While, children are turned into human bombs their parents are
drawn into the forefront armed with clubs, T-56 assault riffles and
grenades to shield the rear assault waves of LTTE hardcore cadres. What
is more staggering is the blood tax that these innocent people have to
pay for this most ruthless outfit of modern times. The food, rations,
medicine that are been sent for the stranded civilians by the Sri Lankan
government and aid agencies are being forcibly taken by the LTTE. Only a
few sacks of grains, flour and a little clean water is left for over
40,000 people who have to struggle with each other for what is left.
"These people are denied of their freedom of choice
and taken to the edge of suffering any human can undergo", an aid worker
at Vavuniya revealed, commenting on the ground realities in the
non-liberated land territory with over 40,000 people hostage.
Continuing with his share of experience of near death
from LTTE, Mr. Jeyamrasa, "It was around 11.30p.m, on 6th March, when
around 300 of us prepared to flee towards safety from the LTTE in 50
boats. There were many LTTE cadres on guard surrounding the confinement
camp. As we outnumbered the guards we made a desperate flee towards the
shore and it was at this time LTTE started firing at us
indiscriminately. I managed to get onboard a boat along with my family
and my brother's. We heard gunfire and we knew we were surrounded. Two
boats with several dozen people were fleeing from the area and our boat
was the third. They [LTTE] came running, directing small arms fire
towards us from the coast. Several people fell overboard receiving
gunshot injuries, may be they were killed on the spot or drowned. I
don't know, but I saw one boat spiraling on the water and within minutes
its engine died-off. They are killing us and killing at will.
Then they [LTTE] started firing at our boat. My
brother's son fell inside with a gunshot injury. We stretched as much as
possible and started screaming feeling this was the end. We knew what
the LTTE would do to us. They did not stop firing. My brother had stopped
the engine after his son got wounded. Our boat was drifting and we were
awaiting a brutal death from LTTE. This is what they do once you get
caught escaping from them. They strangle you to death and make an
exhibit of you, triggering fear among others of similar reprisal. With
no option left we all urged our brother to start the engine and make at
least an attempt to flee. He (brother) started the engine and we were on
our way. At this moment LTTE had launched a boat into the waters in
pursuit of us. Luckily, our engine was good and we passed even the first
boat that took off from the coast. Still we could here gunfire from
distance" Jeyamrasa further said.
"As the gunfire sound faded we looked back and saw
LTTE boats approaching and slaughtering the rest of the people. The
people were fired upon directly. Many jumped overboard into the water.
They were pleading for their life but LTTE did not stop firing. They
also fired at the people who were along the coast. I've lost count of
the people attacked but surely they are not alive by now. It was such a
frightening scene to witness. My children are caught in trauma and I
don't know how they will recover from witnessing people been killed with
such brutality", Mr. Asirwadan also said speaking with our
correspondent.
"After fleeing for over 5-6 kms from the LTTE killing
range, I looked at my brother's son and he was bleeding severely. A
bullet had pierced through his abdomen and the boy was is in extreme
pain. Fortunately, we were saved by the military while drifting in the
waters off Talaiady and brought to shore and the wounded attended to
immediately. We can now make a sigh of relief, but what we experienced
back there will haunt us forever. We are in safe hands now and all we
want is to go back and start our lives again, after the LTTE deprived us
of all", Jeyamrasa further said.
This is just a glimpse of the humanitarian crisis
unfolding in the non-liberated territory. LTTE terrorists will continue
perpetrating such crimes until it is stopped forever. This is what the
so called saviors of 'Human rights', 'unbiased media' outlets and the
patrons of the "victim industry" are trying to hide by drawing
international attention away from the reality of the LTTE, a defence
observer said. Astonishingly, these media barons and HR saviors
have shied away from reporting the status of the 15 UN aid workers and
their families still held captive by the LTTE through sheer
intimidation.
Working hand in hand with LTTE propaganda fronts,
these 'un-biased' international and local reporters are making virulent
efforts to throw a life line to LTTE now facing its endgame after three
decades. This unholy nexus is also making all attempts to scuttle the
present military surge with contradictory reporting and fear-mongering
about battle and civilian casualties, and all the while concealing what
the LTTE does to civilians it is holding by force the 40 sq km it is
confined to now.
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