Entrapped civilians seek salvation in Forces
by Dhaneshi Yatawara in Mullaitivu
 |
** Restricted our firing power
** LTTE block them crossing
** Reached safety shores
** LTTE took most food
** Luck to escape unhurt
|
A soldier caring for a wounded man |
Loud sounds of firing started to erupt. `DOWN'!, Soldiers shouted and
all the men and women laid flat on the ground. Many were still reaching
the shores of the Nanthikadal lagoon clinging on to a tube of a
large-size tyre. In the middle of the tube, making a mesh out of nylon
rope they carried their infants, little children, sick and the wounded
while others, fit enough to withstand the rough waters of the lagoon,
were wading across clinging on to a tyre tube, large plastic cans or
anything that floats which is strong enough to hold them.
Stories of these innocent Tamil men, women, children and the feeble
elders, in their daring efforts to cross over to the cleared areas in
Mullaitivu are astounding!
Be brave my darling. I’m here for you |
A wounded escapee with the saline bottle in his hand |
Reaching the safety shores |
Happy to be in safe hands |
Waiting to be transported to the transit camp |
Crossing the lagoon amidst the LTTE firing with T56 weapons and 12.7
bullets using the paddle gun is a matter of life and death for the
escapees. The LTTE block them from crossing the lagoon at its narrowest
position. Hence, the people either wade or swim for more than one
kilometre clinging on to some floating material to reach the cleared
areas seeking the protection of the Sri Lanka Army. Troops cannot
repulse the terrorists as the probability of hitting the civilians is
high. Taking the risk of death troops who wait under cover receive these
unfortunate people and take them to safety.
With the tough responsibility of pushing the LTTE away from the
northern bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon mouth, Acting General Officer
Commanding 55 Division Brigadier Prasanna de Silva and his valiant
officers and soldiers under his command, going that extra mile, have
taken every possible step to save the escapees from the marauding
Tigers. This did not last for a few hours. People were flowing in from
the uncleared areas and land at unpredictable locations in surprising
numbers. Some were wounded, while the old, feeble and sick were not
physically fit for such a laborious escape. All of them were found to be
starving, dehydrated and shivering in cold.
Sudarshani (22) escaped with her two little daughters and husband
Selvarasa Pavendran (23) from Mullaiwaikkal and reached the 55 Division
on May 13. "We were from Kokkilai in Weli Oya. After being displaced we
were living in Puthumathalan with our in-laws.
My parents could not come with us. I do not know what happened to
them," Sudarshani cried with tears-filled eyes. Weak and tired with
months of suffering and hunger, one year old Sorbidha and three year old
Sorbiga, the two daughters were sleeping clinging on to their parents.
"Did you receive the food the Government dispatched to you?" we
asked. "No LTTE took most of them. We could only make a little bit of
rice porridge to feed our little ones. One kilogram of dhal was selling
at Rs. 1000 in Puthumathalan," Sudarshani explained.
Whenever they see us near the beach they chase us. We just tell them
that we are fishing or bathing but actually we were looking for a chance
to escape," Sudarshani's husband Pavendran said. It was an arduous
escape for the Pavendran family which finally reached the 17 battalion
Sri Lanka National Guards deployed at Watarappalai where they were
directed to the transit Welfare centre at the 574 Brigade which
continues the humanitarian work under the command of Colonel Senaka
Wijesuriya.
Sentharasa Jeevida (22) escaped without her husband. LTTE killed her
husband for refusing to join them. She reached the safety shores with
some of her close relatives and was totally lost.
Fighting for Eelam the LTTE made their own brethren displaced. Five
year old Mirusina was in fact shivering when she was received by the
troops of the 1st battalion of the Sinha regiment on May 13. Her father,
Thinaganandan (35) tried to warm her up cuddling her close to his body.
"Please Sir, give my little daughter some thing to eat," was the first
thing he asked no sooner they landed on the safety shores.
Under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Kirthi Bandara of 1 Sinha
Regiment troops distributed biscuits and water to the people immediately
as they landed. For these escapees soaked in sea water and shivering in
cold there was nothing more precious than a few things to eat!
Thinaganandan who worked for day's wage when they were living in
Mullaitivu in the past and his wife Thambu Pushpalatha (34) had another
son just one-and-half-years-old. Luck was with them to escape unhurt.
"We have restricted our firing power to save the civilians even at
the risk of loosing our soldiers," Major General Jagath Dias, General
Officer Commanding the 57 Division said during his inspection tour of
the welfare centres in Mullaitivu West area. This indicates that the
entire Wanni defence line is geared to protect the innocent Tamil
civilians taken hostage by the ruthless terrorists. Troops use their
resources to care for these people.The process of receiving and caring
for the civilians does not stop because the entrapped people are
crossing over to the cleared areas throughout day and night seeking
safety from the Sri Lanka Army.
At the time the valiant soldiers of the 58 Division captured the
Farah III wreckage in the seas off Mullaitivu, over 2,700 people had
crossed over to the area held by the troops of all three Divisions in
one day and this process still continues even at the time this article
went to the press.
This woman lost her little daughter in the sea during their daring
escape. No one knows whether she is dead or alive. The mother is
carefully looking for her precious child in each group that arrives. The
LTTE have killed her husband a few days ago and now she is left all
alone. |
