More civilians flee Vakarai

by Anura Maitipe

Over 2,397 civilians had moved from uncleared area to Batticaloa during last two weeks and the last group of 1,297 people had arrived on last Saturday from Vakarai, A spokesmen for media Centre for National Security told the Sunday Observer.

These civilians have forcibly been held by the LTTE at Maduram Kulam, Vakari and Pawacheni for the last two months. They had finally escaped from the LTTE grip and sought refuge at Redi Tanna in Valachchenai. These people had reached Valachchenai after three days travel through thick jungles from Vakarai.

The government forces have accommodated them with shelter at Pechan and Vinayagapuram camps in Valachchenai, he said. According to them over 1,500 people are waiting in the uncleared areas to move into government controlled areas but the LTTE has threatened them by opening fire in the air not to move, he added. The LTTE has made use of these innocent civilians as a shield to launch strike against Military forces. As a result they have fled the area to secure their lives, he added.