Displaced civilians in B'caloa defy LTTE attempts

Around 100,000 civilians from uncleared areas have entered Government controlled areas in Batticaloa defying the attempts made by the LTTE to prevent them from leaving their own places.

Military spokesperson, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the Sunday Observer that the armed forces were carrying out clearing operations cautiously without causing any damage to properties of civilians." Our intention is to neutralise all LTTE positions and protect the innocent civilians.

However, the LTTE was trying its best to keep civilians as shields to launch attacks against the armed forces. But the civilians knowing the tactics of the LTTE are coming into the cleared areas for protection," Brig. Samarasinghe said.

Meanwhile, the Government Agent's office in Batticaloa said that cleared areas in Batticaloa were teeming with displaced civilians and the Government Agent has taken measures to provide them with shelter, food and medical facilities.

Brigadier Samarasinghe said that several areas which were cleared from the LTTE grip in the past several months have now been reconstructed with all basic facilities provided for the civilians and the internally displaced civilians would be re-located soon in their own places.