LTTE starves Wanni people: Food looted for ‘combat rations’

A startling revelation, of how the LTTE uses food meant for civilians in the Wanni to feed its own cadres, was made recently when troops trailed through canned and pre-cooked meal packets found in the Northern and Wanni battlefront left by the fleeing LTTE.

According to reports received, the canned and pre-cooked meals were prepared especially for the LTTE fighting units in factories located in the LTTE ‘no-go’ zones in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. These pre-cooked meal packets were made from food rations meant for people, especially those displaced in the non-liberated areas.

“Food provisions sent by local and international organisations as ‘humanitarian aid’ are looted by the LTTE after they pass through the Omanthai Entry/Exit point, and sent in bulk to these ‘food factories’ in Wanni, well informed sources said.

During the period of the so-called ceasefire, containers with large stocks of empty cans were detected by military, entering the non-liberated Wanni region through the Omanthai Entry/Exit point.

It is now evident these consignments were meant for the LTTE’s food factories running on looted food meant for civilians, as found by troops during recent clearing operations in the Wanni front area. There is reliable information that during the CFA period, in one instance alone, a consignment of over 30,000 empty meal cans was sent to the non-liberated areas.

The funds to establish these factories were raised mainly through the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), and other pro-LTTE front organisations, hoodwinking the international community.

Large sums were collected through extortion from Tamil expatriates. The TRO has also been engaged in organising cultural and welfare events to provide sufficient funding for the terrorist group, including the setting up of these food factories for its fighting cadres, at the cost of civilians, it is learned.

What we are highly disturbed is that the LTTE shows no true concerns over the hundreds of innocent people who have been affected due to lack of sufficient food supplies.

Food supplies sent to these non-liberated areas will be continuously looted by LTTE until the government and other aid agencies draws some new alternative ways.

Courtesy: www.defence.lk