Civilians between Tigers and serpents in Wanni

by our political correspondent

The plight of civilians who live under the grip of the LTTE should be well described as` between the tigers and the serpents’ and not the ‘devil and the deep blue sea’, informed sources said.

“The living conditions of innocent civilians in the LTTE held areas in the Wanni are terrible. More than ten people died due to snake bite last month. Around two-hundred-thousand displaced civilians have crammed into schools and temples as the north-east monsoon strengthens in the area,” the sources said. Men could be hardly seen moving around on the streets as they have been heavily protected by women from being forcibly conscripted by the LTTE. The LTTE using vehicles fitted with loud speakers makes announcements calling able bodied men and women to join them, the sources said.

Several families were beaten severely by LTTE cadres with sticks when they attempted to escape into the cleared areas, the sources said.